Most medical professionals will tell you that the causes of irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS) are not very clear. There are many theories, of course, but no one cause has been identified.
Not only they don't know what causes IBS, but there's no way for a doctor to make a definite diagnosis.
There is no single trigger and no single set of identifying symptoms, which can come and go in a day, or plague sufferers for months or years.
Experts used to think that IBS occurred only in the colon, the last 5 feet of the intestine. We now know that IBS occurs throughout the entire digestive tract, from the mouth to the colon.
In America alone this condition seems to be affecting 20% of the
population! And it's very much the same in all the Western world. So is there any way to identify the causes
of IBS?
To understand the causes of irritable bowel syndrome (also called spastic colon) you need to understand how the digestive system works.
In normal digestion, when you eat any food, muscles in your oesophagus, stomach and intestine react with gentle contractions (known as peristalsis) that move the food along the digestive tract.
You don't normally feel these contractions and the food is pushed forward without you even noticing it. Nutrients are absorbed and the residual is eventually eliminated in the stools.
When you suffer with IBS, things change. The normally rhythmic waves are disrupted and become irregular and uncoordinated.
These crazy, out-of-sync muscle movements are behind the pain of IBS.
Sometimes, the nervous bowel contracts too much or too forcefully, so food moves through the intestines too quickly, resulting in diarrhoea.
Other times, the intestinal muscles contract but don't relax again, or they contract very slowly, resulting in constipation.
This interferes with the normal movement of food and waste material and leads to an accumulation of mucus and toxins in the intestine. This accumulated material sets up a partial obstruction of the digestive tract, trapping gas and stools.
We all have intestinal gas, but for people with IBS, it can become trapped inside, resulting in bloating and distension. In addition, the intestinal nerves of people with IBS are highly sensitive, so that even minor bloating can have them doubled over in pain.
There are no physical signs of disease in bowel tissue with this disorder and by and large the symptoms of IBS vary from person to person. There's more information on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome on the next page.
Scientists and researchers agree on one important fact: there isn't just one single cause for IBS but different things can be responsible for the symptoms of IBS in different people. Here are the most common:
(For a full list of products to help rebalance your intestinal flora go to the Nutriglow website)
Even if we don't know what the exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome are and what disrupts the workings of the intestines in the first place, it's possible to identify what triggers YOUR flare ups of the condition.
Because each person's case of IBS is different, the key to relieving discomfort is to keep a food and symptom diary or IBS Journal.
That diligence will pay off in helping you identify which foods to avoid and which appear to help.
Another way of going about it is to follow an elimination diet for 5 to 7 days and gradually reintroduce foods, one at a time and keep a record of any symptoms.
One thing is certain, you CAN control IBS instead of having it control you.
The next few pages will discuss what healing foods are suitable to help prevent flare ups of IBS and which ones are more likely to cause problems.
Treat IBS naturally, safely and permanently by giving your body what it needs. READ MORE
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Bowel Essence
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Peppermint Complex combines plant oils to help maintain the health
and tranquillity of the digestive system including peppermint, ginger,
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Causes of
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS Trigger Foods - Foods to Avoid If You Suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Elimination Diet for IBS and Other Food Sensitivities
IBS with Diarrhea - The Elimination Diet
IBS With Constipation - The Elimination Diet
IBS Foods - Healing Foods to Regulate Your Colon
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
References:
1) Balch, P., CNC, (2000) Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements, New York: Avery.
2) Bauer, J., MS, RD, CDN, (2007) Joy Bauer's Food Cures, New York: Rodale.
3) Lipski, E., Ph.D., CCN, (2005) Digestive Wellness, Fourth Edition: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, New York: McGraw-Hill
4) Wait, M., (2007) Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescriptions for Everything from Colds to Cancer, New York: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
5) Yeager, S., (2007) The Doctors Book of Food Remedies, New York: Rodale Inc.
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS Trigger Foods - Foods to Avoid If You Suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Elimination Diet for IBS and Other Food Sensitivities
IBS with Diarrhea - The Elimination Diet
IBS With Constipation - The Elimination Diet
IBS Foods - Healing Foods to Regulate Your Colon
Foods for IBS with Diarrhea - healing Foods To
Soothe your Colon
Fibre Supplement with Digestive Enzymes
Bowel Essence
A combination of herbs designed to calm the symptoms of IBS.
Peppermint Complex combines plant oils to help maintain the health and
tranquillity of the digestive system including peppermint, ginger,
fennel, chamomile and cardamom.
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