Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition affecting the digestive system.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. These may come and go over time.
You can usually help ease irritable bowel syndrome by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as avoiding things that trigger your symptoms.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. These may come and go over time.
The main symptoms of IBS are:
There may be days when your symptoms are better and days when they're worse (flare-ups). They may be triggered by food or drink.
You can usually help ease irritable bowel syndrome by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as avoiding things that trigger your symptoms.
cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients when you can
keep a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get – try to avoid things that trigger your IBS
try to find ways to relax
get plenty of exercise
try probiotics for a month to see if they help
do not delay or skip meals
do not eat too quickly
do not eat lots of fatty, spicy or processed foods
do not eat more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)
do not drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day
do not drink lots of alcohol or fizzy drinks
A GP may refer you to an NHS dietitian if general diet tips for IBS, such as avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms, are not helping.
They can suggest other changes you can make to your diet to ease your symptoms.
A dietitian may recommend a diet called a low FODMAP diet.
This involves avoiding foods that are not easily broken down by the gut, such as some types of: