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What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that commonly affects the colon (large intestine) and is a chronic condition that must be given special attention over a long period of time. Symptoms include pain or discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, diarrhoea, cramping, changes in bowel movement pattern and gas. Only a small number of people with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms while some people with IBS are able to manage the condition through lifestyle change such as diet, exercise and stress management.
Irritable bowel syndrome is also known as IBS colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, nervous colon, and spastic bowel. Experts on this condition have changed the name to better understand that this disorder can affect both physical and mental state of a person and is not a product of the imagination.
What Causes IBS?
Causes of irritable bowel syndrome can be linked to digestion and gut problems. Many causes have been suggested such as inflammation, infections (such as candida) and certain diets but none have been proven to directly lead to IBS.
1. Poor Digestion
This condition (IBS) is thought to cause the alteration of the digestive process, it can either make the food pass too quickly or slowly in the digestive tract. When food moves too quickly it can cause diarrhoea, because the digestive system could not absorb water from the food. When food passes too slowly, this time it can cause constipation because too much water is being absorbed and the stools become hard and difficult for a person to pass.
Serotonin increases after eating certain foods or during a stressful event but this too can be a cause for problems in the gut.
2. Increased Gut Sensitivity
A lot of sensations in the body are usually caused by the digestive system and too often, a person with IBS may become oversensitive to the digestive nerve signals.
3. Psychological Factors
The symptoms for IBS are very real and not just a product of the imagination. Intense emotional stress and anxiety can trigger chemical changes that interfere with the normal digestive system functions.
People with irritable bowel syndrome have often experienced traumatic events usually when they were young children like abuse, neglect, loss of a loved one and other childhood illnesses. These types of experiences may possibly affect the person and can become more sensitive to stress.
IBS Triggers
People with IBS react to the same stimuli on different levels, though triggers may vary from person to person, it includes the following:
1. Food
A wide range of food can contribute to the symptoms of IBS. Foods such as:
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- radishes
- horseradish
- watercress
- wasabi
- Brussels sprouts
- bok choy
- arugula
- kale
- broccoli
- Chinese cabbage and
- collard greens
- milk
- chocolates
2. Stress
When you have IBS you will notice that the signs and symptoms are worsen in the face of stress.
3. Hormones
Researchers believe that hormonal changes play a big role in IBS especially during or around the menstrual period of a woman.
4. Other Illnesses
The presence of another illness can trigger IBS; illnesses like gastroenteritis or bacterial overgrowth.
Home Remedies
It is in the diet of a person with IBS that the big change takes place, avoiding dairy products for the time being while treatment for IBS is ongoing is expected as this have similar symptoms with lactose intolerance, this is to rule out either of the two conditions.
Other home remedies include the following:
- Increase fibre intake
- Increase fluid intake
- Avoiding soft drinks (can cause gas and bloating)
- Small frequent meals (prevents cramping and diarrhoea)
- Meditating or deep mindful breathing
How Candida Cleansing Can Clear the Gut and IBS
Cleansing the gut is one healthy way to give your health the boost it needs as well as detoxification. It can be stressful to the body and may take sometime before the body can adjust to the changes especially with your diet. It is important to check with your healthcare practitioner before doing a cleanse.
Before doing the cleansing, make sure you are relaxed and in a comfortable environment. Do not do the cleansing when you are working and exposed to stress. This should only last a few days so do it at a time where you are free from stress, preferably on a weekend.
Focus on flushing your colon (large intestines) as this is where most of the candida colonies can be found, flushing can help you beat candida overgrowth. Restrict your diet to water, raw salads and steamed vegetable only. Proper candida cleansing can take time so if possible you may need to take some time off work (if at all possible?). I won’t lie, it is pretty dam restrictive and not for everyone. I have done it but I found it really challenging and I wasn’t perfect that’s for sure! What I did do though, made a HUGE difference to my IBS and overall health.
Start with a plan and write down what you eat everyday so you’ll understand why your body needs cleansing. It’s important to reset your health and to give your body a rest from heavy things that are hard to digest.
Happy cleansing 
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