Irritable Colon: correct diet and symptoms

Irritable colon: correct diet and symptoms!

What is irritable colon, how does it present itself, what are the symptoms, which foods to avoid and what to eat instead.

What is the Irritable colon syndrome or Colitis

The irritable colon syndrome, or also said spastic colitis is the pathology in which the large intestine or colon, does not work properly. It consists in an imbalance of the intestinal rhythm that causes intermittent cramps, diarrhea attacks alternating with constipation, abdominal swelling, meteorism and presence of mucus in the faeces. One of the main characteristics of colitis is the cyclical, i.e. alternating periods of improvement to periods with worsening of symptoms. It is a very frequent disorder that strikes 15-20 per cent of the population and alone accounts for 50 per cent of all diseases which affect the stomach and intestine and unfortunately the ones to suffer most are women twice as much as men.

What are the symptoms of irritable colon

The symptoms that occur periodically, but without a fixed maturity or a seasonality are numerous and can also be combined together:

• Swelling after meals (belly swells like a “balloon”)
• Recurring abdominal pain
• Constipation alternating with episodes of diarrhea
• Cramps in the abdomen with a certain regularity
•  Intestinal movements frequently accompanied by pain or by the disappearance of pain
• Excess mucus in the colon
• Dyspepsia (meteorism with swollen and taut abdomen, nausea)
•  Indefinite variable pain
• States of anxiety and nervousness or depression of various degree
• The problems occur especially at lunch, and are often associated to the acidity of the stomach, difficulty in digestion, slow digestion

What to eat and what to avoid in case of irritable colon syndrome 

Nutrition is the first and most important medicine for this disorder, in fact eating well and knowing how to combine the foods, what to eat and what to avoid, can almost completely control this disorder.

Vegetables:
In the case of irritable colon syndrome or ulcerative it is useful to reduce the vegetables that are very rich in fiber as artichokes, salads, chard leaf. Also avoid all vegetables that cause intestinal fermentation like for example cabbages, salsify, Jerusalem artichokes etc and also very heavily digestable vegetables such as peppers or cucumbers.

Green light instead to potatoes , carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, basil, cinnamon, rosemary, thyme and celery.

Fruit:
Fruit should be always consumed away from meals perhaps as a snack. Grapes and the dried fruit like raisins and sultanas are definitely not recommended. Plums are to be avoided when meteorism and diarrhea are present.

Milk and milk derivatives:
Milk is one of the foods at risk for those suffering from colitis even if very often in those who feel sick taking milk ,it is not irritable colon but a real lactose intolerance.

The fresh dairy products and yoghurt instead, with respect to milk are less dangerous, because the lactose is not present in a large quantity in its derivatives and yogurt and the various types of fermented milk, help to rebalance the intestinal flora. Less suitable instead are the fat and spicy cheeses.

Legumes:
Legumes are to be reduced or almost completely removed (beans, chick peas, lentils, peas) in case of the irritable colon syndrome: in fact they tend to ferment in the colon, causing the production of gas and the expansion of the intestinal walls and then pain. A good trick is to pay attention to the faeces, infact if they are smelly, then legumes interfere negatively and must therefore be totally removed.

Cereals:
Bread and wholemeal cereals should be avoided in the case of irritable colon syndrome. Also white bread and refined grains however can cause disturbances, the best choice is to choose the 50:50 type.

 

Take a look at our tried and tested method: Anti-Diet