IMAGINE HAVING A CONDITION with symptoms so severe that you can’t leave the house, yet your doctor calls it a “functional,” or “psychosomatic,” disease — meaning that it’s all in your head.
But it’s a very real problem for the 60 million people — that’s 20 percent of Americans — who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These people are plagued by uncomfortable and often disabling symptoms like bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and pain. We have been told that there is no way to stop the pain.
That is NOT the answer. Big Pharma just doesn’t have a pill they can sell you yet.
Some doctors believe food allergies may be a trigger of IBS for some people. The most common food allergens are dairy products, wheat, soy, eggs and fish.
Your health care provider may recommend an elimination diet, where foods that are suspected of causing an allergic reaction are eliminated from your diet, then gradually added back to see which food trigger symptoms.
Eating a healthy diet that includes mainly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help. If gas is a problem, you may want to avoid beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, apple juice, grape juice, bananas, nuts, and raisins. These tips may also help:
- Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
- Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats
- Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Take fiber supplements to help reduce pain, cramping, and gas.
- Drink 6 – 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
- Exercise 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.
Eliminating dairy and wheat from your diet is not a major concern. However, fish contain omega-3’s that are essential for maintaining a healthy lipid profile and reducing overall inflammation. This means a fish allergen could be a double whammy! Not only could you be in gut wrenching pain, but your body needs the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) that come with fish, like the omega-3 EPA. Omega-3’s have shown amazing reductions in inflammation throughout the body.
We suggest trying the only proven alternative to fish oil, PhytOriginal. PhytOriginal is made of the plant-like phytoplankton that fish eat to build up their omega-3 reserves. It is produced from cradle to grave in the United States with only the highest grade ingredients.
Jordan is a frequent content contributor to healthy living websites and publications, and is available for speaking engagements. Email [email protected] to learn more.
