Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive disorder that can be quite common amongst individuals. It negatively affects a person’s gastrointestinal system leading to a host of different issues including abdominal pain, gas, constipation, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. It is considered a chronic condition, and the intensity of the symptoms that come with irritable bowel syndrome vary from person to person. People who have irritable bowel syndrome tend to have to make some lifestyle changes, keep track of what they eat, and manage their stress levels in order to manage the chronic disorder.
While the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome has yet to be specifically established, there are some factors that are considered to potentially contribute to the disease including:
- High Stress Levels: An excess amount of stress, especially in our earlier years of life, can cause our bodies to have an adverse reaction and can lead to digestive disorders.
- An Unstable Gut Microbiome: Our gut is made up of several types of bacteria in fungi. While healthy bacteria is essential in maintaining a healthy gut, there are several potentially harmful types of bacteria/illnesses that can invade our gut, causing our microbiome to weaken.
- Unstable Intestinal Wall: Our intestines are lined with walls that are meant to help us successfully digest food. These walls contract when we are digesting food. However, if a person’s wall for some reason contract slower or too quickly, it can cause adverse effects such as irregular bowel movements, gas, and bloating.
These are just three of many different potentially contributing factors to irritable bowel syndrome. It is important to keep in mind that a person might experience some of these factors without necessarily having irritable bowel syndrome. As always, if you are concerned about any digestive discomfort you might be experiencing, be sure to reach out to your doctor regarding your concerns.
Potential Risk Factors and Triggers Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Some of the factors that might potentially put you at a higher risk of having irritable bowel syndrome include: being young of age, being a female, being related to someone who has the disorder, and being someone who experiences high levels of anxiety or depression. Falling under any of these categories does not mean you definitely have irritable bowel syndrome, it simply means you are more likely to.
For those who do have irritable bowel syndrome, there are certain triggers that are recommended minimizing from your routine in order to avoid triggering a flare up. This is also dependent on the type of symptoms you get.
For example, if you are someone who experiences constipation, eating the following foods can cause your symptoms to worsen:
- processed foods
- refined sugars and grains
- lactose and dairy products
- carbonated drinks
There are similar triggers for those who tend to experience diarrhea:
- carbonated drinks
- fried and processed fats
- lactose and dairy products
- gluten products
Since it is impossible to narrow down all the triggering foods that a person can eat, it is important for each individual to take note of their own diets and reactions. Keeping a food diary where you track all the foods/substances you consume and how your body reacts is the best way to narrow down substances that can be potentially harmful to your specific digestive system.
Once you identify the potentially harmful substance try taking it out of your diet for a period of time to see how your body reacts. If you notice a positive change, it might be best to limit your intake of that food to avoid triggering any adverse symptoms.
Stress and anxiety can also become a trigger for irritable bowel syndrome and digestive complications in general. It is important to implement different practices throughout your week that can help you to overcome any anxiety or stress you might be feeling. Women who have irritable bowel syndrome tend to experience a flare up during their menstrual cycle. Be sure to give your body extra TLC during the week of your menstrual cycle in order to help alleviate any symptoms that might arise.
Eating Habits Tend to Trigger Digestive Issues
People tend to neglect the process of eating to focus on the food they are consuming. However, both parts of the process need to be taken into consideration, because your eating habits are just as important to keep in check as your diet.
Eating distracted and/or too quickly can not only cause a flare up if you have irritable bowel syndrome, but can negatively impact anyone’s digestive system. People who tend to eat distracted end up either eating too much food causing their stomach to feel overwhelmed or eating too quickly which can cause heartburn and discomfort.
Try to be as mindful as possible while you eat, and really pay attention to the meal that is before you. This will help to slow you down which will lower the chances that you overeat or cause a buildup of gas.
Supplements and Foods to Incorporate Into Your Meals To Boost Digestive Health
The acronym FODMAP’s stands for fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. All of these are types of carbohydrates that are harder on the body to digest. It is recommended that a person limit their intake of FODMAP foods in order to put less strain on their digestion. This is especially helpful for someone who has irritable bowel syndrome.
Foods that are considered low FODMAP include the following:
- eggs
- zucchini
- salmon
- kale
- avocado
- banana
- almonds
- cantaloupe
- corn
- eggplant
- white chicken meat
Try incorporating these foods into your diet in order to best avoid triggering any unwanted digestive ailments.
Adding a supplement for bloating that contains gut health enzymes like Sexy & Slim can be a great way to support your digestive system. Digestive enzymes help to break down the food we consume, making it easier for our bodies to digest. Sexy & Slim is a slim supplement that contains a digestive enzyme complex making it a wonderful choice! It is recommended to be taken at night.
Even though irritable bowel syndrome is classified as a chronic condition, this does not mean that one must live with the symptoms. With the proper diet, lifestyle, and attention, irritable bowel syndrome and digestive ailments in general can be maintained at a low level.