How To Cure IBS Permanently

Research shows that around 11% of the population worldwide has IBS. However, the statistics might even be higher depending on the criteria doctors use to diagnose IBS. (Source)

Additionally, there are several people who have symptoms but never attend a doctor to get an adequate diagnosis.

In my experience, I’ve realized that more and more people don’t know the basic concepts of IBS. And what I find most frightening is that people don’t know there are natural ways to permanently cure IBS.

Here, we’ll go over the basic information regarding IBS. Additionally, we’ll detail 4 natural ways to help fight IBS and prevent it from affecting your everyday life.

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder where your digestive system doesn’t function properly.

It is more common in women than men, and most people are diagnosed before 50.

The duration and the symptoms presented might vary from each person, and only a few experience severe ones.

Here is a list of the most common symptoms: (Source)

• Bloating (the feeling of having an inflated balloon inside).
• Gas.
• Abdominal pain.
• Distension (a visible increase in the abdomen).
• Diarrhea or constipation.

The symptoms of IBS are not always persistent.

You might experience them only a few times during the week or at certain times during the day.

For others, they might experience them every day.

As you can see, what makes IBS a complicated disease is that everyone can have different symptoms and duration in the manifestation of such symptoms.

For that reason, there is still a large part of the population that often goes undiagnosed.

But, there are some factors that can increase the risk of developing IBS. (Source)

• Low-grade inflammation.
• Activation of the immune system.
• Intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
• Alterations in the gut microbiota.
• Anxiety, depression, or high-stress levels.
• Contracting food poisoning.

Identifying the triggers that increase the symptoms will be crucial in treating IBS.

Types Of IBS

The symptoms of IBS are presented when there is a problem with the gut-brain connection.

As we previously saw, there is no concrete diagnosis when dealing with IBS. However, you can classify IBS into different groups based on the predominant symptoms.

All groups have recurrent abdominal pain for at least one day a week for the past three months.

IBS-C

IBS-C is when constipation is predominant.

It is one of the most common types of IBS people suffer.

You might have this type of IBS if you have more than 25% of your stools hard and lumpy but less than 25% have a loose consistency.

IBS-D

IBS-D is when the predominant symptom is diarrhea.

When you have IBS-D, more than 25% of the bowel movements have a loose consistency, but less than 25% are hard and lumpy.

As you can see, it is the exact opposite of IBS-C.

IBS-M

IBS-M is when there is a mixed bowel movement habit.

This means that you can have both loose stools in a day; later on, they are hard and lumpy.

Both need to occur for at least 25% each.

IBS-U

IBS-U is when there is an unclassified case of IBS.

It happens when people have clear symptoms of IBS, but bowel movements cannot be classified into any of the abovementioned groups.

Can IBS Be Cured?

Before we answer this question, we need to understand the difference between curing and treating.

Curing a disease means the treatment makes the disease go away. It’s the complete restoration of health.

When you have an infection, taking antibiotics should cure the problem. It should remove all the bacteria in the body causing you harm, allowing you to return to normal.

On the other hand, treatment is when something can make a condition easier to manage.

You can treat diabetes with medication (such as insulin) and lifestyle changes, but you cannot change the body how it used to be (the pancreas cannot completely heal).

So, knowing the difference between curing and treating, is IBS curable?

You can live symptom-free with the right lifestyle changes (and, sometimes, medication).

Nonetheless, if you are not careful and return to your old habits, the symptoms might start showing again.

Getting Help From A Doctor

Currently, there are no specific tests that can diagnose IBS.

However, a doctor can send some tests to exclude other conditions that might have similar symptoms to IBS.

For example, a doctor might ask for bloodwork to rule out celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBS).

They might also ask for a lactose intolerance test or a colonoscopy to rule out diverticular disease.

Once the doctor clearly understands your symptoms and into which category of IBS you fit, they might prescribe certain medications. (Source)

They might prescribe anti-diarrheals, anti-spasmotic medication, bile salt sequestrants, or antibiotics for diarrhea-predominant symptoms.

Those suffering from constipation might prescribe a laxative or prosecretory agents.

Remember always to consult with your doctor before taking any new medication.

Adding a medication without knowing its effect on the body can increase the symptoms.

4 Ways To Naturally Reduce IBS Symptoms

There are 4 areas you can work on to help reduce the symptoms of IBS.

Nutrition, exercise, psychological therapies, and supplements can all help you treat IBS up to the point where you don’t experience symptoms anymore.

Let’s explore each category that can help reduce the symptoms of IBS.

1. Low-FODMAP Diet

The changes you make in your diet can greatly impact the symptoms of IBS.

In fact, research shows that over 70% of people state that particular foods can affect the appearance of IBS symptoms.

One way to reduce the symptoms of IBS is to follow a low FODMAP diet.

But, what is a low FODMAP diet?

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and fermentable polyols.

The theory behind FODMAPs relies upon the principle that these types of carbs can draw in water into the intestines, where they can cause changes in bowel movements.

That is why you might have noticed you get diarrhea after eating vegetables.

Additionally, some of these carbs are eaten by the intestines in the gut, where they cause gas as a by-product.

Studies show that consuming a low FODMAP diet can help manage the symptoms of IBS. (Source)

Now, keep in mind that a low FODMAP diet is to be followed only for 2-6 weeks.

After those 6 weeks, once you see an improvement in your symptoms, you can start reintroducing foods slowly and in moderation.

Always making sure to pay attention to your symptoms.

If you don’t know which foods are high in FODMAPs, here is a list of foods you want to avoid.

• Vegetables: garlic, onion, artichoke, asparagus, beetroot, cauliflower, celery, falafel, bell pepper, bitter melon, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, butternut squash, chili, corn, fennel, leek, mushroom, peas, pumpkin, squash, and tomato.
• Fruits: apple, apricot, avocado, banana, blackberry, cherries, cranberries, currants, dates, figs, Gojo berry, grapefruit, guava, jackfruit, mango, honeydew, nectarine, peach, pear, persimmon, pineapple, prunes, raisins, and watermelon.
• Cereals: barley, wheat-based products, granola, farro, and cornflakes.
• Legumes: beans, lentils, and chickpeas.
• Dairy products if you are lactose intolerant.
• Sweeteners: agave, honey, molasses, and sugar alcohols.

Other Nutrition Changes

Besides following a low FODMAP diet, other dietary changes can help you manage your IBS symptoms.

Probiotics (healthy bacteria) can help restore the gut microbiome, reducing the risk of leaky gut and improving digestion.

You can include high-probiotic foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, and skyr.

As a backup, you can add a probiotic and prebiotic supplement.

But, more on that later in the article.

Hydration also plays a role in handling IBS symptoms. Make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day.

And, as seen before, sweeteners might increase the risk of IBS symptoms, so water is always the better option instead of highly processed drinks.

2.Get Moving

Evidence suggests that exercise can help decrease the symptoms of IBS while leading a sedentary lifestyle might increase them. (Source)

While there is still more information to determine the relationship between exercise and reducing the symptoms of IBS, here are some possible ways it might help.

• Reduce stress
  Exercise can help reduce stress levels which can be a trigger for symptoms.
• Better bowel movements
  Moving more throughout the day allows the body to have better digestion.
• Better sleep
  
  Poor sleep can be another possible trigger for IBS. Thus, exercise can help improve sleep which reduces the symptoms of IBS.
• Promoting healthier habits
  Those who follow an active lifestyle seem to have better dietary habits.

Make sure to follow at least the World Health Organization (WHO) of 150 minutes of moderate activity throughout the week. (Source)

On top of that, I often encourage people not only to pay attention to exercise, but also their daily movement.

Check how many steps you make per day, and how many hours you spend sitting down.

Try to reach at least 10,000 steps per day, and move every hour or so.

3.Learn To Control Stress

Research shows a link between psychological stress and the developing symptoms of IBS. (Source)

When there is chronic stress, such as the one commonly found nowadays, does not allow the body to have a moment of normalcy.

As a result, the body is in a constant state of “fight or flight.”

In people with a disconnection between the gut and brain axis, it can lead to overactivity of the gut, increasing the symptoms of IBS.

See, there is a reason why you might need a bathroom ASAP whenever you are stressed or nervous.

For that reason, learning how to channel your stress levels can greatly impact your IBS symptoms.

If any of the following methods do not work, visiting a professional (like a psychologist) can help you find the best coping mechanism.

4.When In Need Supplement

Finally, supplementing can provide additional support.

The first supplement you might want to try is probiotics.

As mentioned earlier, probiotics are healthy bacteria that can colonize the gut microbiome. They can help improve digestion and bowel movements.

Another supplement that can be of help is taking digestive enzymes.

Now, they are completely different from probiotics.

Digestive enzymes help break down the food you eat, while probiotics are living bacteria for the gut.

The best digestive enzymes will allow better food digestion to prevent you from feeling bloated whenever you eat at places where you don’t know how they cook the meals.

Finally, another great supplement to include is superfood powders.

Including a superfood powder allows you to get the ideal intake of nutrients the body needs, which keeps the gut microbiome healthy.

Conclusion

IBS is a chronic condition that can affect the digestive system.

It can lead to bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, or constipation.

While you cannot cure IBS, you can find ways to treat it.

In the end, you can have your normal life back without feeling like a balloon is inside you all day long.

Nutrition, exercise, stress relief, and finding the right supplement can be the road to finally being IBS-symptom-free.

Make sure you always consult your doctor about any lifestyle change to ensure it is the right option.