What it is
IBS is a chronic disorder of the bowel that causes recurring episodes of abdominal pain, bloating and disturbances in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhoea).
Symptoms
- Functional constipation or diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Bloating
Nutritional management
First-line management:
- Small, frequent meals
- Good eating behaviours (taking time over meals, eating at a table, chewing well, avoiding meals late at night)
- Avoiding alcohol
- Reducing consumption of caffeine, tea, fizzy drinks and spicy foods
- Avoiding supplementing the diet with wheat bran
- Probiotic use is suggested, as it can contribute to symptom improvement
Second-line management:
- A diet low in FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols), a dietary protocol that consists of excluding and then gradually reintroducing foods rich in FODMAPs. FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates and include monosaccharides, disaccharides, polyols and oligosaccharides.
- The low-FODMAP protocol consists of excluding FODMAPs for 4–6 weeks. Then, if symptoms improve, gradual reintroduction of FODMAPs follows for 6–10 weeks, with the aim of first identifying tolerated and non-tolerated foods and tolerance doses, and finally designing a personalised diet plan and liberalising the diet.