What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, can be described as painful abdominal cramps, often accompanied by bloating, diarrhoea or constipation, without any identifiable physical cause. Health professionals have said that up to 20% of adults in the UK suffer from IBS.

It can feel that some days IBS really does rule your life - but finding a way that helps to control your IBS means you don’t have to let your symptoms get in the way of enjoying your life! Whether it’s a family meal or a special occasion like Christmas where there will be a lot of food, you can find ways to manage your symptoms and make sure IBS doesn't ruin your good time.

IBS affects each person differently, so it's really all about finding out what works best for you - here are a couple of ideas to try:

- Eat slower - Have a regular eating pattern and don't skip meals - Eat smaller meals - Be aware of what you ate to upset your stomach

Below we have included an easy recipe for a light soup for you to try and see how you get on with it!

Ingredients

2 x 225g cans cannelloni beans, rinsed

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium-sized carrots, chopped finely

1 large red onion, chopped finely

3 sticks celery, chopped finely

2-3 large garlic cloves, crushed

155g fresh organic spring greens, leaves finely chopped

1.5 litre strong vegetable stock

A few sprigs fresh thyme

About 8 large sage leaves

A big handful parsley, chopped finely

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

A small pinch of ground cloves

100g cooked penne or macaroni pasta

Method

Heat olive oil in a large pan, add your grated carrots, onion and celery and cook gently on a low heat until soft.

Add the cooked, drained and rinsed cannelloni beans, garlic and spring greens and carry on cooking for a couple of minutes. Stir in your stock, thyme leaves, sage, parsley, seasoning and cloves. Bring the mixture to boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until all the vegetables are cooked through and soft.

Stir in the cooked pasta, adjust the seasoning and serve immediately - enjoy!

We at Access Care are a live-in carer agency. With our full-time home care support, you will receive round-the-clock assistance tailored to meet your individual needs. Our dedicated live-in care team is committed to ensuring that you not only enjoy a high quality of life but also have the freedom to live as independently as possible alongside our living in carers, while retaining control and choice over your daily routines. Our goal is to provide you with comprehensive and friendly 24-hour live-in care, allowing you to feel supported and empowered every step of the way.