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Irritable Bowel Syndrome, otherwise known as IBS, affects 10 to 15 percent of the United States population. IBS is a functional disorder in the gut that can cause constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain and bloating. There are three main types of IBS: IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhea and IBS with alternating constipation and diarrhea.
While the cause is not known and there is no cure for IBS, there are different medicines that can help treat it.
IBS not only causes discomfort in your stomach, but also in conversation. Let’s face it, talking about constipation and diarrhea can be embarrassing at times, but there’s no need for it to be! Here at eco18 we really want to open the conversation up about IBS in honor of April being National IBS Awareness Month. So, let’s talk. Here are a few alternatives to medicine that can help you maintain your IBS symptoms in green and ecofriendly way and
Rule out triggering foods
This may sound obvious, but take it into consideration. Test foods by knowing what you’re eating. When you eat, notice how you feel. Assess what your stomach is doing and be observant of any pain or discomfort. If you notice one particular food giving you trouble, that could be a trigger food. Try ruling that food out of your diet for several weeks then reassess how your stomach is feeling.
Probiotics
Introduce your body to an all-natural probiotic, or several. Probiotics are live, good bacteria and yeasts that can be beneficial to your digestive system.
“Bacteria?! I thought that’s what can make you sick.”
Right you are my friend, but there are different types of bacteria, the good and the bad. Probiotics are the good guys. Not into taking a pill even if it’s all-natural? That’s fine too. Luckily, there are foods out there that naturally contain probiotics. These foods are: yogurt, miso coup, kimchi (fermented cabbage), tempeh and ocean-based plants such as spirulina and chlorella. Give a few of these natural probiotic filled foods a try and see if they are easing any of your symptoms.
Yoga
Believe or not, yes, there are several yoga poses that are used solely to massage your digestive enzymes and promote a healthy digestive system. Since stress is a common trigger for IBS, yoga is a way to move around your digestive system, but also to de-stress and promote calmness through your mind and body.
Check out this article from Yoga International that shows five great poses to help with IBS.
https://yogainternational.com/article/view/5-yoga-poses-for-ibs-irritable-bowel-syndrome
Let’s keep the conversation about IBS going. We want to help those suffering from IBS. Even if you personally don’t have it, try a few of these tips to promote healthy digestion!
