Avoid These 6 Irritable Bowel Triggers.
If you’re like millions of other people out there, you probably know all about the woes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This condition doesn’t seem related to inflammatory processes in the bowel. Instead, it occurs when the vagus nerve leading from the brain becomes overactive, sending the bowel into spasms. This creates bloating, cramps, constipation, and diarrhea.
IBS, therefore, has some pretty unusual triggers. In simplistic terms, anything that could potentially stress your bowel tissue could set it off.
Stress Problems
If you’re the sort of person who is prone to stress and worry, then you are much more likely to experience the symptoms of IBS. Common IBS triggers include things like problems at work (such as an unpleasant boss) and a sense that things are generally out of your control. You may also experience a heightened sense of IBS if you have money problems or you are having issues with your family life at home.
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How can you better manage stress?
Sometimes, all you need is a change in perspective. Viewing traditional life stressors as inevitable can help you better manage the process. You can view them as less serious than they are. A gastro doctor may also recommend eating a balanced diet that helps to alleviate your symptoms. You may be able to reduce stress and inflammation levels.
Avoid Certain Drugs.
Some drugs can lead to the development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBS-like symptoms. Antibiotics, for instance, can play havoc with your gut flora, leading to all kinds of complaints. Antidepressants, like pregabalin and venlafaxine, can also lead to episodes of cramping and constipation due to the way that they interact with the nervous system in the bowel.
Eating Too Quickly
Some people with IBS find that eating too quickly can exacerbate their symptoms. Wolfing down a meal leads to a large amount of stress for the bowel which then begins to spasm in response. You can prevent this by eating more slowly or eating your meals in a way that prevents overconsumption.
Failing To Do Enough Exercise
We need to get daily exercise to keep our bodies in good condition. Unfortunately, many of us do not get the exercise that we need to keep our gastrointestinal t0racts moving which can lead to problems. If you can, try to get around 30 minutes of exercise per day. Walking is usually sufficient.
Eating The Wrong Foods
Many people develop IBS in response to insufficient fiber intake. The gut finds it hard to push food down the alimentary canal because stools don’t have enough bulk. You can quickly change this by eating a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber from grains and vegetables.
Avoid Skins
Lastly, you may want to consider avoiding the skins of certain vegetables as these tend to be common IBS triggers. Apple skins, for instance, are notorious for causing symptom flare-ups.
If you have the time, peel your apples and other fruits and veggies first before consuming them. Only eat a small amount of the skin in each of your meals. Better yet, avoid the skins completely.
22 thoughts on “Avoid These 6 Irritable Bowel Triggers”
Stress definitely triggers irritable movements in my bowel. Very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
Knowing that stress is impacting your bowels is a great piece of knowledge to have. Now you can work on the changes.
Yyyyeeeaaaahhhhh…..eating too quickly has caused me tummy upsets in the recent past than ever before! Thanks, Dr. Elise!
Slowing down, breathing, putting your fork down…slowing down while eating can be of great help to your stomach upset.
I have a friend with IBS and she can barely leave her house. Sounds awful. Thanks for these tips.
IBS can seriously impede life. Getting the symptoms under control is a second step preceded by avoiding that which you know creates the symptoms.
I have occasional IBS and eating too fast is a trigger! I have to learn to slow down. I am getting better about this, but I often feel rushed.
Bryan, you pay attention to how you feel and what affects you. You are a busy guy and it is easy to feel rushed but you also know that you need to slow down.
IBS can be really bothersome to a lot of people. Hence, it’s good for them to know these triggers to help them avoid them.
It really can be very bothersome. I had an uncle that could barely leave home and never went on any trips.
This is very informative, and I will be adjusting some of these habits to avoid. Thank you for posting!
You are welcome. I am happy that some of these tips have been helpful to you.
Great tips. I’ve noticed so many people are struggling with irritable bowels these days.
Stress definitely plays a part. Handling stress can definitely be of help.
Eating wrong foods can really upset your belly. Usually, I drink plenty of water if I ate something wrong. It’s nice also to check your local physician.
Checking with your physician any time that you are not feeling quite right is always recommended. Flushing your system with water is also very helpful.
This is going to help so many people. It’s such a hard thing to live with, and so many things can set it off. I have a friend who has it, and he has a really hard time with it if he isn’t careful.
Thank you for that feedback. There are many things that can come into play when dealing with IBS. The fact is that when we mix stress in any number of things can set it off.
Avoiding the skins of certain foods is new to me. Thanks for the tips!
You are very welcome. I hope that this info on the skins will help you greatly.
I have a friend that was just diagnosed with IBS. I will definitely pass this along to her.
Thank you for sharing. I hope that it will help her greatly.