Who needs supplements, probiotics and tablets when you’ve got the great outdoors, good food and a great mindset?
After trialling everything known to man for dealing with my IBS, I’ve found that doing it naturally is always the best way. So take a look at my top 5 ways to deal with IBS and see how easy it is to implement it into your own lifestyle.
- Exercise early
If you suffer with IBS-C, you’ll notice that your body likes the digest food in your gut continually throughout the day, but the end product is just never there. You might then notice you become a VERY regular person (such that the only time you CAN do anything in the toilet, it’s first thing in the morning). This is because your body is given ample time without food to break down everything eaten in the day, given more time to properly come together and form more evenly.
This makes morning my favourite part of the day. So, whilst you’re in high spirits with a great level of digestion going on, it’s worthwhile to fit in your exercise now. If you leave it til later you might find that the foods you’ve eaten have caused tummy problems and bloating and you won’t want to exert your body any more.
Get up earlier, go for a run, feel the burn, and forget about the IBS J
- Eat your breakfast
After your early morning run, you’ll be feeling pretty good. You might not feel that hungry though, or if you may not feel you have any spare time if you’re heading quickly out of the door for work. But making the time, even if it’s a quick 10 minutes, is necessary if you want to start your bowel movements right.
You’ve been to the toilet and you’ve done your exercise, and now you need fuel, even if you don’t crave it yet. Otherwise you’ll be ravenous after an hour or so and your metabolism won’t be working half as fast as it does first thing in the morning, or after a workout.
- Avoid meal-skipping
When you have IBS, a lot of the time you’re suffering with so much abdominal discomfort after food you consumed several hours ago that you really don’t want to do it again. You decide you’d rather skip the meal and let your bowels churn away privately without any interruption.
This sounds fine in theory, but the ‘churn’ doesn’t stop. And, although it might usurp your appetite, your body still needs vital nutrients to keep going. Plus, you’ll probably be making up this lost eating time with drinking more, which needs to be digested anyway too. So don’t let the abdominal discomfort put you off your eating three basic meals throughout the day (minimum) and always keep a watchful eye on the ingredients in your foods.
- Walk more
Because strenuous exercise can be a torturous feat when you have painful abdominal cramps, doing lots of walking can be really beneficial to your digestion, easing your stomach and seeing that you get outside and get moving. Rather than getting the bus, take a brisk walk. Go for a wander on your lunch break. Do it all and get your feet moving!
- Stretch often
This might sound like a strange one (because who walks down the street, stops, and does a lunge?) but stretching is necessary for IBS sufferers, especially if you’re sat crouched in front of a computer all day. All that’s going in your stomach can continue to feel tight and unpleasant the more the day goes on, so make it a priority to stretch whenever you go to the toilet – this way you’re doing it privately and not provoking suspicion! By simply raising your arms above your head and tensing your stomach, holding your hands behind your back and pushing your tummy out, and twisting from side to side can ease your discomfort ten-fold.
My Wellbeing Journal 