Diet plays an important role in the treatment of IBS. By changing the fiber content in the diet, one can control this disorder to a great extent. Patients suffer from both constipation and diarrhea during IBS. If a patient is suffering from constipation then he should eat a high-fiber diet, and if he is suffering from diarrhea then he should have a low-fiber diet. Foods that have high fiber content include grains, fruits and vegetables. Patients suffering from constipation during IBS should drink lots of fluids. The intake of fluids should increase along with the increase in the fiber content. One has to be cautious about the increase in fiber content, as too much of it could also cause problems like bloating or diarrhea. During IBS one should reduce the quantity and increase the frequency of meals, and eat slowly. Multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplements may prove to be useful. A patient who has diarrhea due to IBS should avoid raw fruits and vegetables, and prefer cooked food. Bran-based grains and cereals should also be avoided. Chocolate, coffee and fatty food should be avoided, as they can escalate the problem. A person loses lot of sodium and potassium from the body during diarrhea, so to maintain the level of salts in the body, one may have bananas, fish, mashed or boiled potatoes, etc. All these food items are rich in electrolytes. At times, a change in the number of meals and temperature of the food items may also help in controlling diarrhea. However, it is always better to consult a doctor or a dietician before making any changes in regular eating habits, as the symptoms of IBS differ in different persons. |
