Introduction
IBS is a very common modern phenomenon, and orthodox medical support can be insufficient for many people, especially those at a stage in life where accepting the situation as permanent in not acceptable.

The synonym for this is allergic colitis and is a condition caused by abnormal muscle movements in the colon. Management of this condition should involve the management of food sensitivities.

Gut motility is often under the control of the autonomic nervous system and can be affected by any disease in which the autonomic nervous system is imbalanced.

Before you start
The gut’s ability to absorb nutrients, whether it is from food or from the food state supplements, will be significantly improved if the body has first been cleansed of harmful toxins, and the intestinal tract replenished with healthy flora.

It is of particular benefit in today’s environment with our increased exposure to harmful toxins from so many sources. It is our recommendation to pre-empt any dietary/nutritional program with a cleanse, and to repeat it twice per year.

To this extent we recommend that before you start on your required formula you undertake our Detox Formula which involves 3 products that provide a very effective cleanse program that will enhance your health and wellbeing.

Click here to view the Detox Formula

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Supplements - food state only

The following supplements are known to be helpful:

	IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME Formula - SAVE 10% when you buy the complete set of formulas. This includes 1 of each product listed below. You save a total of £9.90 VAT Free Price: £89.08
	Multi-Vitamin & Mineral is a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutritional factors formulated to help support the body under stress when experiencing a busy or hectic lifestyle. VAT Free Price: £10.50
	Probiotic is a combination of friendly gut bacteria that enhance the digestive system, helping the absorption of nutrients and supporting the manufacture of some vitamins, increasing the profile of beneficial bacteria that are involved with the removal of harmful waste products. In addition, probiotic beneficial bacteria are also known to reduce intestinal cramps (abdominal pain), constipation and flatulence. VAT Free Price: £25.50
	Caprylic Acid formula is known to inhibit the growth of detrimental yeasts including candida albicans in the intestines that contribute to the distress of irritable bowel syndrome. VAT Free Price: £16.50
	Beta-Glucans are known to enhance the function of the immune system and have been found to help prevent many types of bacterial and viral infection. VAT Free Price: £17.99
	Anti-Oxidant with Co-enzyme Q10 is known to inhibit the potential of harmful free radicals associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Co-enzyme Q10 is a component of almost every cell of the body, and is known to be an important nutrient in the reduction and elimination of detrimental bacteria within the gut. VAT Free Price: £17.99
	Magnesium alleviates the inflammation associated with irritable bowel syndrome via its ability to facilitate the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Magnesium also helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoea sometimes associated with irritable bowel syndrome. VAT Free Price: £10.50

Table of Beneficial Nutritional Supplements

This information is offered as an introduction to supplements, herbs, foods and substances that are known to help with irritable bowel syndrome. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and it is suggested that sound advice is taken by an appropriately qualified practitioner.

 

	Formula	Daily Intake	Initial Period	Ongoing Intake	Ongoing
Vitamins	Multivitamin-Mineral	1 twice daily	2 weeks	1 daily	1 daily
	Anti-Oxidant with Co-Q10	1 twice daily	4 weeks	1-2 daily for 3 months	1 daily
Minerals	Magnesium	1 twice daily	4 weeks	1-2 daily for 3 months	1 daily
Herbals	Caprylic Acid	1 twice daily	30 days	1 twice daily 6 weeks	2 months
Additional	Probiotic	taken as directed	taken as directed	taken as directed	taken as directed
	Beta-Glucans	1 twice daily	2 weeks	1 daily	2 months

Dietary Recommendations

Positive Foods

Cereal grains oats, whole brown rice, millet
Vegetables garlic, chives, onions, leafy green vegetables, miso
Fruits freshly squeezed & diluted lemon juice, grapes (including pips), pears, apples, plums, dates
Legumes green peas, leaks, green cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, water cress, onions
Teas, Herbs & Spices camomile tea, fenugreek seed tea, green tea, basil, turmeric, ginger
Nuts & Seeds sesame seeds, sunflower seeds (chewed thoroughly), flax seeds (soaked), almonds (not more than 10 per day), celery seeds
Fungi Maitake mushrooms
Fish deep-sea white fish (occasionally) – not grilled or fried
Dairy daily portion of live organic yoghurt
Additional Foods organic honey, psyllium husks

Negative Foods

Refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, battery chicken & hens’ eggs, white sugar (sucrose), excess garlic, artificial sweeteners, sulphates (preservative), tartrazine
Reduce dairy products to a minimum (especially cheese).
Avoid too much flesh food, and reduce intake of proteins from red meat especially.
Avoid shell-fish absolutely.
Restrict foods with additives.
Avoid acid-forming foods.
Possible irritants include caffeine drinks, alcohol, chocolate, eggs and salty foods.
Avoid salami, smoked and pickled foods, Brazil nuts.
Avoid citrus fruits (except lemons), and especially orange and grapefruit.

Additional Comment
Take plenty of fresh water. Good quality still mineral water from a glass container is the superior form; though a good tap filter is also satisfactory.

High Fibre Diet
A high intake of dietary fibre is commonly recommended.  Gastric emptying and small bowel motility are slowed by soluble fibre.  Both soluble and insoluble fibre reduces sigmoid intraluminal pressures and overcome spastic constipation.  A high fibre diet has proved to be effective for constipation.  Whole brown rice increases stool weight and decreases transit time, but some patients react adversely to certain dietary fibres

Refined Carbohydrates
A diet high in refined carbohydrate may provoke spasm of the smooth muscle. 

Sugar
Dietary sugars, including lactose, fructose, sucrose and sorbitol may significantly contribute to the IBS.  Sucrose increases faecal bile acid and decreases intestinal transit time.

Additional Help & Support
Aside from the usual guidelines on diet, it is important with irritable bowel to make plenty of time to eat so that no food is rushed. Sit quietly and settle before beginning to eat and if possible rest for up to 30 minutes afterwards.

A glass of warm water 30 minutes before eating can also be helpful to prepare the digestive tract. This also encourages the ’winding down’ which is needed before a meal.

Since the bowel is concerned with digestion and elimination, any irritable tendency should immediately draw attention to diet. It may contain items to which you are sensitive. Dairy products and cereals (particularly wheat) are common culprits. If this applies, a four-day exclusion of the entire respective food family, followed by challenge with a typical portion, will usually arouse an acute irritable response within twelve hours and confirm your suspicions.

Far more common, as has been stated, are instances in which non-nutrient food chemicals have produced the irritation. These range from nitrate and pesticide residues from agriculture, through colours and preservatives, to sugars, paraffins and gums. Recourse to whole, unrefined foods may not entirely eliminate this problem, although it usually helps. Organic food is desirable here, which avoids the use of artificial chemicals at any stage in its production; but this can be hard to obtain in sufficient range, and is apt to be more expensive.

Many people find relief with a combination of the greatest possible improvements to their diet alongside regular support for their gut microflora. Before commencing supplementation with a probiotic supplement some people find benefit by confining their diet to apples or apple puree for 48 hours to weaken any un-friendly bacteria in the gut, and provide an auspicious environment for supplemental probiotics to establish.