Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS, is a fairly common gastro-disorder that affects the large intestine specifically. Although there is no cure for IBS, patients can manage the uncomfortable symptoms, which often include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea and/or constipation. IBS isn’t usually severe for most people, but a small amount of individuals do experienced severe symptoms.

The individuals who experience severe symptoms may be prescribed medication by a doctor, however, those who don’t have severe symptoms can often manage their symptoms via diet:

1. Fiber for IBS

There are many different diets that an individual can use to soothe IBS. REmember, irritable bowel syndrome can cause constipation or diarrhea, or both. Depending on which you suffer from, you may either respond positively or negatively to insoluble fiber. For many, too much insoluble fiber in the diet can trigger an IBS flare ups, flatulence, and constipation. However, those who respond well to added fiber in their diets should try to eat more fruits and vegetables and limit the grain intake.

2. Elimination diets for IBS

One of the most commonly used diets to treat irritable bowel syndrome is an elimination diet to identify specific food triggers that you may not be aware are causing issues. The most common foods to be assessed for reactivity and tolerance for IBS patients may include:

• Gluten (i.e., rye, wheat, or barley)
• Dairy products
• Soy
• Corn

3. Low FODMAP

A low-FODMAP diet is another common food-related treatment for IBS. The low-FODMAP diet aims to eliminate all high-FODMAP foods from your diet for a period of two to eight weeks. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols, which are specific scientific names for carbohydrates linked to digestive issues. High FODMAP foods include wheat, fruits (i.e., citrus, apples, apricots, cherries, figs, plums, pears, peaches, mangoes, nectarines, and watermelon), several vegetables (i.e., asparagus, leeks, mushrooms, garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, artichokes, and snow peas), legumes and beans, as well as several types of sweeteners (i.e., honey, agave nectar, high-fructose corn syrup, sorbitol, and xylitol).

4. Avoiding stress

The three main things that trigger irritable bowel syndrome flare-ups are food and stress.The most common foods and drinks that trigger irritable bowel syndrome flare ups are milk, wheat, dairy products, beans, and carbonated drinks. It is very important for individuals who are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome to be as stress-free as possible, especially when you are experiencing any signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome flare-up. Studies have shown that stress in itself does not cause the flare up, but it can aggravate the symptoms of the flare up and make them worse. When it comes to women hormones can make the signs and symptoms worse. To be specific, women are more likely to contract irritable bowel syndrome because of the different hormonal changes and if they have IBS symptoms seem to worsen doing their menstrual periods.