Irritable Bowel Syndrome can have some pretty awful side effects. Stomach pain, cramping, stages of diarrhea and constipation, along with various other side effects that may be triggered with IBS can really determine what a person does or doesn’t eat. Can IBS cause weight gain? Here, we’ll take a closer look at some of the things that you should be sure to take into consideration if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and have noticed yourself packing on the pounds.
Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain?
Many people would automatically assume that you don’t gain weight when you have IBS, mainly because you can’t eat certain foods. However, nothing could be any further from the truth. The problem with Irritable Bowel Syndrome is that it really causes you to not want to eat certain foods – the foods that typically trigger the onset of symptoms. Some good examples of foods that you may be unable to enjoy include tomatoes, apples, oranges, grapefruit, along with various other types of fruits and vegetables. The reason that these foods cause such a problem for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome is because they are all known to be very high in acidity, which can cause IBS-related symptoms.
Unfortunately, when you miss out on these acidic fruits and veggies, you are also missing out on a good source of fiber. Instead of eating these high fiber foods, there’s a good chance that you’re probably filling up on some of the foods that aren’t known to bother people with IBS so much. Some examples of these foods include starchy white bread, pasta and rice. If you’re missing out on your fruits and vegetables but eating these foods, then there is no doubt that you may begin to see some type of weight gain.
The best thing that you can do in order to prevent weight gain from IBS is find as many ways as you can to get your daily recommended amount of fiber. Some of the ways to do this are through fiber supplements or by finding fruits and vegetables that won’t bother your stomach. Consider broccoli, zucchini, lettuce, spinach and pears as foods to eat for fiber. Depending on your specific case of IBS, you may notice that these fruits and vegetables won’t bother your stomach too much. Feel free to do your own experimentation, however, in order to see what does or doesn’t bother you.
Along with finding ways to consume fiber, it is important to not forget about exercise. Developing an exercise routine that you follow on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep fit. To shed even more pounds, be sure to limit the amount of high-fat foods that you eat on a regular basis. Doing so will ultimately help you prevent unwanted weight, as well as lose the excess pounds that you may have already gained due to the food choices you make based on the affects that Irritable Bowel Syndrome has on your body.
Although many people would think that Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers don’t have problems with weight gain, they can and do. Luckily, weight gain related to IBS can easily be prevented by consuming a regular amount of fiber, exercising on a normal basis and avoiding high-fat foods.
