The Best of the Lot Home Remedies for IBS

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Livefit4ever,
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nagarjuna Yarlagadda,
September 21, 2020

Home Remedies for IBS
Home remedies for IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition of the large intestine. It is associated with abdominal pain, constipation, inflammation, cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea. Some people can manage their symptoms with lifestyle changes – managing diet, stress, and other habits. Some people may have severe symptoms which can be treated by consulting a gastroenterologist. The doctor will prescribe medicines, suggest lifestyle changes, and counsel.

IBS Causes

What exactly causes IBS is still unknown. However, some suggested causes include infections, bacterial overgrowth, intestinal inflammation, food sensitivities, brain-gut-nexus (interactions), changes in digestive motility, carbohydrate malabsorption, and food triggers.

Symptoms of IBS

If you have abdominal pain, bloating, pain related to bowel movement for at least one day per week for three months, then you may be at risk of IBS. The other symptoms of IBS include constipation, changes in stool appearance, change in stool frequency, abdominal pain, and inflammation.

Home Remedies for IBS

It is a chronic condition that you’ll need to manage long-term.

The long-term management includes making lifestyle changes that work wonders for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the symptoms associated with this condition.

Fiber is a boon

When you start incorporating fiber-rich foods – don’t go in for the kill at once rather begin experimenting with fiber gradually. If you start at once in bulk quantities you will face some undue problems like bloating, cramps, and gas. The best approach is to slowly increase the amount over a period of several weeks. Include fiber-rich foods – whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans in your diet. Drink plenty of water to prevent gas, constipation, bloating, and abdominal cramps.

You can Take Supplementary Fiber

Some people may not find any improvement – if it is the case with you, then talk to your gastroenterologist and dietician. If they recommend supplementary fiber then use it instead. Some people feel better with this type of approach.

In a nutshell, whether it is a dietary fiber or supplementary fiber if you are getting benefits, then continue using any of the two sources of fiber as long as you feel better.

Have Meals Regularly on Time

Don’t delay your meals time. Have food on time. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time each day. If you have an IBS issue, never skip meals. This will help regulate your bowel movements. To get rid of constipation, you can have high-fiber foods in larger amounts. Fiber helps in easing food movements through the intestines. If you have diarrhea, you can take meals at frequent intervals. This will make you feel better.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

People with IBS feel better if they drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can even have fruits and vegetables with high water content – watermelon and cucumber. Coconut water is the best drink for you. Avoid caffeinated beverages, coffee, tea, and alcohol as caffeine in them can irritate your stomach lining and make diarrhea worse. Even soft drinks and energy drinks are also not good as they produce gas.

Use Medicines Judiciously

Use over-the-counter medicines, headache medicines, and migraine medicines with caution. It is better to talk to your doctor if you use them regularly. Use anti-diarrheal medications and laxatives with caution and talk to your doctor about how to safely use them.

Move around

A sedentary lifestyle can hamper your health in several ways. To overcome obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and mental health issues physical activities are important. If you develop a habit of moving around – walking, taking steps for moving up, gardening, and playing with your kids, you will feel better as physical activities relieve pain, anxiety, stress and improves contractions of your digestive tract. Thus, you will feel better with your IBS symptoms also. Gradually increase your outdoor playing and walking time and then start doing exercises as well. However, prior to starting any exercise program, it is better to talk to your doctor if you have any pre-existing health issues.

 Elimination Diet Works

Avoid eating foods such as certain sweets, chocolates, beans, nuts, and vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli; sugar-free sweeteners like mannitol or sorbitol, dairy products, caffeinated beverages, medicines that contain caffeine, dietary sodas, soft drinks, coffee, and alcohol.

What else should you eliminate?

You should eliminate all processed and canned foods, burgers, pizzas, ready-made cookies, fatty meals, pastries, cakes, foods rich in saturated and trans-fats, artificial sweeteners, foods high in sugar, hot dogs, fatty meat, roasted and grilled chicken, meat and microwave popcorn.

Elimination Diet

Make a note of all foods that are making your symptoms worse. Any food or group of foods that you omit comes under an elimination diet. The adverse reaction that these foods cause is referred to as “Food intolerance.” It can make IBS symptoms worse. Gas and bloating are common with IBS. Sleep apnea, mouth breathing, chewing gum, and drinking through a straw all can lead to swallowing air – leading to more gas in the stomach.

Relax

Relaxation works wonder for you if you are living with IBS. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and hypnosis are all good techniques to consider if you have IBS.

Take Probiotics Supplements

Your gut microbiome may sometimes get out of balance due to various reasons. You can have foods and supplements that have live beneficial gut bacteria in them. They are known as probiotics. They are safe to use. These bacteria improve digestion and reduce the symptoms of IBS. Fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and tempeh are good food sources of probiotics.

The Role of Probiotics

Recent studies have shown the role of probiotics in easing the symptoms of IBS. Do probiotics positively benefit people with IBS symptoms is a huge topic of debate. Though a few studies spanning across myriad groups of people have shown promising outcomes, yet there has not been substantial research to confirm the role of probiotics.

Which Probiotics to Take?

The best combination of probiotics so far is that of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria with several different strains between the two. The supplement that you want to take should have at least 10 billion colony-forming units per dose. The tablets or capsules should be enteric-coated (to prevent the bacteria from being get killed by stomach acid) to survive stomach acids during their trip to the small intestine.

Probiotics are safe, relatively cheap and a good source of beneficial bacteria. They have the potential to ease your gut symptoms – especially the ones that are associated with IBS.

Home Remedies for IBS
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