Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Diet: Foods To Eat And Avoid

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that leads to a series of symptoms, including abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and more.  However, its symptoms can be easily managed by changes in lifestyle, IBS diet, and stress management. 

IBS Diet

The IBS diet is a short-term diet plan based on the concept of elimination to find the trigger for the condition. Certain foods are eliminated from the diet, while still keeping it balanced, to identify the specific triggers. Based on the observations, a diet regime is prepared to suit the specific condition so as to manage the symptoms for the long term. Read further to understand what foods can be consumed as a part of the IBS diet and what all to avoid.

Foods To Consume On The IBS Diet

Here’s a list of foods one can easily consume as a part of the IBS diet without aggravating their condition:

• Proteins: Chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, etc. are rich sources of protein and are safe to consume while suffering from IBS.
• Nuts And Seeds: Nuts including walnuts, almonds, pecans, and more can be easily included in your IBS diet. 
• Fruits: Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, grapes, raspberries, and kiwis can be a part of your diet regime as they are perfectly safe and won’t aggravate the present condition. 
• Vegetables: Carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, etc, can easily be incorporated into your IBS diet plan. 
• Spices And Herbs: It is absolutely okay to consume spices and herbs like ginger, paprika, thyme, basil, oregano, pepper, etc. even if you are dealing with IBS. 
• Grains: Grains like rice, oats, and quinoa can be consumed, but only after ensuring that they are gluten-free. 
• Beverages: All lactose-free drinks, including herbal teas and fresh juices of the above-mentioned fruits and vegetables, can be consumed, but in a limited quantity.  

Foods Not To Consume On The IBS Diet

Along with knowing what to eat, it is equally important to understand what to avoid while dealing with gastrointestinal issues like IBS. The following foods might trigger an episode of pain and discomfort and alleviate the condition:

• Processed Foods: All processed foods with preservatives and additive ingredients can prove to be harmful when dealing with situations like IBS. 
• High-Fat Foods: All foods with high percentage of fat content should be avoided so as not to worsen the condition. 
• Too Much Spice: Foods that have too much spice content can irritate the digestive tract and trigger the symptoms of IBS
• Legumes: It is advised to avoid legumes like kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. as part of the IBS diet as they are much harder to digest and, hence, can trigger the symptoms. 
• Drinks: Drinks including those that are caffeinated or carbonated should also be avoided, along with all kinds of alcoholic beverages. 
• Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners like high-fructose ingredients, sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol should also be avoided. 

Dealing with issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome can take a considerable amount of effort and changes in lifestyle. However, when done right and religiously, it can make a significant impact on one’s health and their ongoing condition.