What to Eat With IBS Attack
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine in roughly 10% to 15% of people around the world.
It’s important to keep in mind that while IBS affects the intestines, it does not lead to bowel tissue damage and does not cause colon cancer. However, we know that flare-ups can be painful and uncomfortable.
Diet affects IBS flare-ups, and taking supplements (like Benefiber and NatureMD) can help. Benefiber is a soluble fiber supplement often used to promote regularity and support digestive health. NatureMD contains some of the world's healthiest ingredients to create an advanced supplement supporting gut health.
Now, let's take a look at what to eat and avoid during an IBS attack.
25 Foods to Avoid During an IBS Attack
It’s important to avoid food triggers, especially during an IBS attack. Common food triggers include:
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Carbonated drinks.
Additionally, IBS attacks may occur if you are sensitive to certain carbohydrates known as FODMAPS (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) including lactose, fructose and fructans. Therefore, the following high-FODMAP foods should be avoided during an IBS attack:
- Garlic.
- Wheat.
- Rye.
- Chickpeas.
- Lentils.
- Tofu.
- Beans.
- Onions.
- Cabbage.
- Cauliflower.
- Broccoli.
- Plums.
- Peaches.
- Pears.
- Apples.
- Mangoes.
- Watermelon.
- Honey.
- Mushrooms.
- Dairy products, including cow’s milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.
- Fruit juice concentrate.
- High-fructose corn syrup.
What is an IBS Attack?
An IBS attack involves experiencing a sudden increase in IBS symptoms. Common symptoms of an IBS attack include:
- Stomach/abdominal pain.
- Excessive gas.
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Bloating.
- Mucus in the stool.
- A feeling of incomplete emptying after passing stool.
Other symptoms may include:
- Nausea.
- Indigestion.
- Intestinal spasm.
- Regurgitation.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Joint and/or muscle pain.
- Frequent urination.
- Anxiety or depression.
The severity of an IBS attack varies widely and may last for a few hours to several days. In some cases, individuals suffer from symptoms daily for weeks to months at a time.
The cause of IBS remains unknown, but researchers have discovered certain factors that may trigger an IBS attack including weak or strong intestinal muscle contractions that initiate symptoms. Strong intestinal contraction may result in food passing too quickly through the digestive tract, leading to diarrhea. On the other hand, slow intestinal contraction may slow down the passage of stool, making it harder to pass, leading to constipation. Other causes of IBS may include eating trigger foods, psychological conditions, including depression and anxiety, inflammation, overgrowth of bacteria, intestinal bacterial infection, or poor signal communication between the brain and nerves of the intestinal tract.
Managing IBS symptoms with dietary changes is key. Some suggested IBS diets include gluten-free, elimination diet, low FODMAP, and more.
Best Foods to Eat During an IBS Attack
Certain foods that are low in FODMAP are ideal to consume during an IBS attack, including:
- Carrots.
- Peas.
- Potatoes.
- Spinach.
- Zucchini.
- Swiss chard.
- Eggplant.
- Kale.
- Gluten-free oats.
- Basmati, white and brown rice.
- Quinoa.
- Maple syrup.
- Poultry.
- Fish.
- Nuts and seeds, including pecans, almonds, pine nuts and flaxseed.
Your doctor may advise that you try an elimination diet to help determine your food triggers. An elimination diet involves removing certain foods from your diet that may be triggering your IBS symptoms and monitoring your symptoms to determine if there is an improvement. After a certain amount of time, you can slowly reintroduce the foods, one at a time. Keeping a food journal that tracks what you eat and drink and listing any IBS symptoms that you develop can help to identify food triggers. Once identified, food triggers should be avoided completely.
Collagen Supplements for Gut Health
- NativePath: NativePath is a health and wellness company that offers a range of products designed to improve the overall health and appearance of the body, including helping with gut health.
- NeoCell: NeoCell's supplement contains a variety of natural ingredients that work together to improve the health of the gut.
- Codeage: Codeage's supplement contains a blend of natural ingredients that work together to support healthy skin and improve gut health. These ingredients include collagen, hyaluronic acid and various vitamins and minerals.
- BetterBody: BetterBody offers collagen supplements that are designed to help support gut health. These supplements contain a high-quality blend of collagen peptides, vitamins and minerals that work together to promote your overall gut health.
- SkinnyFit: SkinnyFit offers collagen supplements that are designed to promote healthier gut. These supplements contain a blend of hydrolyzed collagen peptides, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that work together to support overall health and wellness. Additionally, SkinnyFit's collagen supplements come in a variety of flavors and are easy to mix into beverages or food.
Other Coping Mechanisms
There are various additional strategies you can try to help manage IBS attacks, including:
- Increasing physical activity levels to include exercise at least 30 minutes a day and three times per week to help regulate intestinal contractions.
- Consuming meals at the same time each day to help regulate your bowels.
- Reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption.
- Slowly increasing fiber intake to manage constipation.
- Consuming probiotics to introduce good bacteria into your digestive tract.
- Taking peppermint supplements or drinking peppermint tea to decrease intestinal spasms.
- Practicing yoga, meditation, and deep breathing to help minimize stress.
- Trying heat therapy to promote blood flow, help to relax muscles and decrease stress.
- Trying alternative therapies, such as massage and acupuncture.
- Trying cognitive behavioral therapy to change the way your body responds.
- Trying directed hypnotherapy.
There are also a variety of medications available to help reduce symptoms, including IBS-specific medication, such as Alosetron and Lubiprostone. These medications help by either slowing the movement of food through the bowel to decrease diarrhea or increasing fluid production in the intestine to relieve constipation. Antispasmodics, including Hyoscine and Dicyclomine, may be used to help relax the muscles in the intestine to decrease spasms and cramping. Antidiarrheals, including Loperamide, may be used to treat diarrhea. Antidepressants, including Imipramine and Citalopram, may help to relieve diarrhea and constipation and may also help to reduce IBS-associated pain.
In Conclusion
IBS attacks can severely impact your quality of life. Learning techniques to manage symptoms of an attack, and identifying your triggers can help to minimize the impact IBS has on your life. If you are unable to manage your symptoms with dietary and lifestyle changes, speak with your doctor, as there are a variety of medications available that can help to manage IBS.
