Posted on 03/26/2024 4:25:10 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
New research looking at the benefits of a Mediterranean diet for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has yielded surprising results.
Not only did the diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and legumes, improve the mental health of the study participants, but their gastrointestinal symptoms improved, as well.
Dr. Heidi Staudacher said it was common for people with IBS to avoid some of the foods important in a Mediterranean diet as they are known to trigger a worsening of symptoms.
"Previously we had an understanding that foods such as legumes, certain whole grains and onion, can worsen gut symptoms in some people," Dr. Staudacher said.
"This research suggests there might be a new way to help reduce the burden of IBS symptoms that doesn't focus on cutting out foods that are known to be important for good health."
Dr. Staudacher's research measured outcomes of 59 people over six weeks who were either following the Mediterranean diet via counseling from a dietitian or eating their usual diet (control group).
The study found:
—83% of participants on the Mediterranean diet had a reduction in their IBS-SSS score (gut symptom severity score) throughout the trial compared with only 37% in the control group,
—Depressive symptoms were lower in the Mediterranean diet compared with controls at the end of the study. This is in line with other research using a Mediterranean diet in people with depression,
—Somewhat surprisingly, gastrointestinal symptoms were also lower in the Mediterranean diet group compared with controls.
"These findings suggest we may look beyond current dietary advice for people with IBS and encourage a broadly health-promoting diet to help manage their symptoms," Dr. Staudacher said.
"Dietitians will also need to be involved, to help people increase high fiber and high FODMAP foods gradually into their diets to avoid triggering gut symptoms."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I think the fiber and other nutrients help.
Bookmark
Onions, legumes, and garlic put me in the bathroom all day. I can handle limited amounts of potatoes, and wheat products but they could not prove this study by me.
They do note it would have to be introduced over time.
Does the Mediterranean diet include pizza, lasagna and ravioli? Those come from Italy, which is a Mediterranean country.
I shop regularly for a number (9 or 10) of seniors. They talk a lot about guts.
Best results for IBS (C, D, or A thru Z) are quite simply,
shop in the produce section, ie, fresh food, veggies, nuts, fruits;
avoid sugar (seriously, it’s no good! you start improving without it, then you give in to temptation and suffer a relapse!)
avoid alcohol because alcohol = sugar, see above;
oral bacteria are bad for your entire body, not just your mouth, and it will mess with your guts, so practice dental hygiene;
get off the sofa and do some exercise, ANY exercise;
if you have stress or anxiety, open your Bible, pray, attend worship or just find some healing scriptures on youtube, it’s all good.
I don’t have gut problems but pizza gives me an energy boost like nothing else (except maybe beef liver).
Put some meat on it (um, not liver) and pizza is a nutritionally complete meal. Dairy, vegetable, grain. Some mushrooms wouldn’t hurt. Best way to start the day.
Pizza is Mediterranean.😎
Useful post!
Onions and garlic are alright, but legumes, oh yeah, party time.
Also Mushroom for me.
More than a little bread, pasta, or potato; and my wife makes me sleep in the spare room
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.