Last week we discussed ideal meal plan for a normal elderly & how following a diet can help your loved ones in the long term. In response to the constant feedback received from our readers, this article covers an ideal meal plan for elderly suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis labelled to any disorder of the intestine, where there is no other apparent pathology. Unfortunately many other diseases often go undiagnosed due to mislabelling as IBS. That’s not to say there isn’t a genuine condition of IBS; there most definitely is, and it seems to be becoming increasingly prevalent.
IBS symptoms vary from constipation to diarrhoea to intermittent constipation and diarrhoea, and other symptoms may or may not be present: stomach pain/discomfort, urgency, abdominal cramps, blood in stools, flatulence, excessively smelly stools, anaemia, bloating, excessive belching and more. Due to varying symptoms there can be a number of dietary and medical approaches to the treatment of IBS, with varied success. Some people may identify certain food intolerances and need to exclude the offending items from their diet, others may adopt a diet high in dietary fibre. Some people however try a number of dietary regimens, with zero success, and so may need medical intervention and further exploration.
However, the first dietary manipulation suggested is the low irritant diet. Fibre needs to be included in your diet, but certain high fibre foods may irritate the bowel. This regimen encourages a good fibre intake, whilst avoiding certain irritant fibre foods. It is also important to drink well – 12 cups of fluid per day. Avoid strong tea and coffee, and limit fizzy drinks and alcohol. It is also important to eat a wide variety of foods and to eat regular meals, don’t miss meals. Remember, correct retirement planning and healthy food intake help lead a comfortable life during old age.
The following meal plan is an example plan of a healthy low irritant diet which may help relieve symptoms of IBS. Use this to assess what are healthy nutritious foods to include, but don’t forget to vary your food choices and to drink plenty of water through the day. Remember to check with your doctor before following this plan.
| Breakfast | High fibre cereal (porridge, Shredded Wheat, Weetabix, etc) + skimmed milk 1-2 slices wholemeal bread with olive oil-based spread 200ml smooth fruit juice Mug weak tea/coffee |
| Mid-morning | 2-3 digestive biscuits BananaDrink |
| Lunch | Sandwich: Wholemeal bread + olive oil-based spread + cheese or yoghurt or cottage cheese with rye crispbread / oatcakes (Stricly avoid maida based items / bread) Small portion of raw carrot / cucumber Low fat yoghurt Drink water |
| Mid-afternoon | 2-3 oatcakes Peeled apple / pear Mug weak tea/coffee |
| Evening Meal | Wheat chapatti, basmati rice or whole wheat pasta jacket potato or sweet potato and large serving of cooked veg |
| Evening | 1-2 slices wholemeal bread, toasted with olive oil-based spread and smooth peanut butter Drink water |
In the forthcoming post we will cover information on flatulence & how to prevent it. We believe in bringing the best elderly home care tips for making golden years comfortable. Do subscribe to our posts in order to get useful information for your loved ones
