April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness month, and here at Bel Marra, we have taken the time to compile a list of some of the most informative articles that will help anyone with irritable bowel syndrome. We have also included articles touching on topics that will help those with the syndrome choose the best IBS diet to help ease their symptoms and what you should know about lactose intolerance. Please enjoy, and know what the wonderful folks at Bel Marra Heath are here to help!
Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms can be reduced with psychological therapy: Study
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms can be relieved with psychological therapy, according to research. The meta-analysis study found the benefits of psychological therapy may last between 6 to 12 months after therapy completion. The study analyzed results of 41 clinical trials involving over 2,200 patients.
Advertisement
Senior author Lynn S. Walker explained, “Our study is the first one that has looked at long-term effects. We found that the moderate benefit that psychological therapies confer in the short term continue over the long term. This is significant because IBS is a chronic, intermittent condition for which there is no good medical treatment.” Continue reading…
IBS-affected women experience poorer quality of life than men: Study
Among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), women experience poorer quality of life than men. Researcher Ida Björkman explained, “Even if the similarities are larger than the differences, there is a pattern of differences between men and women with IBS.”
Nearly 10 to 15 percent of the population lives with IBS, which is characterized by pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and swelling. Some patients may not seek help for their syndrome either because their symptoms are not that severe or because they are embarrassed to discuss them, even with their doctor. “You have gas, your stomach swells, you don’t know what to wear and think ‘I look so fat.’ All of this affects women’s quality of life more than the men’s,” added Björkman. Continue reading…
IBS vs. lactose intolerance: Causes, symptoms, risk factors, and complications
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a gastrointestinal disorder that can often be mistaken for other digestive problems, such as lactose intolerance. Knowing the difference between the disorders is important for finding effective treatment and comfort.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a reaction similar to a food allergy. There are a number of potential causes, but in many people, IBS is triggered by certain foods. Irritable bowel syndrome affects people in different ways. For instance, some people have mild IBS, while others experience severe IBS. Episodes tend to come and go and can be aggravated by stress. Irritable bowel syndrome affects about one in five people, with most cases developing sometime between the ages of 20 to 30. In most situations, IBS symptoms are chronic, meaning that you have them for life. On the upside, there are periods of long remission, and symptoms can turn from severe to mild over several years. Continue reading…
IBS diet: Foods to eat and foods to avoid
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients can better manage their symptoms with an IBS-specific diet. IBS symptoms are often triggered by food, so sticking to an IBS diet can reduce severity and flare-ups. Unlike the case of a gluten-free diet and celiac disease, an IBS diet is not one-size-fits-all. Although there are some general guidelines regarding what to eat and what to avoid, determining which foods you can and cannot tolerate will require some trial and error.
Advertisement
As someone who is living with IBS (and Crohn’s disease), I will tell you that finding the perfect diet can be challenging and frustrating. But once you finally narrow down on what you can and cannot eat, meals are no longer a stressful event, and you can go back to enjoying your daily life. Continue reading…
IBS symptoms may be eased by new ‘designer’ dietary fiber with potential prebiotic effect
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms may be eased by a new ‘designer’ dietary fiber with a potential prebiotic effect. A collaboration between research teams led to the development of the new product, which is derived from a mixture of seaweed and starch. With this natural starch, the release of fiber within the gastrointestinal tract is delayed, allowing it to occur in the colon instead of in the upper portions of the intestine.
Principal investigator Dr. Ece Mutlu said, “This new product prevents the discomfort and bloating associated with current fiber therapies, while getting our new fiber into the colon and specifically distal colon where traditional fiber products typically do not reach and where many diseases of colon-like cancers develop. This can provide an effective treatment for IBS, decrease the risk of colon cancer and possibly inflammatory diseases like colitis.” Continue reading…
