COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME ANSWERED BY HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING.
What food should people with IBS avoid?
Answered by Dr. Howard E. LeWine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Keep track of the different foods you eat throughout the day. See which foods seem to make your symptoms worse. After you discover your particular trigger foods, eliminate them from your diet. Limiting foods with FODMAPs (short for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) can be very helpful.
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How do you get irritable bowel syndrome?
Answered by Dr. Howard E. LeWine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) usually starts in early adulthood. It affects twice as many women as men. Approximately 10% to 20% of the population has IBS. No one knows what causes IBS. Some studies suggest that the nerves of the colon may be much more sensitive than usual in people with IBS. The normal movement of food and gas through the colon causes pain, intestinal spasms and an irregular pattern of bowel movements.
→ See more questions and expert answers related to irritable bowel syndrome.
→ Learn more about irritable bowel syndrome: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.
Disclaimer: This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.