Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Controlling Symptoms With Diet
Introduction
Key points
Many people with
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) find that eating
prompts symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea (or, sometimes,
alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea), and bloating. Making
adjustments to your diet can provide relief.
- Limit or eliminate foods that may make diarrhea, gas, and bloating worse. These may include caffeine, alcohol, carbonated (fizzy) drinks, milk products, foods high in sugar, fatty foods,
gas-producing foods (such as beans, cabbage, and broccoli), and the artificial
sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol (often used in sugarless gum and sugarless
candy).
- To reduce constipation, add fiber to your diet, drink plenty of
water, and get regular exercise.
- Keep a daily diary of what you eat and whether you experience
symptoms after eating.
- Eat slowly and have meals in a quiet, relaxing
environment. Don't skip meals.
Irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the intestines that causes abdominal (belly) pain or
discomfort. The pain may occur alone or along with constipation or diarrhea.
Other symptoms include bloating, mucus in stools, or a sense that you have not
completely emptied your bowels.
In irritable bowel syndrome, you have symptoms in the digestive tract but doctors can find no change in
physical structure, such as inflammation or tumors.
It is not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, and the cause may be different for different people. Some ideas for what causes IBS include problems with the way signals are sent between the brain and the digestive tract, problems digesting certain foods, and stress or anxiety. People with IBS may have unusually sensitive intestines or problems with the way the muscles of the intestines move.
Managing stress and changing your diet are the main treatments for
the condition. Medicines may be used to treat severe symptoms that interrupt
daily activities.
Test Your Knowledge
Irritable bowel syndrome occurs because of a blockage
in the large intestine.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
Irritable bowel syndrome does not occur because
of a blockage or structural problem in the large intestine. IBS is a functional
bowel disorder, which means that intestinal movement is abnormal but doctors
can find no structural abnormality in the intestines.
-
False
This answer is correct.
Irritable bowel syndrome does not occur because
of a blockage or structural problem in the large intestine. IBS is a functional
bowel disorder, which means that intestinal movement is abnormal but doctors
can find no structural abnormality in the intestines.
-
Continue to Why?
No particular foods cause everyone with IBS to have
symptoms. Doctors do not advocate a particular diet to manage symptoms. But
through trial and error, many people find that they feel better when they stop
eating certain foods.
Many people find that their irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
become worse after they eat. Sometimes certain foods make symptoms
worse. Foods most commonly listed as causing symptoms include:
- Cabbage.
- Onions.
- Peas and beans.
- Hot spices.
- Deep-fried and fried food.
- Pizza.
- Coffee.
- Cream.
- Smoked food.
Other types of food that can make IBS symptoms worse include:
- "Resistant starch." Resistant starch is found in foods like cold or reheated potatoes, bread, and cereal. These resistant starches are not completely digested and can cause gas and bloating in the digestive tract.
- A sugar found in milk, called lactose. About 1 out of 10 people with IBS also have lactose intolerance. Other people with IBS may have worse symptoms when they eat dairy. It's not a good idea to stop eating dairy altogether. Instead, try dairy products (like cheese and yogurt) that have less lactose and spread the amount of dairy you eat throughout the day.
- A sugar found in sweet vegetables and fruit, called fructose. In people with IBS, fructose may not be digested all the way. This can cause diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
- An artificial sweetener, called sorbitol. When eaten in large amounts, sorbitol can cause diarrhea even in people who don't have IBS. People who have IBS may be even more sensitive.
- Caffeine. Caffeine can make the intestines move food along more quickly. But the most common digestive tract side effect of caffeine is acid reflux. In people with IBS, caffeine may not have much effect on diarrhea, gas, or bloating.
Test Your Knowledge
People with irritable bowel syndrome do not need to
follow a special diet.
-
True
This answer is correct.
People with irritable bowel syndrome
do not need to follow a special diet. No particular diet
is recommended for everyone with IBS. But many people with irritable bowel
syndrome do find that some foods tend to cause them to have symptoms.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
People with irritable bowel syndrome do not need to follow a special diet. No particular diet is recommended
for everyone with IBS. But many people with irritable bowel syndrome do find that some foods tend
to cause them to have symptoms.
-
Continue to How?
Although there is no particular diet to follow, you can manage your
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by limiting or eliminating foods that may bring
on symptoms, particularly diarrhea, gas, and bloating. Make sure you don't stop eating completely from any one food group without talking with a dietitian. You need to make sure you are still getting all the nutrients you need.
Tips for controlling symptoms
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Have regular meals. Take time to eat.
- Don't skip meals or wait too long between meals.
- Drink plenty of fluids, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water.
- Limit coffee and tea to 3 cups a day.
- Limit how much alcohol and carbonated ("fizzy") drinks you have.
- It might help to limit the amount of high-fiber foods you eat, especially if you have a lot of gas and bloating. This especially includes whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, and rice.
- Reduce the amount of "resistant starch" you eat. Resistant starch isn't digested well by your body and can cause gas and bloating. It is found in processed and recooked foods.
- Limit your intake of fresh fruit to 3 portions a day.
- If you have diarrhea, avoid sorbitol. Sorbitol is the artificial sweetener found in sugar-free chewing gum, drinks, and other sugar-free sweets.
- If you have gas and bloating, eating soluble fiber (such as oats) may help.
Keeping a food diary
Some people who have IBS use a
daily food diary to keep track of what they eat and whether they have any
symptoms after eating certain foods. The diary also can be a good way to record
what is going on in your life. Stress plays a role in IBS: If you are aware
that particular stresses bring on symptoms, you can try to reduce those
stresses.
Test Your Knowledge
Milk sugar (lactose) can trigger IBS symptoms.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Lactose can trigger irritable bowel symptoms
because it may not be digested well by your body and can increase the amount of fluid in the intestines. Lactose can also cause gas and bloating when undigested lactose passes into the large intestine. But not everyone will respond
the same way to certain foods or beverages.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Lactose can trigger irritable bowel symptoms
because it may not be digested well by your body and can increase the amount of fluid in the intestines. Lactose can also cause gas and bloating when undigested lactose passes into the large intestine. But not everyone will respond
the same way to certain foods or beverages.
-
Increasing fiber in the diet does not improve symptoms
of irritable bowel syndrome in everyone.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Fiber does not improve the symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome in everyone. Fiber is most effective for people with
IBS who mainly have constipation. It also may help some people with diarrhea,
because fiber absorbs water. But for some people with IBS, fiber can make
symptoms, such as gas and bloating, worse.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Fiber does not improve the symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome in everyone. Fiber is most effective for people with
IBS who mainly have constipation. It also may help some people with diarrhea,
because fiber absorbs water. But for some people with IBS, fiber can make
symptoms, such as gas and bloating, worse.
-
Continue to Where?
Be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning a plan to reduce or eliminate certain foods from
your diet. It's fine to eliminate beverages such as alcohol or caffeine or
items such as sugarless gum or candy, but be careful before removing entire food
groups, such as dairy, vegetables, or fruits.
You may be able to eat some fruits
and vegetables but not others. Your doctor may recommend that you
consult a registered dietitian to help you plan a nutritious menu that helps
reduce your symptoms.
If you would like more information on irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS), the following resources are available:
Organizations
|
American College of
Gastroenterology
|
| 6400 Goldsboro Road |
| Suite 200 |
| Bethesda, MD 20817 |
| Phone: |
(301) 263-9000 |
| Web Address: |
http://patients.gi.org |
| |
|
The American College of Gastroenterology is an organization of digestive disease specialists. The website contains information about common gastrointestinal problems.
|
|
|
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
|
| 2 Information Way |
| Bethesda, MD 20892-3570 |
| Phone: |
1-800-891-5389 |
| Fax: |
(703) 738-4929 |
| TDD: |
1-866-569-1162
toll-free |
| Email: |
nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov |
| Web Address: |
www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov |
| |
|
This clearinghouse is a service of the U.S. National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the
U.S. National Institutes of Health. The clearinghouse answers questions;
develops, reviews, and sends out publications; and coordinates information
resources about digestive diseases. Publications produced by the clearinghouse
are reviewed carefully for scientific accuracy, content, and readability.
|
|
More information on irritable bowel syndrome can be found in this topic:
Return to topic:
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology |
|
Last Revised
|
April 26, 2012 |
Last Revised:
April 26, 2012