Suffer from IBS?

Atkins, Sugar Busters, The Zone, Pritikin, Ornish – the latest diets may help you lose that cursed extra weight, but not without backlash for some IBS sufferers.

You’re smitten with your new diet, that is, until you notice alarming changes in your bowels — and uncomfortable, untimely, embarrassing ones at that. If you suffer from a functional GI disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the International Foundation for Functional and Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) recommends that you make sure your diet adheres to the following six general principles.

1. Limit your fiber. Most Americans don’t consume enough fiber, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But on Sugar Busters, The Zone, Atkins and the Ornish and Pritikin Diets, you may consume far more than the recommended 20 to 35 daily grams. AGA member, suggests adding fiber to your diet in moderation to find a balance between the discomfort from the gaseousness caused by too much fiber and the constipation cause by too little fiber.

2. Drink plenty of water. Most diets suggest a minimum of 64 ounces, or eight cups of water a day. Follow this recommendation, but try to drink pure bottled water in lieu of tap water. The chlorine in tap water can irritate the intestines and worsen IBS symptoms. IBS: A Doctor’s Plan for Chronic Digestive Troubles.

3. Minimize your intake of high-fat food. "Meals with 70 to 80 grams of fat can slow gastric emptying, giving a sensation of bloating and accelerating lower bowel activity, causing diarrhea or pain. Diets like the Atkins Diet and The Blood Type Diet drop carbs in favor of fats and have proved successful for weight loss – but may not be the best diet plans for IBS patients.

4. Eat small meals throughout the day. Many diets make this recommendation, and it’s a good one. The increasingly popular Sugar Busters diet, for example, suggests eating five times per day. As an IBS sufferer, follow this model to help alleviate painful episodes; try eating small meals through the day rather than gorging on one or two main feasts. Chewing slowly and eating small portions at a time give your digestive system a chance to ready itself for the next round.

5. Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Caffeine is a colonic stimulant, Doctor warns in his book, and could worsen your crampy stomach pains and diarrhea. If you depend on your morning coffee to stimulate a bowel movement, doctor recommends that you try decaf herbal tea instead. And consume alcohol in moderation and at your own risk, as the substance impairs food digestion and causes gas.

6. Restrict your intake of fructose. Fructose and sorbitol, two naturally occurring sugars, can cause abdominal bloating or diarrhea. Diets that limit fats and encourage mega-fruit consumption, such as "juicing" diets and Ornish’s Reversing Heart Disease Program, can exacerbate IBS symptoms. Find a healthy balance, but don’t overdo your intake of fructose (found in fruits, berries, onions, artichokes, peas and wheat) and sorbitol (found in fruits like apples, pears, peaches, prunes and many "sugar-free" gums and mints).

Despite what the scale says, if you notice worsening IBS symptoms or abdominal bowel changes, reevaluate your diet plan. Most importantly, when starting any new diet, don’t go it alone. The best advice we can offer: Get your doctor’s stamp of approval before beginning any new diet regimen.