7 Steps to Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD)

Article by Dr. Le Thi Huong - General practitioner - Department of Examination - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and change in bowel habits without finding any physical damage to the digestive system. Figuring out what to eat every day when you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBD) can be controversial. While it's harder to eat IBD-friendly foods when you're on the go, some simple strategies can help you make the best choices.

There is still a lot of debate about what people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis should eat every day. It's especially difficult when you don't have access to your own kitchen to cook healthy meals. Making good food choices for people with IBD is more difficult when you're on the go, but some simple strategies can help you make the best choices. Here are 7 steps to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBD) when you have to move somewhere.

“It is very important to be aware, even when you are moving a lot about what your body is sensitive to and respect that”. "If you plan ahead, you won't feel like you're having a hard time and then you can prioritize your sensibilities." It also means bring your meals and snacks, if there are limited options for where to stop

Try to drink enough water within the first hour of waking up to increase your chances of having a symptom-free day. And you need to remember to drink water, not coffee. "An empty stomach is usually an acidic stomach, and coffee will only add to that acidity, increasing the risk of discomfort."
Eat one meal within 2 hours of waking up, choose something like eggs with cooked vegetables or banana or apple sauce, yogurt stir-fry with nut butter or hard-boiled eggs.

Fiber has a big impact on disease activity and how you feel when you digest food. If your condition is in remission, you really want to find fiber-rich plant-based foods. People whose diets are higher in fruits and vegetables may have fewer IBD symptoms and fewer flare-ups. When ordering or packing food for takeout, choose foods like salads, whole grains, nuts, and other vegetables. On the other hand, if you're going through a heavy period, foods should have less fiber and are easier to digest, like smoothies and soups.
Both soluble and insoluble fiber play a role in our health, but they can affect digestion in different ways.
Insoluble fiber found in the skins of fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds, adds bulk to stool and can help move things through your digestive tract.
Soluble fiber, found in fruits and vegetables and refined grains like the inside of baked potatoes, acts like a gel in the gut. It slows things down and can help reduce the number of times you go to the bathroom and your urgency.

As a general rule, the more cooked, peeled, or pureed your produce, the more soluble (but not insoluble) fiber it will have. If you are having stomach problems, use that processed form instead of raw.

Foods to watch out for when shopping for snacks at the convenience store or ordering off the menu, if you can't tolerate something like lactose then you'll want to avoid anything with milk or cream in the ingredients list, and mention that lactose is a common stimulant for everyone. If gluten is causing you problems, avoid anything with wheat, barley, or rye.
Many people with IBD also react negatively to foods high in sugar or sugary alcohol such as soft drinks, juices, or candy bars, which tend not to be absorbed well in the intestines and can lead to stools more liquid.
Greasy foods like fried chicken can also take longer to digest and promote inflammation, leading to discomfort.
Spicy foods can also increase the risk of experiencing symptoms. If you're dining at a restaurant, try to skip large portions and stay away from creamy dishes, opting for lighter (or smaller) sauces in often smaller servings. .

Whether you know you can pick up good food on the way to your destination or you carry a bag of snacks on the go, it's a good idea to have a few snacks to take with you when you're hungry. when going out and back. Quick, healthy, and easy to transport options like: crackers, cheese balls, plain yogurt with fruit, nut butter packs, fruit, like apples and bananas.
Buy items that don't need refrigeration that you can put in your pocket as a precaution. That way, if the stop you're planning to eat at is closed, you'll have a few dishes to curb your hunger.
Meal prep bring chicken, tofu or peanut butter on white bread (if you're in a flare) or wheat or nut bread (if you're in remission).

No matter what you're eating, if you don't chew your food thoroughly, make everything happen quickly and overeat, it can cause digestive upset.
Take time to eat, enjoy snacks at your meal. Eating at the same time each day can also help regulate your metabolism. This can ease IBD symptoms and even keep you from overdoing it by being too hungry. Aim to eat at least every 4 to 5 hours.

If you feel that the symptoms of the disease do not improve, you should go to medical facilities to examine and get advice from doctors.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading hospitals in the country in terms of examination, diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. At Vinmec, many diseases have been examined, diagnosed and treated with good results, and patients' health improved rapidly.