Last Updated on July 1, 2023 by Dr. Abadullah Sajid Bashir
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a chronic disease. Due to which the death of the patient does not occur, but his life becomes anxious and troubled. Its symptoms include gas, pain and stomach cramping, diarrhea or constipation or both. Due to which the patient has faced anxiety about the symptoms. The patient tries to reduce the anxiety caused by all these symptoms. The patient uses various strategies to minimize the symptoms such as keeping himself busy with activities. Food content upgradation, exercise and change your lifestyle. You can got complete information about IBS by clicking this link
What is bitter gourd (melon)
Bitter gourd also called bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable plant that is grown in summer mostly. It is one of the most bitter vegetables. You can find it in every vegetable market.
There are numerous benefits of using it which few people are aware of. Its use is helpful in elimination of many diseases. It is helpful for diabetic[1]Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) and its medicinal potency – PMC (nih.gov) and jaundice patient[2]phytojournal.com/archives/2018/vol7issue3S/PartH/SP-7-3-47-591.pdf. Apart from this, it also plays an important role in reducing weight and purifying the blood[3]A comprehensive review on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) as a gold mine of functional bioactive components for therapeutic foods | Food Production, Processing and Nutrition | Full Text … Continue reading. The fiber cells and zinc present in it play an important role in eliminating excess fat and energizing the body[4]kd.nsfc.gov.cn/paperDownload/1000007200329.pdf.
Bitter gourd juice has immense benefits. Its use cleans the blood and removes excess fat from the body. It keeps the heart healthy. But consuming bitter gourd juice reduces the sugar level. So diabetic patients must consult before using it. Its excessive consumption is also harmful for the stomach.
Can eating Bitter gourd beneficial in IBS?
In IBS, the patient’s stomach is prone to complications. Bitter gourd is a vegetable that is bitter but has many benefits for normal and healthy persons. But IBS patients need to be very careful with their diet. Bitter gourd can cause gas and abdominal discomfort in IBS patients. Although, the numerous benefits are observed but bitter gourd is less useful for IBS patients. By using it, the symptoms of IBS may appeared.
Bitter gourd and IBS-C
IBS-C is a condition in which the patient is constipated. Due to this constipation, the patient suffers from mental distress and gas, and constipation creates very discomfort for the patient in the washroom in the morning.
If an IBS-C patient consumes bitter gourd, the fiber present in it softens the food, which relieves constipation and the patient can lead a normal life. That the use of bitter gourd is beneficial for IBS-C patients. But on the other hand there will be discomfort in gut due to Bitter gourd. So, victim has to adjust with bitter gourd. If he/she feel more benefits than continue to eat it, but on the other hand harmful effects are more than reduce to consume bitter gourd.
IBS-D and Bitter gourd
IBS-D in which the patient gets diarrhea and cramps. Due to this, the patient may become dehydrated. When the bitter gourd vegetable consume it can enhance the IBS symptoms. The most appearing symptoms includes abdominal discomfort, gas and mucus in stool. One this more important to understand that bitter gourd is very beneficial to kill microorganism in gastrointestinal track, so it is very healthy for normal and healthy persons but in IBS case is different, where diarrhea is not due to infection, so consumption this vegetable may not be favorable for you in the case of IBS-D.
Ways to eat bitter gourd vegetable in IBS.
There are many different ways for consumption of bitter gourd, and there eatblility in IBS is given below.
In the first method, people fry the bitter gourd vegetable in cooking oil. After this method, the bitterness of the bitter gourd is removed and the taste becomes batter and after adding some other vegetables like onion etc. Fried things are not good for IBS patients so when curry is prepared in this way it is not good for IBS patients and can cause IBS symptoms.
Another method involves boiling the bitter gourd in water. Due to which their bitterness ends. Then after addition of black chilies powder with salt according to taste. The bitter gourd prepared in this way is useful for IBS patients and does not show the symptoms of IBS or there will be less symptoms.
What should be done if the symptoms of IBS appear after consuming bitter gourd?
It you are facing IBS symptoms due to consumption of bitter gourd, following some solutions are there.
Ice cream should be consume. Due to this, comfort may be inside the stomach and the symptoms of IBS may be minimal. But for consumption of ice-cream may be simple but not addition of some other additives.
Even if the milk is consumed with a large amount of water, the symptoms of IBS will reduce after eating bitter gourd. One clarification is that consumption of milk is not good in IBS, but after eating bitter gourd milk with large water mixture make you very convenient.
In addition, Tea made with fennel, ginger and cinnamon should be used, it is very beneficial in reducing IBS.
If the symptoms of IBS are still appearing after using all these things, then use the medicines prescribed by the doctor. Or consult with your doctor for further detailed discussion and solution.
Written By:
- Dr. Abadullah Sajid Bashir
Reviewed By:
- Dr. Muhammad Khan Malik
- Syeda Noor-ul-Ain Naqvi
For Reviewers Detail Click Here
References