By: Brew Your Bucha Posted: November 10, 2017 in Health
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common digestive disorder with worldwide prevalence rates ranging generally in the area of 10–15%. Studies have concluded that probiotic rich foods such as kimchi and kombucha have had positive effects in alleviating or preventing IBS symptoms.
Common IBS symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Gas and bloating
- Increased food intolerances
- Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety and depression
IBS is a major women's health issue. Data has revealed an increased risk of surgery for abdominal surgery in IBS patients. Hysterectomy or ovarian surgery has been reported in female patients with IBS symptoms as high as 47% to 55%. If you have signs of IBS, you may want to consider consulting with your doctor and begin trying probiotics to treat IBS.
PROBIOTICS AND IBS
Probiotics are proven in many clinical trials to help with symptoms of IBS. However, because there are different forms of IBS, it is important to understand which kind you have when choosing which probiotic to use (there are many types called "strains").
Types of IBS:
- IBS-D (D for Diarrhoea): If you have IBS and have frequent bouts of diarrhoea, you are suffering with IBS-D. It is recommended to use the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii which has been shown in many clinical trials to help support gut health in those with diarrhoea. This probiotic can be found in kombucha.
- IBS-C (C for Constipation): If you have IBS and primarily suffer from constipation, you have IBS-C. Consider taking Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 which has been shown to be particularly helpful for relieving constipation. This probiotic is not found in kombucha.
- IBS-A (A for alternating digestive symptoms): If you have IBS and experience alternating symptoms of constipation and diarrhoea, you have IBS-A. This is also known as IBS-M (M for mixed type) and can be experienced by IBS flare up. Studies suggest to try a high-quality general daily probiotic. Two strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 have been shown to reduce bloating and abdominal distension. Lactobacillus can been found in kombucha.
IBS and Bloating
Most people with IBS suffer with some form of bloating which can be aggravated by factors such as stress, or ingesting particular foods. Strains that have been shown to alleviate and prevent bloating include Lactococcus lactis Rosell-1058 and Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus can be found in kombucha..
How do I treat IBS with Kombucha?
If you have decided to try kombucha or create and IBS diet plan to alleviate or prevent symptoms of IBS, you may want to start by drinking 2-4 oz daily at a time to allow your body to adjust to it. It should take no time to adjust to perfection, so check out Maid Easy AZ site. You may work your way up to 8 to 16 oz a day, however, it is recommended that you stop at a maximum of 32 oz. per day.
If you have never had kombucha before, try starting out with a bottle at your local grocery store. When you begin noticing the benefits, give home brewing a shot. It will be much more affordable and the kombucha is as fresh as possible, meaning that the helpful probiotics are as plentiful as can be. You can learn more with us at Bucha What? or check out our brewing products in our shop.
We recommend that you consult your doctor when using fermented foods/drinks for treatment of IBS symptoms.