Answer:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a collection of reoccurring symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, constipation and a feeling of urgency to visit the toilet. It is brought about by a disturbance in the way the intestines, the brain and the nervous system interact, causing sensitivity in the nerves and muscles of the bowel.

Because IBS can't be diagnosed with a single test, a diagnosis is generally made after excluding other diseases with similar symptoms.

Unfortunately, IBS is a common condition, with females being more affected than males. It's triggered by stress and diet in some people, and treatment for IBS varies between people but usually includes diet therapy, medication, stress management and/or psychological counselling.

Tips for managing IBS
There is no special diet specifically for IBS. For some people, even thinking about food or eating will stimulate gut movement, causing symptoms. The following advice, however, may be helpful for many people.

• Increase your fibre intake by gradually including more high-fibre foods such as wholegrain breads/cereals, wholemeal pasta, dried fruits, brown rice, fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid large amounts of unprocessed bran as this may worsen symptoms.
• Make sure you have at least eight glasses of water each day.
• Identify and avoid trigger foods. These may be alcohol, fatty foods, caffeine, dairy products, wheat, carbonated drinks, and/or artificial sweeteners like mannitol and sorbitol.
• Try to eat smaller, regular meals and eat your food slowly.
• You might find it useful to keep a food, fluid and symptom diary to monitor the effect of diet on your symptoms.

IBS is a complex condition and you need to work closely with your doctor and/or an accredited practising dietician (APD) to help you identify problem foods and to ensure your diet is balanced.

This information is provided by the Sanitarium Nutrition Service.

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