Best Constipation Cure

Irritable bowel syndrome (a.k.a. spastic colon, colitis, mucous colitis and spastic bowel) is a functional disorder of the bowel that affects as many as one in five Americans. It is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, cramping, bloating and irregular bowel movements accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, or both in alteration, with no immediate apparent cause. In other words, IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. The doctor arrives at this diagnosis after excluding all other possible causes.

No specific cause for IBS has been found, but stress is thought to play a part, as is a sensitivity to certain foods including grains such as wheat, barley and rye, dairy products, red meat, chocolate, and beverages including alcohol or caffeine.

The onset of IBS can also follow an instance of gastroenteritis, or a bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract, a stressful life event, or it may be a side effect of aging.

The bowels of some IBS sufferers are sensitive to the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley and rye. In their case, the key to recovery is eliminating all gluten protein from their diet.

For general IBS sufferers, the best treatment is to get enough exercise, drink plenty of water, not avoid going to the bathroom when nature calls, and not overuse laxatives. Dietary factors are also important. It is best to avoid large meals, eating small amounts more frequently instead. A fiber diet can also be an effective treatment, but should be accompanied by six to eight glasses of water a day. A high fiber diet taken with too little water can actually aggravate IBS symptoms.

For a more detailed discussion of what IBS is and how to treat it read this article from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

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