Reassurance that more serious or progressive disorders are not present is also important. A knowledge of what provokes an attack may help individuals control their symptoms more effectively and prevent attacks, or at least help them to cope better. Advice on diet, eating habits and lifestyle helps many IBS sufferers. A well-balanced 'healthy' diet, taken as regular meals, will reduce symptoms. Some patients benefit from increasing the fibre content of the diet and others may be helped by reduction in fibre intake.
Important foods containing fibre are cereals, fruit and vegetables.
Fibre supplements prepared from plants can be prescribed or obtained from the chemist, but these should not be used without first discussing the symptoms with a doctor. Foods which are high in fat often provoke symptoms and should be avoided. Rich or spicy foods can also cause attacks. People usually are aware of particular foods which upset them, but may not associate attacks with common foods such as dairy products, bread and cereals, which can trigger symptoms. Large, infrequent meals challenge the digestion much more than small, frequent ones, which often help to reduce symptoms.