IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Causes
How to Prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 Because IBS isn't an illness like
measles or the flu, you can't prevent it with a vaccine and no "cure"
ensures complete recovery from irritable bowel syndrome.
At one time or another, all of us experience some of the symptoms
of IBS manifested in occasional digestive disorders like heartburn,
diarrhea, constipation, and flatulence. However, just because you
experience an occasional symptom of IBS doesn't mean you have developed
irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS is a disorder that physicians generally diagnose when their
patients experience recurring symptoms over an extended time period,
usually about 12 weeks. Although once diagnosed, IBS is a chronic
disorder, there are some positive actions you can take that may
prevent an occasional digestive disorder from developing into IBS.
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, some lifestyle changes may
stem the frequency of its recurrence.
The first step in preventing irritable bowel syndrome is being aware
of IBS causes, those things that make us candidates for irritable
bowel syndrome. Knowing what causes digestive problems in your body
can help take you off the IBS ballot.
Over eating is a common cause of IBS.
Large meals can cause cramping that leads to IBS symptoms and results
in the development of irritable bowel syndrome. If you frequently
eat past the point of comfort, consider changing your dietary schedule
and eating several small meals each day instead of two or three
large ones. Eating smaller meals cuts down the workload on your
digestive system, allows your body to digest smaller portions, and
also keeps "hunger pains" from encouraging you to eat
too quickly or too much at a sitting.
Take IBS food triggers off the menu
Make a "menu" of what you eat for a week or two and log
both what foods cause IBS symptoms, the portion size, time of day
you ate, and when you experienced IBS symptoms. Eliminate IBS food
triggers from your diet or at least eat less of them, less frequently.
Certain foods seem to have the components to cause IBS symptoms.
These include:
1. deep fried foods like French fries
2. caffeine containing foods like coffee and colas
3. chocolate
4. alcohol
Although dairy products often are blamed for creating IBS symptoms,
usually when milk, cheese, and ice cream are the suspects, the real
perpetrator is lactose intolerance. Consider adding a lactose digestive
enzyme to your diet or substituting soy or rice based products for
dairy.
Fight IBS symptoms with high-fiber foods
However, before you throw away your white bread in favor of whole
grain, remember that eating too much of a good thing is one IBS
trigger! Adding too much fiber to your diet, too quickly can cause
the same irritable bowel symptoms that a fiber-poor diet triggers.
Additionally, adding new foods or fiber supplements slowly and one
at a time, helps alert you if one of the new items on your menu
is the cause of new digestive problems.
Fiber rich foods include: bran, bread, cereal, legumes (peas and
beans) and some fruits and vegetables such as raw apples, pears,
peaches, cabbage, carrots, and broccoli.
IBS Causes & Triggers
Along with social and psychological problems, worrying too much
about digestive problems can result in IBS symptoms that end in
a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. In fact, even the daily
stresses caused by jobs, home, and worry over other physical problems
can lead to IBS.
Learning to reduce your stressors can reduce symptoms like cramping
and indigestion. Physical exercise, meditation, and stress counseling
can all save you from developing irritable bowel syndrome. Find
the stress relievers that work best for you and use them to enrich
your life and take your mind off irritable bowel syndrome!
Remember, though, that IBS symptoms can also point to other conditions.
If you frequently experience the symptoms of IBS, consult with a
qualified health professional.
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