Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: "Breaking The Cycle" questions

Chris:

Personally, I have problems with the "breaking the cycle" instructions. I'm sorry to say, but I think the instructions are confusing and not in-depth enough for people, especially newcomers to this website (which is probably why you are confused and posting questions), and I think some of the foods that are recommended would cause discomfort. For example, oatmeal can be a problem for some IBS people and can take some adjustment to possibly tolerate.

Having battled IBS all of my life, and having gained a great deal of experience (I think!) on how to deal with it, I would recommend the following foods to get yourself on the road to being stable:

- plain mashed potatoes

- protein in the form of plain baked or boiled chicken breast with the skin removed. I think protein is essential or your blood sugar will drop and you will become foggy-headed (as you have already described). Although I've been voted down on this board on the "organic" subject, I would nevertheless recommend eating organic chicken. I get sick from conventional chicken because I believe the antibiotics and harmones, etc. used in conventional chicken can cause IBS discomfort. A light type of fish meat is also a good protein source -- for example, trout (baked is good). I don't recommend salmon to start because it will be "heavier" on your stomach.

- plain boiled peeled carrots (again, preferably organic)

- French or white bread that is from a good bakery and that contains NO milk products and preferably NO additives. The ideal thing is to bake your own in a bread-making machine and then you can control the ingredients.

- Steamed white rice. I find what works best for me is organic basmati white rice, which I buy at a health food store.

-Peppermint tea (preferably organic). However, if you suffer from acid reflux, stay away from Peppermint tea and try fennel or camomile tea instead. However, if you also suffer from ragweed (hayfever) allergy, stay away from the camomile tea and just have the fennel tea.

- Plain, non-carbonated, bottled water served at room temperature. (Evian is the best -- and most expensive, of course!) If you are IBS-C, drink lots of water and get lots of exercise to help regulate yourself.

I don't personally recommend pasta to start because for some reason it bothers my stomach. The other things I've mentioned above I know from experience are very soothing when you are trying to get stable.

For breakfast, I recommend a plain white-flour bagel or French or white bread (again from a good bakery)with a little babyfood sauce like apple sauce, which contains no additives, smeared on the top in lieu of jam. (I also spread a little organic Earth Balance buttery spread, which I find is fine for my IBS.)

A tip for buying milk-free bread products is to go to a Jewish bakery, which sells "parve" bread. If it is parve, it will not contain any milk products.

Once you feel better, you could start adding more fibre into your diet -- acacia, which Heather sells, is good, but start with VERY SMALL amounts until your system adjusts. Start with more soluble fibre and, as you improve, begin to add small quantities of insoluble fibre, but eat the insoluble fibre WITH LOTS OF SOLUBLE FIBRE.

My other advice is to stay away from prepared foods as much as possible and make your own food because that way you have the most control over your food intake. I do not recommend eating anything with chemicals or additives. And, as I've already said, I recommend eating organic. My opinion is a natural approach is the best way to taming IBS.

After a lifetime of agony, I have been pain-free for almost two years now. I hope you feel better very soon.

Belinda

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