Strengthen your fight against IBS with these lifestyle tweaks

Gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, cramping, constipation or diarrhea are all different symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is a widespread condition that has an effect on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and affects 7-21 percent of the general population. Several kinds of research show that women are more prone to getting IBS than men.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as it may seem, is not that fatal. However, its persistent and irritable character can have a detrimental effect on the affected person’s quality of life, interpersonal relationships, social life, and day-to-day activities and can hamper productivity at work.

When is IBS problematic?

The gravity of IBS symptoms can range from moderate to severe, varying from person to person. For most people, symptoms are not that chronic. When symptoms last for a minimum of three each month for consecutive three months, then you are said to suffer from IBS. People suffering from IBS experience various symptoms like discomfort in the stomach or pain and issues with smooth bowel movement (constipation IBS-C or diarrhea IBS-D).

Tips to deal with Irritable Bowel Syndrome naturally?

According to experts, there seems to be no precise cause of IBS. The causes could be different for different individuals. Someone might get this bowel condition after developing intolerance of certain foods, changes in the GI tract, abnormal neural system signals, or pain sensitivity.

There is no proper cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome either. However, with some natural ways, the symptoms can be curbed to a large extent to improve quality of life. To understand the natural ways better, health shots reached out to Dr. Kiran Rukadikar, Bariatric Physician and Obesity Consultant, who recommends the following:

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Eat right to prevent IBS

Dr. Kiran says that if a person shows symptoms of constipation, one should increase the intake of foods like cereals (whole grains), fruits, vegetables, pulses, or nuts in daily diet. These foods can help relieve constipation owing to their high fiber content by making bowel movements soft and easy to pass.

Also, there are two types of fiber
Soluble fiber,which is found in fruits, beans, and oat products
Insoluble fiber, which is found in vegetables and whole grain products

The people who experience signs like bloating or acidity, reducing the intake of lentils or some types of fruits and vegetables will help alleviate the symptoms. However, just increasing the amount of fiber intake will not help in all cases. Therefore, Dr. Kiran reckons keeping the fiber consumption moderate to aid in curbing many symptoms.

Care should be taken while leveling up the intake of fiber-rich foods, as too much of it can trigger IBS symptoms like flatulence.

Reduce stress to relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

The cause of IBS is either functional or psychological. Thereby, many people start suffering from IBS due to high levels of stress in their bodies or unhealthy lifestyle. Yes, stress and gut health may be connected!

So, Dr. Kiran says that quite many people can benefit from reducing stress levels in their daily lives. Activities such as yoga, journaling, or mediation are some proven ways to alleviate IBS symptoms by living a stress-free life.