I just wanted to remind people of other factors besides diet that affects IBS. While the main focus of this website and message board are 'what' we eat, there are many other things to remember to help your IBS. We have to spend so much effort watching our foods, that it's often easy to overlook these things:
1. STRESS - I cannot stress this enough! Stress affects IBS just as bad as trigger foods (at least for me). Unfortunately it's harder to get rid of, we can't control what happens around us and how we react to it. Best thing to do is eat very safely during a stressful period. Some foods you may be able to tolerate when you're calm and happy at home, may cause problems if you're stressed-out, travelling, or running around getting errands done. Stick to safe foods.
2. Exercise! Especially for C, gas, and bloating. Think of it like this, your digestive system is surounded by muscles that function to move things through. You're most likely sitting at a desk all day which means your stomach muscles are practically dormant and not moving things through. But, you keep eating all day, which puts more food and gas into your system. By the end of the day, this can result in a lot of discomfort. Try getting up each hour at work and walk around (at my last workplace I joined the smokers on their breaks, about every 1 - 1 1/2 hours, but didn't smoke). For D's it is also important to get gentle exercise. Heathers says it well "Try to be mildly active, even if just around the house, as gentle exercise will work the muscles of the bowels and help get them back into a pattern of normal contractions. Walking or stretching or an easy yoga practice is ideal. Exercise is especially crucial for constipation."
3. Water - Very important for C and for anyone taking an SFS, and everyone in general. If you want your SFS to work the best for you, drink plenty of water. Peppermint, fennel and ginger tea also count towards water intake, and are very helpful!
4. HOW you eat - if you eat too fast, or too much at one sitting, it can give you pain and cramps pretty fast. A lot of people don't eat enough during the day, and then end up eating a quick and big meal for dinner (if I do this I usually have an attack). Dinner is usually also the highest in fat and IF, so it should be eaten very slowly and in small portions. I often eat dinner in 2 sittings. Also try to get protein with every meal (including breakfast) to reduce your hunger and cravings, which could also make you eat too much later in the day.
5. How often you eat - this goes with the last one. Eating often in the day can help keep you from eating too much in one sitting, and keep your stomach happy. If you let your stomach get too empty, the next thing you eat should be SF first. Sometimes just letting my stomach get empty causes me to have problems. So bring safe snacks when you know you'll be going for a while between meals.
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Kat
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Reminder - Factors other than diet
