[Guest]

I just got back from Spring Break in Jamaica. I was so nervous about going--sharing a bathroom w/3 people and I had no idea what the food would be like. But I was almost fine for the whole week. Just one episode of D and other people were complaining of it too so it might have been something bad we had all eaten. The food was not exactly what I'd call low-fat, but for the week I had practically no caffeine, sugar, chocolate, milk, Nutrasweet, etc. and I have to admit I drank large quantities of alcohol too. And get this: my first night back in Boston we all ordered pizza and the next day both my roomie and i had D. I don't get it! My theory is that we IBSers are all victims of a high-stress lifestyle coupled with a diet full of over-processed food, both of which is absent in places like Jamaica. Any thoughts?

 

[Guest]

naturegirl,Funny you should notice that. I have noticed that when I travel I am less likely to have problems. I usually make a point of eating a lot of yogurt when I travel. That could make a difference too. However, I think the processed food thing is a biggie.

 

[Boots]

What is over-processed food?I'm eating eggs, fish, chicken, meats and fresh frozen [now cooked] vegies. No starches, carbos, sugars if possible. I forgot, calcium , sometimes JAF and yogurt.Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Hippocrates[This message has been edited by Boots (edited 03-16-99).]

 

[Guest]

I'm not exactly sure what I mean by over-processed, but I guess I was thinking about the packaged foods I tend to eat...cereal, rice pilaf, uh, frozen waffles...they all have an ingredient list a mile long. Maybe it was the change in diet when I went to Jamaica that was responsible for my "good" week, or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't stressing about all the things I needed to get done like I do when at school. This IBS thing definitely makes no sense.