Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Wind:

I am so glad you posted your recommendation to buy organic foods only and your statement that you feel it makes a huge difference. I totally agree with you. But when I posted a challenge earlier this year for others on this board to try organic food (in the hopes of helping them), I was stunned at the negative reaction I received.

I was attacked and practically thrown off these boards, with people complaining organic food costs too much and that it didn't help them anyway. It made me afraid to mention the organic subject again.

I personally think organic food is an important part of the journey to wellness for an IBS person. Since our guts are ultra-sensitive to food, it makes sense that organic food would be better for us because there usually aren't things like additives, pesticides, chemicals, preservatives, harmones, antibiotics, etc. in organic food that could irritate our IBS and provoke an attack.

It is true organic food is more expensive than conventional food. But if you shop regularly at a health food store, there are often great sales that you can take advantage of. In Toronto you can get a discount card from the Toronto Vegetarian Association that entitles you to discounts at various health food stores. Some cities also have co-op health food stores where you can help out a little in exchange for some discounted organic food. Much of our organic food in Canada comes from the U.S. (California) so prices should be even better south of the border.

On the whole, I would say organic food probably costs about 30 per cent more than conventional food, but is well worth the money. I cut some cable channels and reduced some other expenses so I could afford it. I feel it's a good investment for my health. Preparing my own food and not buying store-prepared food also helps me cut down on my grocery bill and enables me to better afford organic food.

I am often dismayed at how many people on these boards eat conventional food, as well as store-prepared foods, with all kinds of additives and chemicals, and they can't understand why they continue to be sick from IBS even though they are following Heather's diet.

I think the controlling of IBS requires a multi-faceted approach in which we need to not only pay close attention to what we are eating, how we prepare it and how we eat it, but also to the very sources of our food.

Belinda

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