Suffering from irritable bowel syndrome? Avoid these foods, consume these

03/07/2022

According to WebMD, irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a mix of belly discomfort or pain and trouble with bowel habits: either going more or less often than normal (diarrhoea or constipation) or having a different kind of stool (thin, hard, or soft and liquid). It is a common condition that affects the digestive system and results in symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation whose frequency and intensity varies among individuals as they tend to come and go over time and can last for days, weeks or months at a time.
Lavleen Kaur, Head Dietitian and Co-founder of Diet Insight, shared, “IBS is a very, very common health issue in India and it’s been noticed that women suffer through this condition more than men. Some have only minor discomfort while for others it may end up disrupting daily routine. Irritable bowel syndrome is a collection of symptoms that include abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel motions, which might be only diarrhea, only constipation, or even both. It's not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and it has nothing to do with other bowel problems.”
She asserted that diet, like any other health issue, is the key to managing IBS as well. While certain food items can help you keep the symptoms under control, others can aggravate the pain further.
Food to avoid if suffering from IBS
Dietician Lavleen Kaur insisted on eliminating these foods from your diet to help you avoid uncomfortable IBS symptoms:
1. Refined, packaged, and processed carbohydrates should be avoided.
2. Dairy and gluten-containing foods may cause diarrhoea in certain IBS sufferers and should be avoided.
3. Deep-fried meals and artificial sweeteners are never suggested since they contain significant levels of trans and saturated fats as well as can cause further digestive irritation in IBS sufferers.
4. Insoluble fiber, such as whole grains and vegetables found in beans, carrots, broccoli, apricots, sprouts, and foods like apple, guava, and pears, is also not suggested. Peeled apple can be had though.
Adding her expertise to the same, Functional Nutritionist Mugdha Pradhan, CEO and Founder of iThrive, listed food products that can damage the intestinal lining and disrupt gut mucosal integrity. These include:
1. Gluten - Many people have allergies due to gluten sensitivity, which can cause symptoms like diarrhoea, stomach pain, tiredness, bloating etc. Many people do not test positive for celiac disease but still react negatively to gluten.
2. Vegetable/ seed oils - Vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturated fats, which our bodies are not designed to consume. Unhealthy fats can also make a contribution to skin cancer if they enter the skin. Vegetable oils are high in omega 6, which promotes cancer cell growth, blood clotting, and inflammation in the body.
3. Dairy products - Overconsumption of dairy products can cause lactase enzymes to deplete faster because they are overworked. After consuming dairy products, symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdomen bloating, gas, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Share This Story


Comment On This Story

 

Photo Gallery

  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty