There once was a time when people didn’t talk about gut health or bathroom habits.
It was kind of a taboo subject.
IBS is a pretty common condition.
And your hormones might be one of the culprits, though more research needs to be done.
Drinking too much caffeine
Most of us can’t imagine giving up coffee.
But why is that?
Registered dietician-nutritionist Kate Scarlata explains that your body releases gastrin and cholecystokinin when you drink coffee.
Those suffering from IBS could find that their symptoms worsen with the use of these drugs.
Sometimes, IBS is treated with anti-depressants when doctors have tried various treatments without success.
Davis explains that you should especially watch out for tricyclic antidepressants.
Gastroenterologist Kimberly Tosch atHenry Ford Healthsuggests that IBS patients take Tylenol if they experience any pain that needs treatment.
Some of us barely have time to grab breakfast, while others don’t have time for lunch.
Both of these habits can trigger IBS symptoms.
Instead, focus on eating regular, small meals.
Eating too many cruciferous vegetables
Vegetables can’t possibly be bad for you, right?
As it turns out, strange things can cause symptoms when you have IBS, and that includessomevegetables.
Is it crazy that your gut can get itself into a twist over certain veggies?
This includes cabbage and all vegetables related to it, like broccoli, kale, and brussels sprouts.
Cruciferous vegetablesare incredibly healthy but contain sugars that can cause gassiness, according toWebMD.
These vegetables pack a punch when it comes to your overall health, however.
According toWebMD, cruciferous vegetables could potentially lower your cancer risk.
So what are you supposed to do if they trigger your IBS symptoms?
That’s simple: Cook them.
Cooking these kinds of vegetables will make the digestion process easier, resulting in less discomfort.
And that causes stomach pain and bloating.
It makes its way to your gut where it starts to ferment in the colon.
That’s when IBS patients start experiencing symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
Wheat and dairy products are also common culprits, as well as onions and beans.
A study published in theAmerican Journal of Gastroenterologyproved that exercise can help alleviate IBS symptoms.
The study suggests that exercise be incorporated as one of the treatment methods for IBS.
Exercises like yoga, walking, and tai chi all had a positive impact.
Nice and easy does it.
This includes workouts that fall into the high-intensity category.
If you have IBS-D, you might find that this jot down of exercise makes it significantly worse.
Registered dietician-nutritionist Emily Van Eck suggests you do exercises that pack less of a punch.
Arecent studysupports Van Eck’s former statement.
Low-impact and moderate intensity is where the magic’s at your gut will thank you for it.
Not managing stress levels
Stress can make your IBS symptoms significantly worse.
Whether you suffer fromanxiety and depressionor find yourself stressing a lot, your gut reacts to it.
This is because these conditions directly affect your brain.
According to the aforementioned study, there is a direct link between your brain and your gut.
Stress impacts your gut and vice versa.
This is because of what is called the gut-brain axis and microbiota-gut-brain axis.
you could also reduce stress by setting aside time to spend on hobbies whatever that looks like for you.
More studies need to be done on the subject.
He suggests IBS patients don’t view sleep as something that will most definitely worsen or improve symptoms.
Instead, he recommends seeing it as a tool that can help tone down the severity of symptoms.
He suggests you create a nighttime routine for yourself and stick to it.
You should also try not to leave on any unnecessary screens or lights when you go to bed.
That’s because your menstrual cycle has a direct impact on your gut.
During your period, there are two hormones at work: progesterone and estrogen.
Your body has receptor cells specifically for these hormones, and guess where they are located?
It’s no wonder, then, that IBS symptoms flare up when that time of the month arrives.
The changes the hormones bring about in your gut usually affect bowel movements.
IBS patients typically find that their usual symptoms (stomach pain, diarrhea, and bloating) intensify.
You may also experience different symptoms depending on the phase of your menstrual cycle.
The most common symptoms are usually diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea.
Nutritionist Fiona Hunter toldCosmopolitanthat people have different reactions to specific types of food.
This way, you’re able to figure out what the root cause of your flare-ups is.
This data can also help your doctor to treat your IBS accordingly.
However, unless you’re a nutritionist, this is not the right or safe thing to do.
They are professionals who specialize in creating customized eating plans for people suffering from conditions like IBS.
They will also ensure that the diet you follow is healthy and safe.
