Mailbag! Simple Tricks Stop IBS

By Natalie Moore Posted February 16, 2017

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

If you’re like most people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you’ve probably been suffering with the condition… and the bathroom runs that come with it… for years. But today we’ll show you how some simple, natural fixes can whip your gut into shape — no drugs required.

Let’s dive in…

Hi Natalie,

I started developing irritable bowel syndrome in my late 20s, and have been dealing with it ever since. I’ve been told there’s no real cure and that I should just watch what I eat. But there has to be something else worth trying, right?

Thanks,

Beth G.

Thanks for the great question, Beth — and trust me, you’re not alone.

There are lots of people out there who have tried just about everything to control IBS, which can cause uncomfortable constipation or even chronic diarrhea.

Keeping a food diary is actually a great place to start, and many doctors will recommend this. That’s because certain foods, like caffeine, fried foods, and even alcohol are known IBS triggers.

By keeping track of what you eat — and when symptoms develop — you can learn which foods to avoid.

But the simple IBS fixes don’t stop there.

A new study from the University of Massachusetts that’s getting a lot of attention found that 93 percent of children with IBS were deficient in vitamin D. And while that study was on kids, it was hardly the first one to make the connection between vitamin D and IBS.

There have now been several studies showing that supplementing with vitamin D (sometimes as little as 3,000 IUs) a day can help dramatically improve IBS symptoms. That’s because vitamin D supports a healthy immune system and IBS is thought to be an autoimmune disorder where your immune system basically attacks your gut.

And the good news is that you can pick up vitamin D supplements easily online or through just about any local store that sells supplements.

Another supplement worth trying is peppermint capsules.

Peppermint is especially helpful with spasms, cramps, and bloating, and a major study published 9 years ago found that most of the people who took peppermint capsules got rid of their IBS symptoms in 1-3 months.

You can pick up peppermint capsules at www.vitacost.com or www.puritan.com.

Do you have health questions? Drop me a line: feedback@livingwelldaily.com.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.

Sources

^[1] IBS Triggers and How to Avoid Them

^[2] Vitamin D deficiency found in children with digestive disorder, UMass study finds

^[3] Study finds high dose vitamin D supplementation significantly improves irritable bowel syndrome

^[4] Remedies: Peppermint Oil for Irritable Bowel

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

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