A New Way to Live

Realize that the diet you grew up on, and the foods you were taught are good for you, may no longer provide a healthy life. Many of us were raised on bacon and egg breakfasts, burger and fries lunches, and meatloaf dinners. This diet may be typical for most Americans, but it is simply intolerable for people with IBS.

Make a habit of listening to your body, and try to head off trouble before it becomes severe. IBS is a highly personalized problem. What works for you may not work for others, and vice versa.

You will probably more often than not be offered concern and compassion if you simply tell people why your diet is limited, and give them a brief explanation of IBS. Employers, co-workers, friends, and family are frequently very supportive when they know about your problem.

It can feel awkward, embarrassing, or just plain tiresome to have to explain a health problem to others, particularly if you are a private person, but the results are likely to be consistently positive, and you will end up with much less stress and worry as a result. Having said this, you may also occasionally have people doubt and even criticize your inability to eat certain foods, particularly since IBS sensitivities are not as clear cut as, say, food allergies. Your tolerance may depend not only on what you eat, but the time of day, the size of the portion, whether or not you're eating on an empty stomach, how much stress you're under, etc. It can be hard for people to understand that you simply cannot go to Burger King for lunch, or eat the hot dogs and potato chips they offer at their barbecue. This is not your preference; it is a medical necessity. You must come to realize that no matter how difficult it may be for others to accept what you tell them about your dietary needs, it is even more difficult for you to survive a severe IBS attack. You have to reach a point in your life where you simply don't care what other people think about how you need to eat. You do not have to look for their understanding or approval, and you should not eat foods that hurt you just to avoid questions or criticisms. Your diet and your health are your business, and you should eat the way you must to live happily. If other people have a problem with that, it is their problem - not yours. It is better to be thought rude than to be in pain. Take immediate control of your symptoms with Eating for IBS. See Eating for IBS Recipes                     Excerpted from Eating for IBS. All content is copyrighted by Heather Van Vorous and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission.