Q: I have recently been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The doctor just gave me a prescription but didn't talk to me about diet or even refer me to a dietitian. The medication I'm taking makes me even feel more gassy. How can I change my diet to help with my condition?
A: First of all, that's too bad that the doctor didn't refer you to a dietitian and just opted to write out a prescription. I'm not saying that the prescription isn't right for you, but a doctor should always have a dietitian to refer patients to so the patient can be educated on diet to help with their issues. Unfortunately, medications almost always have side effects, so it's always best to try to fix the condition through proper diet rather than prescribing something too soon.
First, for all of the readers out there, IBS is a disorder with symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and cramping. One in five people have IBS symptoms making it one of the most common disorders. Researchers have not yet discovered the exact cause of IBS, but it may be a result of having a colon that is particularly sensitive to certain foods and/or stress.
A good idea is to first keep a journal of the foods you eat so you can track when you get the symptoms. For instance, see if you have a reaction to caffeine, stress, not sleeping well, antibiotics, or laxatives.
Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Eat smaller meals instead of large ones, which could cause the cramping. Eat low fat foods, watch the caffeine intake, and try to increase your fiber intake to 25 grams a day (which is what we should all have). Fiber can help with constipation by adding bulk and promote regularity. Examples of foods high in fiber are 1 cup of wheat bran (10 grams), ¾ cup of Fiber one (13 grams), ½ cup of Oat bran (4 grams), and ¾ cups of Bran flakes (5.5 grams). Other foods are beans, and fruits and veggies.
Again, I'm not saying your doctor was wrong in prescribing the medication, but if it's giving you gas and making you uncomfortable you want to start with changes to your diet first. Hopefully this can serve as a guide on how to make some healthy changes.