Last Updated on January 13, 2024 by Ellen Christian
Wondering about managing irritable bowel syndrome? If you’re wondering how to live with IBS, check out these simple tips and advice.
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Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
My father has had problems with his stomach for as long as I can remember. Any family outing that we considered had to have two things: easy access to a bathroom just in case and food that he could eat. As you can imagine, this often limited what we could do.
Years ago, the doctor didn’t have a name for the problems he had with his stomach. Today, we know that he has irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a chronic disease that causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Unlike an occasional stomach upset, IBS occurs regularly.
It can make enjoying your favorite foods next to impossible. For my father, it meant not enjoying his favorite vegetable dishes.
What is the best way to manage IBS?
Imagine how you would feel if a chronic gastro condition limited where you could go and what you could do with your family. Family trips to amusement parks or a day out in the woods going hiking or to the beach were almost never possible for us.
So, here are some suggestions for managing irritable bowel syndrome:
Manage stress
Learn to manage your stress. Stress can often make irritable bowel syndrome symptoms worse. Find a method that works for you: deep breathing, meditation, behavior therapy or even hypnosis have been used by some.
Tracking IBS symptoms
Track your symptoms and triggers. Use a journal to track your symptoms and discover what your triggers are. My father had to be very careful what vegetables he ate.
Remove irritating foods
Eliminate problem foods. Once you know the foods that trigger your IBS, eliminate them from your diet.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both can cause irritable bowel syndrome to flare up.
Increase your water intake
Drink more water. Drinking enough fluids every day can help manage your symptoms. Water can soothe stomach upsets.
Take a probiotic
Manage the bacteria in your digestive system. A common cause of IBS is an overgrowth of bacteria in your digestive system. So, managing that bacteria with a probiotic can help reduce your symptoms.
Managing IBS with a probiotic
Not all probiotics are the same when it comes to managing irritable bowel syndrom. There isn’t a one size-fits-all-solution when it comes to managing chronic gastro conditions. But VSL#3, unlike other probiotics on the market, has been clinically studied and proven to be beneficial in the dietary management of IBS, UC, and pouchitis. *VSL#3 is a high-potency probiotic medical food and must be used under medical supervision.
VSL#3 is a proprietary formulation of a mix of 8 strains of live lactic acid bacteria, making it one of the few probiotics with this many strains. VSL#3 is at least 10 times more potent than the average probiotic. All VSL#3 products must be refrigerated to maintain potency, are gluten-free, Kosher, and Halal certified.
VSL#3® is a high potency probiotic medical food that’s clinically proven in the dietary management of IBS, ulcerative colitis, and ileal pouch.
Learn more about irritable bowel syndrome
Finally, learn more about managing irritable bowel syndrome in these articles.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
