Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Research:
Diet & Lifestyle
Pectin
& IBS
Pectin is a binding agent found in many fruits and other
sources such as carob beans. Carob flour is frequently used as a healthy alternative to
chocolate. It is rich in pectin and has been found in a number of medical studies to be
extremely beneficial for those people suffering diarrhoea by normalising loose stools.
Bananas are another traditional and very effective remedy
for diarrhoea because not only do they contain pectin, but they also contain magnesium,
potassium and many other essential nutrients including easily digested carbohydrates which
help replace those lost through diarrhoea and keep energy levels normal and stabilise
weight. (3)
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High Fibre - Low fat
& IBS
A high fibre diet has been reported to be of definite benefit
to people suffering from chronic diarrhoea as well as those patients diagnosed as having
crohn's disease (4) . This is thought to be due to the fact that the fibre absorbs excess
fluid and the low fat diet reduces bile acids manufactured by the liver which irritate the
lining of the intestines. One medical study showed that patients with chronic diarrhoea
(half a dozen or more bowel movements a day) were helped by adding bran to their diet. The
effect was even greater than the well known benefits of bran for constipation. After
adding small amounts of bran to the diet, all the patients had normal bowel movements.
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Gluten-free diet
& IBS
Many cases of chronic diarrhoea respond well to a gluten
free diet (Foods high in gluten are wheat, barley and rye) (5).
Rice on the other hand is low in gluten and has been shown
by research at the International Centre of Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh,to have
a highly beneficial effect on persistent diarrhoea (6).
Ensuring good digestion and assimilation of food is the
paramount consideration in diarrhoea. Simple steps can be taken to help in addition to
those mentioned above. For instance, chewing your food thoroughly, relaxing when eating,
not mixing high protein foods (eg. meats, poultry, fish, eggs, soya and dairy) with high
carbohydrate foods (eg, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, wholegrains) are very basic measures
we can all take. Sound dietary advice can be obtained from a qualified naturopath or
nutritionist (see below).
Footnotes
(1) 'Yoghurt with bifidobacterium longum reduces
erythromycin-induced gastro-intestinal effects' Colombel CD et al The Lancet 4th July
1987, 2 (8549) p43.
(2) 'Successsful treatment of relapsing clostridium difficile irritable bowel syndrome
with lactobacillus GG' Gorbach SL et al The Lancet 26th Dec 1987, 2 (8574) p1519
(3) Reported in The Practical Encycopedia of Natural Healing (Rodale Press) 1976
(4) K.Heaton 'Treatment of Crohn's Disease with unrefined carbohydrate, fibre rich diet'
Br Med J 2 (1979):764
(5) Dr John A McDougall 'The McDougall Plan' New Win Publishing Inc P.124
(6) Persistent Diarrhoea: efficacy of a rice based diet and role of nutritional status in
recovery and nutrient absorbtion Roy SK et al. International Centre of Diarrhoeal Disease
Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali.
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Lactobacillus
A probiotic called
lactobacillus sup. has been found to help return the balance of
microflora in the bowel to normal, thus significantly reducing
irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. The researchers suggest that
lactobacillus sup. works by preventing the disease-causing bacteria
from attaching to to the bowel wall. Gastroenterology
1999;116:1246-60 return to top
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