People with IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, are individual in their responses to different food irritants. The best way to determine what causes problems for an individual is an elimination diet. According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, an elimination diet can provide crucial information for patients with IBS who have not received relief through standard medical care. They found the use of an elimination diet provided sustained clinical benefit and improved quality of life.
Eliminating Common Irritants
Eliminate all foods known to be irritants. This includes milk and dairy products, eggs and egg products, citrus fruits, caffeine, corn and foods that contain corn and foods that contain gluten. Processed foods should also be eliminated. Dairy, eggs, corn and gluten are contained in a wide number of foods; completely removing these foods from your diet will require careful label reading. Soy milk, soy cheese, rice milk and almond milk may be allowed depending on your individual symptoms. If you are used to consuming caffeine, stopping it abruptly can cause headaches or other symptoms of withdrawal. Usually these resolve in just a few days; in the interim, stay adequately hydrated. All common irritant foods should be removed from the diet for a period of at least one full week and up to one month before beginning the next phase of the diet. While you are in the elimination phase of the diet, it may be helpful to take probiotics to help your digestive system. Continue taking any other medications as instructed by your doctor.
Reintroduction of Foods
Generally your doctor will tell you when she thinks it is time to begin slowly reintroducing foods. You should only reintroduce one type of food at a time. For example, you might choose milk and dairy to reintroduce first. Keep detailed records of the foods you eat and how you feel throughout the day and week to follow. Some food allergies and sensitivities can show up 48 hours after a particular food is ingested. If you develop no IBS symptoms after a minimum of five days, you can generally conclude that you do not negatively react to that particular type of food. If you do experience a return of IBS symptoms, eliminate that food from your diet again and keep it eliminated. Do not reintroduce a different food until your doctor tells you to do so--usually after your symptoms have resolved.
Challenges With Elimination Diets
There are a number of challenges you may face on an elimination diet. When you remove so many different types of foods, you may easily become bored or frustrated with your available choices. To avoid this, choose a variety of foods and keep your goal in mind. Even when you have eliminated most common irritants from your diet, your symptoms may not resolve. This could mean you still have an allergy or sensitivity to something you are eating. Try keeping a food diary and see if you can detect any patterns in relation to the food you are eating. Also, carefully consider the foods you are eating and see if you are consuming any hidden irritants, dairy in the form of whey or casein, for example, or high fructose corn syrup solids. A partnership with your doctor and perhaps a dietitian can help you face these challenges and succeed.
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