How to take control of your IBS

Is it time to take control of your IBS? Do you need help doing so? Well look no further…

Irritable Bowl Syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by persistent stomach pain and bowel symptoms that are unrelated to any other illness. Symptoms can be complex and conflicting including one or a combination of constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, pain, bloating and changes in bowel movement.

Nobody with IBS responds to treatment the same way. But if you have received a diagnosis, there are numerous things that can be helpful which we will discuss in this blog.

The general Dos and Don’ts:

Dos:

• Keep a diary of what you eat and what symptoms you experience ( this will help you to avoid food that trigger your IBS)
• Get plenty of exercise
• When available cook homemade meals with fresh ingredients
• Try to find ways to relax

Don’ts:

• Do not delay or skip meals
• Try to avoid lots of fatty, spicy or processed foods
• Try not to drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day
• Do not eat too quickly
• Don’t drink loads of fizzy or alcoholic drinks

The Physical side effects of being an IBS sufferer –

Bloating and cramps

Irritable Bowl Syndrome can be felt anywhere in the abdomen, though is most often reported in the lower abdomen. It can worsen soon after eating, or after a bowel movement. It is not always predictable and may change over time. Persistent pain and frequent trips to the bathroom can make everyday life harder.

How to ease bloating and cramps:

• Eating oats regularly
• Avoiding foods that are hard to digest eg broccoli, beans, cauliflower and dried fruit
• Ask your GP or pharmacist about medicines that can help

Acne and Skin Conditions:

IBS patients are indeed more likely to suffer from certain skin conditions such as urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea.

Rosacea can flare up if inflammation and histamine levels are high in the body, these scenarios can crop up in people who suffer from IBS. Also if there are insufficient nutrients feeding the skin then this can exacerbate symptoms of rosacea which also is often another symptom of IBS

How to ease flare ups of Acne and Skin Conditions:

• Taking time to carefully chew your food
• Avoiding drinks 30 minutes before and after eating
• Sitting up straight to eat
• Taking a break from work to eat lunch calmly.

The Psychological repercussions of suffering from IBS –

Counselling and Stress relief

Many people who seek care for Irritable Bowl Syndrome also have anxiety, panic, or depression. IBS being a stress-sensitive disorder, therefore, it is important when treating Irritable Bowl Syndrome to focus on managing stress and stress-induced responses.

Research shows that psychological therapy can help ease IBS symptoms. There are a few types of therapy that can help reduce these emotions, this includes Cognitive behavioral therapy which is a short-term treatment that when trying to treat IBS may focus on managing life stress or changing responses to anxiety about IBS symptoms. Another Therapy type is Dynamic psychotherapy this is a form of talk therapy that may focus on in-depth discussions on the link between symptoms and emotions. The last form of therapy is Hypnotherapy where you enter an altered state of consciousness where visual suggestions are made of the pain going away.

Self-Confidence and Body Image

It’s not easy to deal with the painful struggles of IBS symptoms let alone the mental effects these can have on you.

Having a healthy body image is an important part of mental wellbeing. Flare ups can have you not feeling yourself and affect the way you feel about your body, especially with the bloating and painful cramps it can really affect your self confidence.As I’m sure your are aware stress can play a big part in affecting your IBS so it is essential to try to keep a positive attitude and mental state. Not having that anxiety and stress caused from lack of self confidence and poor body image can help to improve the symptoms of IBS and reduce the flare ups triggered by this stress.

However, it is important to remind yourself that these symptoms are only temporary and will pass. Your IBS doesn’t define you as a person or your body.

Have you ever heard of Caprylic Acid to help the symptoms of IBS?.

It contains a variety of essential ingredients to maintain gut health and improves and prevents IBS symptoms. Caprylic acid is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These keep the layers of the gut healthy and free from infection and naturally boost your immunity.

The supplements also contain Bifidobacterium bifidus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. These are probiotics that help maintain the gut microenvironment and balance and replace a healthy number of bacteria. In addition to this probiotics are widely known to prevent and treat cases of diarrhea.

The Caprylic acid supplement we have at VitaPro is an all-in-one remedy to maintain and improve gut health. But can also be beneficial to a variety of conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, kidney disease , nerve disorders and urinary tract infections.

Caprylic acid makes good health and well-being an attainable and maintainable goal.