Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is also called IBS, is a painful disorder that affects millions of people.  For some, the symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and gas are simply an annoyance while for others, IBS is debilitating.  If you suspect you may be dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the most important thing you need to do is find a doctor who understands this condition and who will work closely with you for the proper treatment.

Typically, the doctor would go through your history, talk about current symptoms, and then conduct a series of tests to confirm that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the problem.  Once you have received a firm diagnosis, you will have the chance to talk about the various treatment options available.  Depending on the degree of the problem and the specific doctor, you may end up on medication, told to reduce stress from your life, and change your diet.

With the problem of IBS growing, intense studies have been conducted to understand the disorder better so people have more effective treatment options.  Regardless, the one thing that the majority of people hear is that fiber may be helpful to treat IBS.  Of course, this treatment option will be something you and your doctor would need to discuss, but we wanted to show you the benefits so you will have a better idea of why fiber is so beneficial.

More and more, doctors are recommending that patients start on a diet high in fiber, whether is includes bran supplements or not.  With a high fiber or bran supplemented diet, people who have many or all of the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome find they get significant relief.  In fact, in several controlled studies, the level of improvement was quite impressive.  In most cases, people find they are not nearly as uncomfortable once they have made such a diet change.

The thing however to remember with a diet high in fiber is that in some people, Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms become worse.  Therefore, while there is encouraging news as to how fiber may be helpful to treat IBS, this would be a decision made between patient and doctor and not something the patient would simply do on his or her own.  In few cases, people with IBS found they experienced even greater problems with diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and cramps.

Now, the thing to remember when considering a diet high in fiber to help relieve or alleviate symptoms of IBS is that the foods eaten or supplements taken need to be monitored.  After all, fiber comes in many forms and while some work amazingly well, others can exacerbate the problem.  Because of this, many doctors treatment Irritable Bowel Syndrome will have the patient maintain a log of fiber type foods eaten to see what, if anything causes problems and what brings comfort.

If a diet is well balanced, consisting of lean meats, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains with an emphasis on soluble fiber, relief from IBS is likely.  When switching to a diet such as this, your doctor will supervise things closely so if the problem increases or other symptoms arise, he or she can identify it immediately and make any appropriate changes.  This way, you avoid having serious consequences.

Additionally, many doctors who look at why fiber may be helpful to treat IBS will suggest the patient meet with a dietician or nutritionist to learn what foods should and should not be consumed.  These professionals understand Irritable Bowel Syndrome and have treated and supervised people for years so they have a much better handle on what does and does not work.  If there is a particular food or foods high in fiber that seem to cause more harm than not, this professional can recommend alternatives so you still get all the nutrients needed while keeping the IBS under control.

What you want to avoid with fiber specific to IBS is anything insoluble.  The challenge is that some foods high in fiber are both soluble and insoluble without a person even knowing it.  For example, foods such as beans, grains, cereals, and even a large number of vegetables actually have some degree of insoluble fiber along with soluble.  The reason is that while the inside of these foods can help with the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the outside layer or skin might not be.  Therefore, working with a licensed dietician or nutritionist can identify the good from the bad.

In most cases, fiber that may be helpful to treat IBS would include foods such as oatmeal, corn mean, barley, buckwheat, and brown rice.  As long as you eat small to moderate amounts of these foods, you may find that your IBS lets up.  Just be prepared to make changes along the way until the exact food combination is found for your specific case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.