FAQs Inflammatory Bowel Disease and
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Do you suffer from abdominal discomfort, diarrhea or constipation? Is it affecting your daily activities?
Make sure to see your doctor if you are concerned about how you’re feeling. A proper diagnosis can
help you find the best way to manage your symptoms. Read here to find out more about two common
digestive disorders – inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
What is the difference between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
What should I eat if I have inflammatory bowel disease?
Can omega-3 fatty acid supplements help treat IBD?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What foods cause irritable bowel syndrome?
Can probiotics help with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
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Do people with irritable bowel syndrome also have lactose intolerance?
What is the difference between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and
Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome are not the same condition. They do have
some of the same symptoms, but they affect your body differently. If you have been experiencing
digestive problems, see your doctor to get a diagnosis so that you can get proper treatment. Treatment
for each condition is different.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): IBD describes two conditions, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,
that affect different parts of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract
– from the mouth to the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis usually only affects the large intestine.
IBD may cause diarrhea, cramping, poor appetite and weight loss, ulcers and scarring in the intestines.
IBD also causes inflammation of the intestine.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS is a condition that affects the large intestine. It causes symptoms
such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Each person with IBS will have different
symptoms. Some people may have more constipation while others may have more diarrhea. And some
others may experience equal feelings of both.
Having IBS is not the same as getting constipation or diarrhea once in a while. When you have IBS, the
symptoms can happen once in while or be ongoing, but the important thing is they affect your quality of
life. The good news is that IBS can be treatable.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
What should I eat if I have inflammatory bowel disease?
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What you eat may depend on how you feel. If you are feeling well and not experiencing any symptoms of
IBD, then eating foods high in fibre can help keep your intestine working properly.
When you are feeling unwell and have pain, medications may be most helpful to take care of these
symptoms. You may also need to experiment a little to see what foods and beverages affect you the
most. Avoid foods that cause you pain and slowly add them back into your diet when you are feeling
better. Some other tips are:
Eat slowly and chew food well. Avoid gulping food as this can cause gas.
Avoid chewing gum, sucking on candies or using a straw as this can also cause gas.
Limit alcohol and caffeine.
Drink 8-10 cups of non-caffeinated fluid each day. Some examples are water, milk, juice, herbal tea
and soup.
Don’t skip meals.
See your doctor or Registered Dietitian if you are losing weight or feel unwell for a long period of
time. You may not be getting all the vitamins and minerals you need and may need supplements.
Can omega-3 fatty acid supplements help treat IBD?
The research is not clear on whether taking omega-3 fatty acids supplements can help IBD. Right now, it
is not recommended that you take omega-3 fatty acid supplements as a form of treatment.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What foods cause irritable bowel syndrome?
Specific foods do not cause IBS. However, some people may find that certain foods can make symptoms
worse – and this may be different for each person. Some foods that may cause symptoms are: fatty
foods, gas-producing foods (like beans or Brussels sprouts), wheat, red meat, eggs, alcohol, caffeine,
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lactose and fibre.
If you have IBS, it is recommended that you keep a food diary and monitor how you feel after eating so
you can see which foods to avoid and which you can enjoy. Speak to a Registered Dietitian if you find
that you are avoiding a lot of food or eliminating whole food groups. They will be able to help you choose
foods that will help you get the nutrition you need.
For more information about IBS and food choices, or to recieve a handout, contact an EatRight Ontario
Registered Dietitian. Call 1-877-510-510-2 or send an email.
Can probiotics help with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
Yes. A few strains of probiotics, which are good bacteria found in some dairy foods such as yogurt, have
been shown to be helpful in reducing abdominal pain and gas from IBS. However, more studies are still
needed to figure out how much and for how long someone with IBS would need to take the probiotics to
feel better.
Do people with irritable bowel syndrome also have lactose intolerance?
Not always. People with IBS do not have more lactose intolerance than people without IBS. If you have
symptoms after eating or drinking foods with lactose, which is found in dairy products, then you should
avoid those foods. See Getting Enough Calcium when you are Lactose Intolerant for help with meeting
your nutrient needs
You may also be interested in:
Digestive FAQs
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada
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This content from www.eatrightontario.ca is Copyright © Dietitians of Canada 2015, unless otherwise indicated.
The content is not meant to replace advice from your medical doctor or counselling from a Registered Dietitian.
It is intended for educational purposes only. Dietitians of Canada acknowledges the financial support of EatRight
Ontario by the Ontario government. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the province.
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