Natural Treatment Of Irritable Bowel
Our intestines have difficulty absorbing fatty foods, so it is advisable to minimize their consumption while this condition lasts
One of the most common triggers of irritable bowel syndrome are large meals and, above all, those composed of hypercaloric foods with a high fat content. However, on this list, other people might include other foods as causing your discomfort, such as dairy, coffee, chocolate, and desserts made with artificial sweeteners.
As Dr. Stephanie M. Moleski notes, “Since many food products contain multiple ingredients, it is difficult to identify the specific precipitating factor.” However, it is clear that diet plays a key role in people’s well-being.
Keeping this idea in mind, below we will indicate what a natural treatment of irritable bowel can consist of, in terms of nutrition. Ready to take note? Go for it!
How is irritable bowel syndrome treated?
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome varies from person to person. This is because not all have had a bad reaction to the same element (such as a fatty food or a dairy product, for example), nor do they present the same symptoms in the same intensity. In addition, it must be taken into account that each one has a series of traits (as far as health status is concerned) and particular lifestyle.
Still, doctors often recommend avoiding:
- Eat large meals
- Avoid eating foods that trigger discomfort.
- Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee and other stimulant substances.
- Get regular physical activity (to keep the digestive tract functioning normally).
- Give priority to fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
- Increase your water intake and try to maintain adequate hydration on a daily basis, not just during discomfort or the recovery period.
- Increase fiber consumption (especially in case of constipation), as directed by the treating physician.
- Eat a low-fat diet.
- Avoid eating 3 main meals a day, as these could become too heavy and cause further discomfort. Ideally, you should eat 5-6 small meals a day.
- Minimize the consumption of ultra-processed or better yet, eliminate them from the diet.
- Increase the consumption of probiotic foods.
In some cases, doctors could guide the taking of some medications, but as we can see, eating an adequate diet is the main thing to obtain relief.
What is the natural treatment of irritable bowel?
The natural treatment of irritable bowel consists of applying the doctor’s dietary guidelines; that is, in avoiding eating certain things in order to achieve a recovery.
Chocolate
Derived from the dried cocoa bean, chocolate has the property of stimulating both the nervous system and the digestive system which, in the case of colitis, produces colic and diarrhea. Therefore, if you want to improve yourself, you should avoid consuming chocolate (dark, milk, or any other presentation) in the meantime.
Fats
All fried foods and many ultra-processed products fall directly into the category of fats to avoid, as well as bagged snacks . On the other hand, keep in mind that dairy products like milk also have a percentage of fat. In addition, it is difficult for the intestinal walls to absorb.
Avoid those binges on French fries, fried chicken, chips, but also milkshakes and the like. Instead, opt for steamed or baked preparations and give plant-based milks a try.
Grains and legumes
This group includes beans, peas, blanquillos, lentils and chickpeas. They are high in iron and insoluble fiber. Hence, they become intolerable foods for irritable bowel patients. Therefore, they cause constipation and colic.
Citric fruits
For example, lemon, orange and tangerine cause discomfort to patients with irritable bowel. However, it does not produce them in the same proportion as other foods. It is recommended to avoid its consumption for greater safety, or to make a specific consumption, according to the doctor’s guidelines.
Banana
The green banana rich in potassium and carbohydrates is one of the foods that are against the proper functioning of the colon. In fact, it can cause constipation. In addition, it causes difficulty when evacuating and, sometimes, bleeding.
Dairy products
One of the main enemies of the digestive system of those who suffer from irritable bowel. Due to its high lactose content, it is difficult to digest for these patients.
Preserved foods
When talking about preservatives, we must mention ultra-processed foods, canned foods, and packaged juices. In fact, so that they do not expire, they contain a large number of added substances, not just preservatives. And these become an enemy for the irritable bowel.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages that become a real enemy of the irritable bowel. Unfortunately, they are a gastrointestinal irritant. That is why it is suggested that people who suffer from this syndrome not drink beverages such as wine, beer, rum, whiskey and the like. In fact, they can aggravate the symptoms of your disease.
Fizzy drinks
Carbonated drinks are part of the non-recommended foods . They can cause stomach inflammation due to the high degree of gas. Therefore, patients should avoid them.
Caffeine
Within this group we not only talk about coffee but also energy drinks. These contain high percentages of caffeine that does not provide any nutritional value for the body. These drinks generally cause constipation and rapid water loss.
To keep in mind …
Although the list becomes a bit long and can lead us to think something like “everything is bad for patients who have been diagnosed with irritable bowel”, we should not stay in this negative approach. Ideally, take your recovery time as a period to begin to become aware of the importance of adopting a healthy diet, not only to obtain an improvement, but to maintain a good quality of life.
Learning to eat healthy also implies researching other ways of preparing food, apart from frying, to avoid falling into the same digestive problems over and over again.
