Your IBS symptoms can often be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyle habits including dietary changes. Dietary fibre adds bulk to your stools allowing them to retain enough water to be soft and easy to pass. Your IBS symptoms may be worse if you don’t eat enough fibre or if you eat too much fibre. Sources of dietary fibre include fruits, vegetables and high fibre cereal. It’s best to slowly increase your dietary fibre intake up to the recommended daily intake of 25-30g per day. This is to avoid bloating and wind-related discomfort. If this is difficult for you, ask your pharmacist for a soluble fibre supplement, such as psyllium. Some foods and drinks commonly trigger IBS, so try to reduce your intake of the following to see if this helps: gas-producing foods, such as onion, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, dried beans, lentils and cauliflower foods with lactose (milk sugar) such as milk, ice cream and some yoghurts alcoholic drinks artificial sweeteners in food and drink, such as aspartame, sorbitol and mannitol A dietitian can help you identify your individual triggers and can work with you to create a balanced diet that suits you. Sometimes, a low FODMAP diet may be recommended for you. FODMAP is short for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. These are the chemical names for different sugars that are poorly absorbed in the gut. For some people these can trigger symptoms of IBS. Other strategies that may reduce your IBS symptoms include: physiotherapy to help address pelvic floor dysfunction hypnotherapy relaxation exercises