Dietary Strategies for Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal system that affects 5.7% of the general population. It is more common and more severe in individuals with autism. A new review in the journal Gastroenterology & Motility looked at the science behind treatments for IBS. It found studies supporting the use of peppermint oil, specific probiotics, psyllium supplementation, dietary advice, and a low FODMAP diet as aids in improving IBS symptoms.
Probiotics Beyond Yogurt
As we wrote in an earlier SafeMinds Shares article, taking probiotics may help with some symptoms of autism. Probiotics are also considered a healthy addition to anyone’s diet. BiomeHealth, a maker of probiotic products, has produced a handy list of probiotics beyond those containing dairy, such as yogurt. The article contains tips on how to incorporate these foods into meal preparation. Since some individuals with autism are on dairy-free diets or might like variety in their diets, this list might be helpful to our readers.
Improvement from 6 Month Probiotic/Prebiotic Treatment for Autism
A new study [1] confirms differences in gut microbiome composition between autistic children and typically developing children, and has reported improvement in autism symptomatology with a probiotic/prebiotic treatment. Improvements were seen in gut microbiome diversity, metabolites and function, as well as autism behaviors and neurotransmitters.
