These treatments combined with lifestyle and diet changes and stress reduction may be sufficient for some folks, he says. To start, you need to get enough water, and that may be a good bit more than you re accustomed to drinking. Some people with IBS have small, hard stools that are difficult to pass. By drinking water, they can add soft bulk to the stool and ease its passage through the bowel, says Melissa Metcalfe, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Los Angeles. While you re emptying your water bottle, also increase the amount of fiber in your diet, Dr. Metcalfe advises.
Fiber absorbs water and helps move food and waste through the gastrointestinal tract more quickly.
Some excellent sources of fiber are foods like prunes, apples, oat bran , and carrots. If you need more fiber , you can benefit from a supplement. More than 80 percent of the group taking psyllium experienced relief from their constipation, while those in the placebo group noticed no change. Fiber supplements like Metamucil come in a wide range of textures, and some are flavored to make them more palatable. Take them before meals, or take one tablespoon in the morning and another before you go to bed.