Natural Anti-inflammatory Foods and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Or IBS

The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are unclear. However, the Western diet full of refined and chemical foods, is implicated. Emotional and stress related factors are also as issue. If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome some of the following information may help you improve your situation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, is more widespread than we might suppose. The main symptom of IBS is abdominal pain and cramps after eating. A sufferer may also experience diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating. Sometimes mucous may be seen in the feces. These symptoms usually are ongoing for at least 90 days before an IBS diagnosis is considered by a medical doctor. For this diagnosis, the symptoms are present in spite of the absence of true structural damage to the intestines.

Most people have symptoms in the milder range, and fortunately, an improved diet can usually relieve the suffering considerably.

Contributing factors to an irritable bowel may be food allergies, altered bowel microflora (of the acidophilus type), intestinal parasites, lack of dietary fiber, and lack of digestive enzymes. Eating sugar, refined carbohydrates, and chemical non-foods (colorings and other additives, and foods made from petroleum products) is probably not going to improve the situation.

This syndrome is associated with emotional stresses like depression, hysteria, obsessive-compulsive traits, anxiety, resentment, marital conflicts, death of a loved one, or prolonged excessive anxiety over everyday matters. IBS occurs predominantly in women, at a ratio of 3:1 to men, and the average age of onset is 20-40.

Omega-3's are a type of essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce from what you eat. Therefore, you must get them in your daily diet in order to supply the many body functions that need them.

Wild caught cold water fish are an excellent source of omega 3 oils, but now that our industrialized world has contaminated ocean water, and consequently the fish and mammals that live in the oceans, it is recommended generally not to eat these fish more than 3-4 times a week. These recommendations can vary if you are pregnant, so check with your doctor.

Omega 3 oils are the components of eicosanoids, hormone-like compounds that regulate blood pressure, clotting, and many other biochemical functions.

Excellent vegetarian sources of omega 3 oils are flax seed oil and walnuts. Black currant seed oil, and evening primrose oil are also very good.

Currently, the best source of omega 3 fats from fish, is a purified fish oil in a nutritional supplement form. With the contaminants removed (mercury and others), you can have a daily dose and let omega-3's do what they have been reported to do well - balancing the immune system, decreasing inflammation, diminishing depression and anxiety and lowering some of the risk factors for heart disease.

This precious food is also healthy for normal skin, joints,and soft tissues. Omega 3 oils are anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. However, if you do suffer from IBS, you may experience some relief by including more omega 3's in your daily diet.

I hope this information stimulates your curiosity for more anti-aging education. If you have any health concerns, be sure to ask your health practitioner.

If you are a baby boomer, approaching menopause, or just curious about anti-aging, you can read more here.