What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?

We're not really sure what causes IBS. There are some theories. It may be that it's at the level of the gut, so a spastic colon, or maybe the nerves to the gut are hypersensitive.

It may be that there are triggers that start the IBS. It could be a GI infection, or a food intolerance or a food allergy. There's also an interesting relationship between mental health and IBS. So stress and anxiety can make symptoms worse.

One of the challenges with IBS is eating a healthy diet and getting a variety of foods. I recommend people choose recipes that are very simple and plain-- so no spices, no heavy sauces. And make sure that the meals are small and have all the food groups in them.

So for grains, people seem to tolerate rice, pasta, breads. In the veggie category, peas, corn, potatoes, and greens. For fruits, melons and applesauce seem to do well for people. And for protein, again, stick to simple dishes with plain chicken, fish, and boiled eggs.