For individuals with constipation-predominant IBS, a soluble fiber supplement (Metamucil or others containing psyllium) can be helpful.
Too much fiber all at once might cause gas, which can trigger your symptoms. If fiber is helping, you may add some fiber supplements such as Metamucil or Citrucel. However occasionally fiber can make your symptoms worse. Then you should try to avoid fiber as much as possible.
Fiber pill supplements or a powder mixture that contains psyllium (like Metamucil) can help some people with IBS control their diarrhea. “Some individuals may use a fiber preparation, which some people find useful to bind and increase the bulk of the stool for those who have diarrhea,” recommends Gilinsky.
#1. Psyllium Husk Fiber. This fiber retains water and provides bulky, easy-to-pass soft stools. Psyllium has been shown to be more effective than stool softeners for those with chronic idiopathic constipation and is also touted as one of the “go to” fiber source for IBS.
Fiber supplementation in the treatment of IBS
Physicians (particularly those in the primary care system) usually recommend patients with IBS to increase their intake of dietary fiber to 20–35 g daily in order to regulate the stools and reduce abdominal pain and meteorism (140–143).
Fiber can trigger IBS symptoms by setting off an overreaction to mechanical stimuli or by providing fodder for bacterial fermentation.
Diet Triggers for IBS Diarrhea
Foods that can make IBS-related diarrhea worse for some people include: Too much fiber, especially the insoluble kind you get in the skin of fruits and vegetables. Food and drinks with chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, fructose, or sorbitol.
Fruits lower in fructose, such as berries, citrus and bananas, may be a better choice for people with IBS.
Therefore, psyllium is immensely beneficial in all types of IBS as it has a bowel-regulatory effect (beneficial effects in both constipation and diarrhea). Rest of the fibers have mixed (benefits plus harmful) effects in IBS.
Q: Can I take Metamucil every day? A: Yes! For best results, we recommend taking the dietary fiber supplement Metamucil every day. Metamucil fiber powders can be taken up to three times per day as a dietary fiber supplement.
Other gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, intestinal gas, cramps, mild diarrhea, rectal pain, constipation, and irritation.
Improving gut health
Keeping the bowels moving regularly can improve gut health and relieve the symptoms of digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diverticulosis. The soluble fiber in Benefiber and Metamucil can feed the good bacteria in the intestines.
If you have IBS, not eating enough fiber can make symptoms worse (such as constipation and abdominal pain); however, eating enough fiber can help to relieve symptoms. Eating enough fiber is easier than you think with a few small changes to your diet. Check food labels when buying bread and cereal products.
Probiotics have also proven beneficial in IBS patients by slowing down the transit time of the colon, reducing the average number of bowel movements per day, improving stool consistency, overall symptoms, and above all, the quality of life in these patients.
Increase the amount of fibre in your diet, for example: cereals, e.g. All Bran®, Bran Flakes®, Weetabix®, muesli, fruit and vegetables and brown bread. You must however drink plenty of water: 1-1½ litres a day. Eat your meals slowly and chew food thoroughly.
Some of the best foods for IBS include: Eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and don't upset the colon. Also, they are a great source of protein as part of a weekly diet.
If someone with IBS tolerates dairy products, plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt is a nutritious dietary addition. Greek yogurt contains live probiotics—bacteria that offer many health benefits, including for gut health. If you are lactose intolerant, you might still be able to enjoy Greek yogurt.
But many people have worse IBS symptoms when they eat or drink certain foods or beverages. These include wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, beans, cabbage, milk and carbonated drinks. Stress. Most people with IBS experience worse or more-frequent symptoms during periods of increased stress.
While we don't know what causes IBS, we do know that flare-ups are often triggered by food, caffeine, stress, carbonated drinks, artificial sugars, or infectious diarrhea. The more IBS episodes you have, the more sensitive your gut becomes to triggers.