IBS and Food (Intolerance, Allergies and Sensitivities)

When a person’s immune structure reacts to normal food substances, which are taken by all as harmless eatables, they are considered to be suffering from food allergy. When you have a food allergy your immune system will release chemicals which in turn result in a variety of symptoms, like the gastrointestinal ones, vomiting, nausea, pain in the abdominal region, etc. Sometimes they will also suffer from symptoms associated with allergies which include rashes, itching, and swelling of lips, throat infection and breathing problems.

You will be surprised to hear that in the traditional sense these are rare cases of true food allergies. Studies have pointed at IBS conditions to be the cause for some reactions, also suggesting that if we restrict those foods, IBS symptoms may also vanish. This theory has been criticized by the fact that the allergies were diagnosed through the finding of substances in their blood called Immunologlobulin G (IgG). These are antibodies which fight infectious conditions in the body. They are not deemed trustworthy in the case of diagnosing food allergy. But despite these findings, it is worth considering this factor, because when the subject restricts the intake of these foods, which was the cause of the allergic, a reduction of IBS symptoms is shown to happen.

• Dairy products like milk, poultry products like eggs, chicken, red meat, pork, lamp and wheat, all of which are common food items were considered as causing a food allergy.

• When some of these foods were eliminated, there were reduced IBS symptoms like frequency of pain, and abdominal bloating, also improved life quality, a feeling of control over IBS and rectum functioning in an improved manner.

• As well, good response from patients to adapt to the restricted diet, who also found greater improvement in their condition.

• If you try to cheat on diet, the condition worsens.

If you try to distinguish organic GI disorders from IBS and food allergies, it is found that IBS is associated with straining, diarrhea and bloating of the abdomen, than organic disease which can cause loss of appetite and difficulties in upper abdominal reflux. When symptoms in IBS patients and food allergy patients were compared it was found that lower abdominal pain, frequent pain and bloating is more likely to occur in IBS patients, which is relieved from having a bowel movement.

To ascertain whether you are suffering from a food allergy, you should consult your doctor to determine your conditions through diagnostic tests. Similarly maintain a food diary to examine your eating patterns, and the symptoms that you may develop after consuming them. After identifying a particular food as potential factor, you should follow an elimination diet, and examine how restricting that food has affected you.

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Food Restrictions And Diarrhea for IBS

There are restrictions on certain food that you can and cannot indulge in when you have Diarrhea. Certain edibles are likely to aggravate the system, by increasing the contractions of the intestines, which you should keep away from. These foods are likely to only worsen the condition, and hence avoid them to deal effectively with Diarrhea.

If you had an attack of Diarrhea, avoid all lactose diary products for some time, though you may not have lactose intolerance. The important lactose containing foods are butter, cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese. The reason is: Diarrheal conditions usually reduce the enzyme lactase content in the system. For digesting lactose, the system certainly needs lactase, which refers to the sugar present in dairy products. If the milk sugar is not digested, you may further suffer from bloating, vomiting, gas, and Diarrhea.

You should also avoid eating high fat content items, which may only increase intestinal contractions. Since your system is already in a sensitized condition, high fat content items like fried foods, greasy items, and creamy eatables can only worsen the condition.

When you had suffered from a diarrhea attack, you should also avoid artificial sweeteners which are known to produce laxative effect, apart from increasing gas and bloating in your system. Till you feel relieved of Diarrhea, avoid taking such items as diet soda, sugar-free candy, sugar-free gum, sugar substitutes for tea and coffee.

Some vegetables are known for their capability to increase gas in the intestinal system, which could aggravate your diarrhea, and hence should be avoided. These vegetables include beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions and peas.

If you are in the peak of health, many beverages containing caffeine or alcohol as well as carbonated drinks do not result in Diarrhea, but all of these items are individually capable of causing irritation in GI tract, and therefore it is advised to keep away from these items till you have recovered.

Unsafe foods

Remember even a very healthy individual should always make appoint to eat food which has been properly washed, safely prepared, and stored in a scientific manner. If you consume foods which are not properly prepared and stored, it will endanger your gastrointestinal tract and cause Diarrhea.  Food hygiene is important and therefore you are advised to ensure that you go through the rigor of the following precautionary measures, every time you take food.

•    Remember to clean your hands, both before preparing or eating any food.

•    All raw vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly. The place where food is prepared must be cleaned with soap and hot water before and after using the place.

•    All foods should be cooked to a temperature of 160 F.

•    After eating, leftovers must be immediately refrigerated or frozen.

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Managing IBS Pain

Pain associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is usually relieved with bowel movement. However, a person may continue to feel unexplained tenderness, contractions and aching, unconnected with bowel movements. Abdominal uneasiness or pain of this nature is usually a key indication of IBS. This uneasiness/pain may be present anywhere in the region between hips and chest which can change over a period of time. IBS pain is described as a cramp-like, sharp stabbing pain, also known as a stomach migraine.

In general IBS pain is directly associated with our bowel movements. This explains why we feel a reduced amount of pain after moving bowels. Also, when there is a change in the regular cycle of bowel movements the uneasiness manifests. Similarly when there is a change in the composition of stools, soft or harder, the pain and uneasiness is usually felt.

During a recent study on 1,966 people suffering from IBS, done by IFFGD in association with the UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, it was discovered that this pain is one of the basic factors which adds to the harshness of their IBS. Eighty percent of the study patients confirmed that it is the sharpness of pain which makes their condition severe.

Among other factors, 74% referred to bowel movements, 69% to bloating and another 69% to the diet or eating restrictions which are noted as the reasons for the severity of IBS pain. It is common for people with IBS to experience frequent abdominal pain, while some feel it in a continuous manner. The people who participated in this survey have described this pain in various ways calling it as unbearable, intense, excruciating or merely awful.

The most important aspect of IBS pain is that it changes from time to time, day to day, hour to hour, and even minute to minute. As noted above, IBS pain may be felt along the entire region of the abdomen, and essentially it can be classified as upper abdominal pain, which is felt as a result of bloating, with a tendency to worsen after every meal or a cramping pain which is usually felt around the belly button and lower parts of abdomen, and lastly the lower abdominal pain which generally reduces with bowel movement.

IBS pain can change instantaneously, the range of pain can fluctuate from mild to constant to unbearable. IBS has been described as a wrenching ache which feels a “stitch-like”, stabbing pain. It is also described as frequent aches, tenderness when you feel the area, and the discomfiture associated with bloating.

The parts of abdominal area, where the IBS pain manifests distinguishes it from other digestive malfunctions: After-meal pain felt from behind the sternum, which worsens when you lie down is likely to be heartburn, after-meal pain below the sternum, on top of abdomen may be due to indigestion. It is important note these characteristics of IBS pain.

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