Significance

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition in which your digestion and bowel health are compromised. Typical symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, excessive bloating, abdominal cramps and gas. Although IBS is not fatal and is not necessarily indicative of internal damage, it can greatly affect your health and your mood.
  
  

What to Eat

• Because a person with IBS has an extra-sensitive digestive system, the foods and beverages you consume are important to consider. Eat plenty of foods with fiber, especially soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is found in foods that are easily mashed, like sweet potatoes, applesauce and zucchini and other squashes, and in grains like quinoa, oatmeal and buckwheat. Stick to low-fat cuts of meat. Eat all or mostly whole foods rather than processed foods, which tend to contain unnatural ingredients that will make you feel worse.
  
  

Foods to Avoid

• Limit any foods that you already suspect aggravate your IBS symptoms. Also limit your intake of common allergens such as fructose, wheat/gluten and dairy products, all of which can trigger your symptoms. Steer clear of stomach irritants such as caffeine, alcohol and high-fat foods, the biggest digestive tract stimulants of all.
  
  

Warning

• Try not to cut out entire foods groups like carbohydrates or insoluble fruits and vegetables. Doing so can seriously compromise your health. Experiment with individual foods in the group to see which you can easily eat. Talk to a health care provider or nutritionist if you need help. Also, drink plenty of water -- all the dietary changes in the world won't help if you're dehydrated, a common concern of those experiencing constipation or diarrhea.