IBS diet: What to eat, What not to

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients can better manage their symptoms with an IBS-specific diet. IBS symptoms are often triggered by food, so sticking to an IBS diet can reduce severity and flare-ups. Unlike the case of a gluten-free diet and celiac disease, an IBS diet is not a one-size-fits-all. Although there are some general guidelines regarding what to eat and what to avoid, determining which foods you can and cannot tolerate will require some trial and error.

As someone who is living with IBS (and Crohn’s disease), I will tell you that finding the perfect diet can be challenging and frustrating. But once you finally narrow down on what you can and cannot eat, meals are no longer a stressful event, and you can go back to enjoying your daily life.

The most commonly recommended diet for IBS is the FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols, which are basically sugars found in carbohydrates. On the other hand, not all carbohydrates are considered FODMAPs.

The FODMAP types of carbs are fructose (fruits, honey, corn syrup), lactose (dairy), fructans (wheat, onions, garlic), galactans (legumes like beans and lentils), and polyols (fruits with pits or seeds). These types of carbs pull water into your digestive tract. If eaten in excess, FODMAPs stay in your gut and ferment, making you feel bloated. By sticking to a low FODMAP diet – reducing foods that contain these types of carbs – a person with IBS may have be able to lower their IBS symptoms and other digestive issues.

Here we will help you narrow down on some common trigger foods you may wish to avoid if you are living with IBS. Make sure to look at the list of recommended foods that may help your condition.

Continue reading: http://www.belmarrahealth.com/ibs-diet-foods-to-eat-and-foods-to-avoid/