Can probiotics help relieve IBS?
October 9, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
If you live with the discomfort and pain of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you very likely have tried many things to try and reduce the episodes of cramping and pain.
Now for some, there may be some relief in the form of probiotics. In a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology annual scientific meeting, researchers provided findings from 19 different studies that showed that probiotics can ease symptoms and help normalize bowel movement frequency in patients with IBS.
Probiotics, which contain bacteria or yeasts, are found in yogurt or dietary supplements.
Newsflash!! Kristen over at Lively Women just reminded me that she’s having a give-away of probiotics. Check it out: Align Daily Probiotic Supplement With 5 Winners
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Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, probiotics
There is a growing trend in pro-biotic supplements these days for pro-biotics. One I would recommend is “Align”.
Some people don’t realize the simple things they eat or chew can be contributing to their IBS. One example: Sugar alcohol commonly used in low calorie chewing gum. To much sugar alcohol can spell discomfort. I went through a phase where I was chewing a lot of gums with xylitol (another name for sugar alcohol) and I was having some IBS issues. Stopped chewing the gum and it made a huge difference.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make a big difference. I’m not an expert on the matter but sometimes people say “I can’t eat that because it effects my IBS”, when part of the problem may actually be some of the things that you are already eating that are causing the problem in the first place and the food in question just makes it flare up.
Scott, that’s interesting about the gum. I did have problems when I chewed gum but I thought maybe I was swallowing air or something.
Thanks for the link, Marijke! Scott, Align is the exact probiotic supplement I’m giving away. I hope you enter my drawing!
Kristen