Irritable Bowel Syndrome: How To Relieve It

By Elizabeth Hartley

When a condition, disorder or disease has no obvious cause it is almost certain that there will be little in the way of an effective cure. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one such condition and the best resolution to date is to try to relieve or eliminate the symptoms as and when they arise. This won't cure the complaint but will provide temporary respite from the symptoms.

While many cases of Irritable Bowel Syndrome have been studied by the medical and scientific communities, we still seem to be a long way from finding an effective cure. The best option is to try to find an effective treatment for the symptoms and make use of some of the most helpful resources currently available.

When we eat, the digestive tract regularly contracts and relaxes to facilitate the proper absorption of food. When this function is disturbed, people may either feel bloated or may experience constipation or diarrhea, depending on the speed and irregularity of contraction and relaxation of the muscles. This is when Irritable Bowel Syndrome occurs.

However, though it is known what happens, the exact causes have yet to be found. Finding an effective cure depends on discovering how or why the digestive systems goes out of rhythm in some people which is why finding a treatment to suit all sufferers is so elusive.

Here are some tips to help relieve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Stress has often been associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and sufferers are advised to try and avoid stressful situations whenever possible. This is because sufferers often experience attacks of symptoms including stomach bloating or diarrhea during times of anxiety. Some reports suggest that IBS may disrupt absorption of certain foods and beverages causing a chemical interaction in the intestinal tract which can change the bowel movements, creating painful spasms and stomach bloating. Yoga, meditation and deep breathing may be beneficial in these situations and are all helpful in alleviating stress.

Fatty foods are also known to trigger symptoms such as stomach cramps and constipation. It is best to minimize the intake of foods such as ice cream or any kinds of cream-based foods, chocolate and chocolate products, substances that contain caffeine such as coffee, tea and sodas, carbonated drinks and artificial sweeteners.

Keeping a food diary of your daily food intake will help you to keep track of which foods seem to trigger the symptoms. You should check which foods cause the flare up of symptoms and adjust your intake accordingly. This will help you to modify your diet to reduce the worst of the symptoms and provide your doctor, if necessary, with the information he needs to design a suitable treatment plan based on your personal needs.

Drinking plenty of water or hot peppermint tea has been shown to be particularly helpful in reducing stomach bloating and painful cramps. Sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are usually advised to keep alcoholic beverages to a minimum.

Elizabeth Hartley is the author and creator of The Flat Stomach Diet. This diet plan is the result of many years of research after consultation with doctors and professional nutritionists in an effort to discover the causes of painful abdominal cramps and bloating. The findings are based on personal experience after undergoing numerous medical tests and procedures and failing to find any other alternative long term solution. Details of The Flat Stomach Diet can be found at http://www.flatstomachplan.com.

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