Irritable Bowel Syndrome
My friend named Che has Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and it has a big impact on his life. I think the biggest impact that comes from living with IBS is the fact that Che can’t drink beer. We are good drinking buddies, but now he really has to cut back on the beer.
On the bright side, he can drink some hard liquors, so we can still party hard and get messed up on booze! Occasionally, Che will disobey his diet and drink a bunch of beers, like when we went to Citi Field to see the Mets play a few weeks ago. This was not a good situation; he had to use the bathroom several times the next day, which I imagine is not very pleasant.
The other huge impact that IBS has on Che is that he can only eat certain foods. Among the foods that he can’t eat include: Pasta, bread, pretzels, hot dogs, pizza, and crackers. The starches are really what messes him up. It is good in a way, because it forces him to eat healthier. Veggies are great, and lean meats are good for protein. As far as a quick snack, Che likes Lara bars. I also recommend these; they are a great natural food that just contains fruits and nuts. Another good snack is raw fruit. Apples, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, and grapes are all tasty and filling, and they agree with him. But, as for a snack that is not perishable and it travels well – Lara bars are definitely the way to go.
He doesn’t follow the diet all the time and that can create some problems with his bowel movements. But, when he follows the diet 100% he says he feels great and has no problems. IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very serious, but it can be prevented by eating right all the time, and laying off the booze.