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Nutrition & Healing - Irritable Bowel Syndrome

By Dr. Jonathan V. Wright

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, it's often possible to reduce or even completely eliminate the symptoms with changes in what you're eating and dietary supplementation. If you're taking drugs to control spasms or other symptoms, it's often possible to reduce or eliminate them too.

"Mainstream" medical treatment of irritable bowel syndrome usually consists of bulk-forming agents, antispasm drugs, and referrals for psychological counseling.

In my experience and that of other nutritionally-oriented doctors, people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome always have food allergies. Since standard allergy "skin" testing is unreliable for the diagnosis of food allergy, many who suffer from food allergies have been told they don't have them. For further discussion of allergy testing, you might want to read the brief on Allergy Testing.

Sometimes self-testing at home for food allergy is helpful. In a group of 189 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, allergens included milk and dairy products in 40%, onions 35%, wheat 30%, chocolate 27.5%, coffee 24%, eggs 23%, nuts, citrus, tea and rye, 18% each, potatoes 15%, barley 13%, oats 12%, and corn 11%. Eliminating these can be a start. Others switch temporarily to eating foods they like but rarely eat, and observe what happens when commonly eaten foods are added back. A few will go onto a "juice fast," avoiding citrus or commonly used juices, then observing the results of adding back foods. However, some food allergy problems are so widespread and complex, and self-testing is so bothersome, that help from a health care professional skilled and knowledgeable in more-accurate food allergy testing is required. To locate one near you, you might call the American Academy of Environmental Medicine at 913-642-6062 or the International Federation of Electrodermal Screeners at 800-258-2172.

Finding, eliminating, and desensitizing food allergies is a major help. Other diet changes are additionally useful. These include the elimination of refined sugar, reduction in the use of fruit juices, and complete avoidance of all artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in what yours eating. Elimination of caffeine is usually necessary.

Dietary fiber and bulk-forming agents can reduce symptoms, but it's important to make sure you're not alleric to them or symptoms may be worsened. Food containing dietary fiber include root vegetables, beans, and grains, but grains are often allergens it's best to avoid them unless you're certain. Supplemental fiber sources that aren't often allergens include psyllium seed [sill-ee-uhm] and carrot. Avoid sugar-added versions.

Peppermint oil capsules frequently reduce irritable bowel symptoms. I usually recommend two capsules three times daily, or 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil in water, once or twice daily.

Irritable bowel symptoms are increased by incompletely digested food. If you suspect this may be a problem, you might try two or three capsules after meals of one of the many digestive enzyme preparations found in natural food stores. In addition, sometimes supplemental hydrochloric acid and pepsin capsules are necessary to complete digestion. It's best to check with a health care professional skilled and knowledgeable in nutritional and natural therapies before using these. For further information, you might want to read the brief on Heartburn/Indigestion.

Because of differences in age, sex, metabolic or potential allergy, these diet and supplement therapies may not be suitable for you. Consult a health care professional skilled in nutritional and natural therapies. To locate one near you, you might call the American College of Advancement in Medicine at 800-532-3688 or the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians at 206-323-7610.

 

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