Because doctors don't really understand what causes IBS, it can be a difficult and tricky condition to treat. I've even seen patients whose previous doctors told them their suffering was all in their mind.

Well, IBS is an all-to-real condition, and while there isn't exactly a cure (it's hard to find a cure when you don't know the cause), that doesn't mean there isn't hope.

If you suffer with IBS, you have options… many of them natural, safe and effective.

Help From the Foods You Eat

Because IBS affects your digestive tract, it's only natural to look for both causes and preventions among the foods you eat.

Often foods that are spicy or that produce gas can increase IBS symptoms. I recommend to my IBS patients that they try cutting out spicy foods for a while to see if that helps. I hesitate to recommend reducing beans and cruciferous vegetables. These do cause gas, but they are also rich sources of fiber and nutrition.

Instead, I suggest that you try a natural gas-reducer like Bean-O before deciding to cut these foods from your diet.

Some foods can cause IBS flare-ups, but others can also help to reduce your symptoms. Foods that are rich in fiber are great but remember to increase your fiber intake gradually (too much too fast can actually worsen your symptoms for a time). You should aim to get at least 25 grams of fiber every day.

If you are getting much less than that, begin increasing your intake by a gram or two a day each week until you reach that goal. Some of the best foods to increase your fiber intake are fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains.

How you eat may be as important as what you eat. Here are three eating habits that can also help reduce your symptoms:

1. Drink more water. Adequate water intake can help prevent both diarrhea and constipation.

2. Chew your food more. Chewing is the first step in digestion. Take the time to chew each mouthful thoroughly. This makes your digestive tract's job easier.

3. Eat less in a sitting. People with IBS often benefit from eating several small meals during the day rather than two or three large ones.

The Number One Supplement for the Job

When it comes to IBS, the first supplement I always recommend is a good probiotic. A probiotic adds good bacteria to your gut. The good bacteria helps you to fully digest your food and they help to counteract the negative impact of bad bacteria.

In one recent study, researchers looked at the affects of probiotics on IBS. Researchers followed up with patients taking probiotics over the course of a year. They found that probiotics reduced nausea, gassiness, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Many of the patients experienced an 80% reduction of their symptoms—several reported that probiotics eliminated their symptoms entirely. 1

A combination of better eating habits and a probiotic supplement are optimal for possibly alleviating the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and in some cases even eliminating it completely.

Mark Rosenberg, MD Institute For Healthy Aging http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/blog http://www.prostanol.com 1 Bittner AC, et al. "Prescript-assist probiotic-prebiotic treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: an open-label, partially controlled, 1-year extension of a previously published controlled clinical trial," Clin Ther 2007; 29(6): 1153-60