Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What is it and does my diet affect it?

Many Americans are affected by a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome. This is a condition that lists a variety of symptoms among its diagnosis which include unsettled stomach, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Doctors will usually run a battery of tests to help determine if IBS is the culprit and to rule out other more serious conditions. The fact of the matter is, irritable bowel syndrome is a general term and does not have one specific root cause, nor one specific cure. In my opinion, and in the opinion of others on this matter, the answer is simple…WE PUT JUNK INTO OUR BODIES AND OUR BODIES DON’T LIKE IT!

Ok, sorry for yelling, but this subject really burns me up. You see, many people eat nothing but garbage all day and yet somehow are surprised then they have a stomachache. They are much more willing to swallow a bottle of Pepto Bismol than they are to change their diets. This seems like lunacy to me. We KNOW which foods are good for you and which are not, and our bodies do as well! Let’s look at a list of some things that can “activate” irritable bowel syndrome:

French Fries
Fried Chicken
Ice Cream and Whole Milk
Soda
Alcohol

REALLY? You mean…eating those foods could potentially have a NEGATIVE effect? Geez…

So, now we have a term for a condition that is basically your digestive system not reacting well to the junk you put in it. What if you put dirty water into your gas tank? I mean, you KNOW your car need gasoline, but forget that, you choose to put in dirty water. Do you think they would come up with a fancy term for that? Well, maybe not a fancy one, but a well known one…it is called STUPIDITY. The same is true for complaining that you have aches and pains and feel uncomfortable because you just had French fries and a coke and finished it up with a hot fudge sundae…
So, how about trying some foods that may have the OPPOSITE effect? Like maybe your stomach and digestive system will actually feel GOOD for a change and you won’t have to worry about diarrhea or cramps, but instead, a healthy digestive system free from pain. How does that sound? Well, here are some foods you may want to try as alternatives to the normal junk you have been stuffing your face with:

Raw Broccoli
Carrots
Peas
Kidney beans
Lima Beans
Whole grain bread
Peaches
Apples

See any difference there? The above foods are high in fiber. Fiber is something that is SEVERELY lacking in our diets these days and it is one of the main ingredients that can mean a healthy digestive system.
While I am no doctor and cannot prove the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome, I will say that by choosing to eat healthy, fiber rich foods, your chances are high that you will suffer less symptoms of this uncomfortable ailment and perhaps, none at all. Choose healthy and reap the benefits!