Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is no fun, but the good news is that there are choices you can make to both reduce your chances of catching it and, if you have it, to avoid serious complications. more serious symptoms.
The foods you eat, for example, can make a difference, with some foods helping to protect you from disease and others putting you at greater risk.
However, recent research suggests it's not just what you eat, but also when and how you eat that can make a difference - new research finds sticking to a regular meal schedule is linked to risk weakest of SII.
In the study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers compared information from about 4,600 Iranian adults about their dietary habits to data on IBS prevalence and symptom severity. They found that those who stuck to a consistent meal pattern were less likely to get IBS and, when they had the disorder, tended to have less severe symptoms.
"It's no surprise that eating large meals in one sitting can cause digestive upset. I've also had clients experience IBS spasms when they go too long without eating," says Dasha Agoulnik, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian and CEO of CorePerform. This, not that!. "Establishing regular meal patterns can help reduce the digestive burden and encourage proper digestive patterns."
Plus, there is a range of other ways that skipping meals could aggravate your body. You might mess with your blood sugar, you might feel tired, you might have trouble concentrating on the things you need to do, and more.
When it comes to making gut-friendly food choices, Agoulnik recommends focusing on incorporating more fiber into your diet and staying hydrated.
"The most helpful tip I have is to start with the basics: fiber and water," she suggests. "We want to aim for at least an 80/20 ratio of unprocessed to processed foods, and I recommend at least 4-6 servings of vegetables a day.
Plus, she warned that when you add more vegetables to your diet to boost your fiber intake, you also want to start drinking more water or you risk constipation.