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What's causing your IBS? Let's look at your food choices.
Food is a major factor when it comes to IBS. Poor eating habits and irregular eating times contribute to the aggravation of the colon.
Having IBS isn’t fun; it can be a major source of discomfort, but with the right knowledge, diet and attitude, you can make sure your sensitive stomach doesn’t hamper your life.
Foods that trigger IBS
- Fatty foods are one of the main digestive tract stimulants and one of the most common triggers of IBS.
- Foods that create gas, like beans, Brussels sprouts and onions. While IBS sufferers may not necessarily produce more gas, they feel greater pain from the build-up of gas.
- Lactose, which is the sugar found in dairy products, may cause symptoms in both IBS sufferers and people who are lactose intolerant. IBS patients often report flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea and loose stools after ingesting foods containing lactose.
- Fructose is the sugar found in honey, fruit juices and jams. The body finds it difficult to break down a large amount of fructose, which may even upset the stomach of someone who doesn’t have IBS.
- Coffee acts as a minor diuretic, and may trigger IBS. Studies have shown that IBS sufferers who cut coffee from their diet see improvements and diminished symptoms.
- Alcohol. At least 20 percent of people with IBS said they had intolerance to alcohol and 12 percent limited or avoided alcohol completely.
Find your triggers
Most dieticians recommend keeping a food diary or following an elimination diet. Write down everything you eat. Keep track of the times you eat, the quantities and make a note of when you experience IBS symptoms. Be as detailed as possible. After keeping a food diary for a while, you can gauge your IBS triggers. With this information, you and your dietician can work out a diet that will work best for you.
An elimination diet works similarly to an allergy test. Your doctor or dietician will give you a set diet for a period of time. You will then document what you eat and the symptoms. The process will eliminate certain foods to determine which ones trigger your symptoms. Once the elimination diet is complete, your doctor or dietician will assist in creating an IBS-friendly diet programme suited to your needs.
