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How Vitamins Effect Irritable Bowel Syndrome
from: Maxx Family LifeSymptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome usually vary from person to person with some experiencing symptoms of diarrhea while others experience constipation. Therefore, vitamins witll have different effects when dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In general, vitamins cause chemical reactions in the stomach that can be either beneficial or harmful to a person's IBS.
Here are some common effects of vitamins IBS:
1) Vitamin C: Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a laxative effect. Those dealing with IBS should be careful when taking this vitamin since it can cause diarrhea when it reaches the stomach. If you're already suffering from symptoms of diarrhea, monitor your intake of vitamin C closely.
Taking this vitamin could also cause gas and bloating. This happens when the acid of the vitamin reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract. You can get a sense of this reaction by dropping a couple of mentos into a glass of diet coke.
2) Calcium: This vitamin can have either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending on the type. If you're suffering with IBS, try to determine what type of calcium is right for you.
a) Calcium Carbonate: This vitamin contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea and is the best vitamin for IBS sufferers who are prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).
b) Calcium citrate: This type of vitamin contains magnesium and can trigger symptoms of diarrhea. Therefore, this is the best for sufferers prone to constipation (IBS-C).
Good advice when taking calcium vitamins is to limit the amount to a maximum of 500 mg. in order to prevent triggering symptoms of IBS. It's also a good idea to take this vitamin along with vitamin D as this helps in the absorption of these nutrients.
3) Iron: This vitamin for IBS patients can be quite constipating and are also prone to stomach upsets. It's a known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.
Tips in taking vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:
1) Get balanced Doses of Your Vitamins: When purchasing supplements, make sure they deliver the right amount of vitamins you need. It's important that a certain supplement doesn't contain a megadose of any vitamin as this could trigger symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
2) Always Take Vitamins with Food: Never take vitamins on an empty stomach since this could increase the discomfort brought about by the chemical reactions caused by the vitamins. This is especially true with acidic vitamins like vitamin C.
3) Consult a Pharmacist: Since there are different effects of vitamins on IBS patients, if you're unsure which vitamin supplement to take, consult a pharmacist to help you find the mildest vitamin for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
4) Take Each Type of Vitamin Separately: Vitamins for Irritable Bowel Syndrome also react in various ways with each other, so for the best absorption of nutrients, take each vitamin one type at a time.
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