Holistic care for IBS
Holistic care for IBS
Customers may have heard of other ways of managing their IBS. The information below can help you advise appropriately.
The role of probiotics
Probiotics are often advertised to improve gut health, so it’s important to understand the role they play in IBS. IBS symptoms may be caused by an imbalance in the gut microbiome, so it depends on each person’s microbiotic composition to determine the efficacy of probiotics.18
Evidence suggests that probiotics can relieve IBS symptoms; however, these benefits are highly strain specific.18,19
FOR GLOBAL IBS SYMPTOMS (constipation and diarrhoea), there is low certainty evidence for Lactobacillus strains and very low certainty evidence for combination probiotics and Bacillus strains18
FOR ABDOMINAL PAIN, low certainty for Bifidobacterium strains and very low certainty for Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces and Bacillus strains.18
GUIDANCE STATES THAT THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO TAKE OTC PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS should continue for at least 12 weeks and discontinue if symptoms do not improve.2
Conscious consumption
OVER 8 IN 10 PEOPLE WITH IBS REPORT FOOD-RELATED SYMPTOMS,3 SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD AND DRINK CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.
The recommendations may vary depending on whether the customer has constipation, diarrhoea, or both. However, there is some advice that will likely improve symptoms or prevent them from worsening.
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WHAT TO EAT2,3,20
Eat a healthy balanced diet
Avoid fatty, spicy or processed foods
Avoid eating more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)
Incorporate a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (a low FODMAP diet), which works for about a half to two thirds of people with IBS. This involves cutting out high FODMAP foods, such as: certain fruits (e.g. apples, cherries, peaches); some green vegetables (e.g. broccoli, peas); and most lactose-containing foods
Avoid triggers – these can be identified by keeping a food diary and linking likely triggers when symptoms occur
FOR CONSTIPATION: Increase the amount of soluble fibre consumed – good sources include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and linseeds (whole or ground).20
FOR DIARRHOEA: Cut down on high-fibre foods like wholegrain foods (such as brown bread and brown rice), nuts and seeds. Also, avoid products containing the sweetener sorbitol.20
WHEN TO EAT20
Eat regular meals and don’t eat them too quickly
Do not skip or delay meals
WHAT TO DRINK20
Try to drink at least 8 to 10 drinks (1.5 litres) a day, such as water or a non-caffeinated drink
Avoid excessive alcohol and fizzy drinks
Have no more than 3 cups of tea, coffee or other caffeinated drink a day
FOR CONSTIPATION: Drinking more water can aid constipation symptoms by making stools softer.