Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common stomach problem. The
cause is largely unknown. Typical symptoms vary but can include
bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and or constipation. The severity of
symptoms vary considerably and can sometimes almost go away for periods
of time. IBS can be better controlled by diet and in more severe cases,
a combination of diet and medication. According to the National Health
Service (NHS) website (UK), changing your diet can play an important
role in taming IBS. The diet which will be most suitable depends on your
symptoms and how your body reacts to different foods. It may be
beneficial to have a food diary where you record what you eating and
whether it makes your symptoms better or worse. It will then be easier
to determine which foods trigger the IBS. Although avoidance of these
foods is encouraged in the short-term, you may not necessarily have to
do so permanently.
