IBS is a chronic condition that affects millions of Americans. More and more research shows it's closely linked to stress, diet and other lifestyle factors that can be successfully managed with the right lifestyle changes and medical support. Discover the foods and lifestyle habits scientifically proven to help below.
Our PA Christina Lascano has seen the power of a plant-based diet help many of her patients
Diet and gut microbiome interactions of relevance for symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
This study of 201 participants found that individuals with severe IBS tended to have a higher intake of poorer quality food during their main meals. The researchers also looked at the participants gut microbiota and found that IBS severity was associated with altered gut microbiomes, and suggested that nutritional interventions should support the health of the gut microbiome 2. Plant based diets are consistently associated with healthy gut microbiomes.
Combined data from a total of 683 patients with IBS testing a range of exercise interventions including yoga, walking/aerobic physical activity, Tai Ji, mountaineering, and Baduanjin qigong activity. The researchers found that exercise had significant benefits on gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life, depression, and anxiety in patients with IBS 3.
Impact of psychological stress on irritable bowel syndrome - PMC
This review of the scientific literature identifies stress as a key factor in cases of irritable bowel syndrome. Evidence from clinical and experimental studies showed that psychological stresses increase intestinal sensitivity and permeability, and that stress management is an important avenue for IBS management 4.
IBS is a chronic condition made up of a group of intestinal symptoms that typically occur together, and affect the large intestine.
Currently, the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome in unclear, but there is some understanding of the mechanisms involved in the condition.
Two of the biggest factors in IBS are gut dysbiosis, and stress and anxiety. The bowel is connected to the brain via a network of nerves, called the gut-brain axis5. At the root of IBS is a problem in the interactions between the gut, brain, and nervous system, with more and more clinical evidence showing that IBS is a “combination of irritable bowel and irritable brain” 4. Because of this, people with IBS have a bowel that is more sensitive to changes in food and mood compared to people without IBS. Disturbances to the immune and hormonal systems are also likely to be involved in the development of IBS 4.
Stress and other psychological triggers may send signals to the intestines to squeeze more than needed, as well as activating certain nerves and chemical releases in the gut which causes a disturbance in the contracting muscles, leading to the symptoms seen in IBS.
Additionally, due to the hypersensitive nerves seen in IBS patients they may experience more pain than people without IBS. This can cause normal things like a meal, passage of stools, or even gas to cause pain and cramps 6 .
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Irritable bowel syndrome occurs as a group of intestinal symptoms. They vary in severity and duration between individuals and include:
These symptoms occur without any visible damage to the digestive tract.
Because symptoms occur without visible damage to the digestive tract, diagnosis does not involve testing such as blood tests, X-rays, or endoscopy. Instead, to diagnosis irritable bowel syndrome, your healthcare provider will likely use:
Your healthcare provider may also carry out tests to help rule out other conditions with overlapping symptoms, such as coeliac disease.
The best way to manage the symptoms of IBS are through the right diet and lifestyle changes. Two of the biggest factors in IBS, gut dysbiosis and stress and anxiety, can be directly addressed with the pillars of lifestyle medicine (whole foods, plant based diet, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, substance control, and social connections).
The lifestyle interventions suggested to patients with IBS include:
An imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in the gut has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome. Fiber is the key ingredient in restoring a healthy gut microbiome, as it provides food for the good bacteria in our gut to feed on. It’s so important that fiber is considered a first-line therapy in treatment recommendations for patients with IBS, according to the 2021 American College of Gastroenterology clinical guidelines. A plant-based diet is rich in fiber and other gut-friendly foods that support gut health, and studies show that people who have a diet high in plant foods also have healthier, more diverse gut microbiomes than those eating animal-based diets 7 8.
It’s important to go slow when making dietary changes with IBS, and slowly increase fiber into the diet. Guidance from a dedicated lifestyle-medicine physician and medical team can provide the needed support to make these changes.
Our knowledgeable and empathetic physicians can help you make changes that best suit your unique circumstances, to test different foods, and support the addition of whole plant foods and stress management techniques into your routine.
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1. IBS Facts and Statistics - About IBS. https://aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs/facts-about-ibs/ (2021).
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