We all need support every once in awhile

Well I have been trying to navigate this information highway when it comes to IBS/IBD. The information out there is mind boggling.

I was on the WebMD site today and found this great IBS support group. I know not everyone likes support groups or web groups. But from a personal experience I have found them to be a wealth of information.

The ability to speak to others about your symptoms. What they have tried, what has worked or not worked. One of the things I have found it that there just doesn't seem to be any really clear answer about the diet.

For example some doctors and practitioners are adamant that those who suffer from IBD should stay away from dairy products. Then you can go and read articles that tell you that you can eat dairy within moderation. Again very confusing and sometimes can be contradictory.

Then we get onto the the debate about Soluble and Insoluble fibres which ones you should eat or not eat. Or how one should never eat on Insoluble fibre on an empty stomach and should always eat them with a Soluble fibre. Oh my goodness.

Now what about Fat....Fat is bad...but we need a certain amount in our diet. Some literature says that Fat should be 20 -25% of our total caloric intake. That the fats we chose should be Monounsaturated and contain essential fatty acids....fats such as olive oil, canola oil, avocados, finely ground nuts, fatty fish and flax oil. Now I know we have all heard of the benefits of these fats not only for the GI(gastrointestinal)tract but for mental and cardiac health as well.

This is where the support groups can come in handy the can help you navigate this sometimes very confusing topic. You read an article and you are not sure about it's content or just want to get other's opinions on the topic.

Here is the link to the WebMD IBS Support Group . This link will also help you navigate through the WebMD site which is a wealth of information. One of their current articles Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What Kind of Fiber, What Kind of Oils? I found this to be a very informative article and made me think that I needed to go out and get me some Peppermint tea.

So in a nutshell, I think we all need support every once in awhile. It's nice to know there are places that you can go to get this kind of support.