The Sugar Culprit: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common and chronic disorder, characterized by abdominal pain and even diarrhea or constipation. It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of adults in the US have some form of IBS. The percentage is probably much higher because symptoms are mild and often go untreated.

Proper diagnosis and treatment are important because continued irritation of the bowel may lead to diverticulosis, ulceration of the bowel, and ultimately result in surgery. About 23,000 colostomies are inserted in the US every year. Early recognition is important to relieve symptoms and to decrease the absorption of food associated with irritable bowel.

“10-20% of adults in the US have some form of IBS”

The cause of this problem is often the present of inadequately digested sugars that remain in the bowel, attracting water and resulting in diarrhea. Both lactose (Dairy) and maltose (grains) are sugars that attract water. One way to halt symptoms associated with IBS is to reduce the amount of sugar consumed in your diet. To get the best results, you should also supplement with the appropriate food enzymes.

Normally, bacteria in the large intestine will digest sugars that were not completely digested in the small intestine. This will result in the formation of gases and toxins that could be absorbed into the blood. These irritants affect the bowel and cause inflammation, bleeding, and excess mucous formation.

The consumer market is flooded with lactose-digesting enzyme products. Manufacturers suggest that with their product, everyone can enjoy all the ice cream and dairy they want. This is simply not true because of the complexity of the digestive system. They may help, but they do not solve the whole problem. In order to get to the root of the problem, we have to be conscious of our diets and use the appropriate enzyme supplements that focus on improving digestion rather than targeting one specific digestive problem.