The holidays are a time of gathering and celebration, but let's be honest, the holidays can also be nerve wracking! This time of year is full of temptation, and we are constantly bombarded with foods that may not agree with our health goals or our IBS. Add travel and the stress of deadlines, obligations, family dynamics and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster. However, not all hope is lost! Check out these tips and tricks to enjoy yourself an IBS-free holiday:
Believe it or not, stress is a very common trigger of IBS! The holidays tend to be a stressful time for some people. Whether it be deadlines at work, traveling long distance, or family dynamics! If your holiday is as stressful as the all of the movies make them out to be, try out some of these tips to help reduce stress:
Bringing your own dish is a great way to ensure you will have something to eat at the holiday party that will agree with your IBS. If you bring enough to contribute to the spread, you will be the host's favorite guest and you will also feel at ease knowing you have a safety net in case all of the foods there don't agree with you! Check out these low FODMAP holiday recipes to find your next BYOD!
Friends and family will be more understanding than you'd think. It can be helpful to tell the person you're attending the party with or someone you'd be spending a lot of time with that you may have to excuse yourself for a few minutes to use the bathroom if your symptoms start to flare up. This also makes it easier for you to exit the gathering early if you feel uncomfortable or if your symptoms worsen. If you feel comfortable, it can also be helpful to tell the host. They may have a separate bathroom that you can use for a little more privacy!
Alcohol has been shown to worsen IBS symptoms in some individuals. If you are aware that alcohol is a trigger for your IBS, limit your consumption or eliminate it all together at the holiday party. Instead, you can stick to water since hydration is also key for people who have IBS-C to avoid constipation.
If all of these other strategies fail and your IBS is just not giving it a rest, you'll need a good escape plan. Letting the person you are attending the holiday party with know about your IBS and the possibility of having to leave mid-party will alleviate any further discussion while you're there. You can always say you have another obligation that you may have to attend.
To read more about foods to avoid, foods to eat and how to make easy changes to your IBS diet to mitigate your symptoms, download our IBS Nutrition Guide.