Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : March 27, 2014 3:37 PM IST
The worst thing about IBS is that it's a long-term condition which affects every person in a different way. Its symptoms are highly variable and may include stomach cramps, straining bowel movement, bloating and constipation. Because of high variability in manifestation of the disease, people suffering from IBS find it difficult to improve their symptoms.
People with IBS have a sensitive digestive system that is highly affected by the kind of food they eat. Although it's not easy to identify which foods are responsible for triggering the symptoms of IBS, here's a list of triggers that are known to worsen IBS:
1. Junk food: Most patients with IBS suffer from an upset stomach after eating junk like french fries, burgers, samosas, vada pav etc. The high fat content in fried food items is what could be triggering your symptoms. Moreover, your digestive lining may also be sensitive to certain spices that are liberally used in these junk food. Apart from keeping you away from bloating, stomach pain and constipation, avoiding fried foods can also be beneficial for your heart health and weight loss goals. (Here are 10 reasons junk food is bad for your health.)
2. Milk and milk products: Quite a few people with IBS complain about symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps and constipation after having dairy products. That's because dairy products contain two components, whey and casein, you may be intolerant to. Several packaged and processed foods like yogurt, cheese, paneer, ice creams and frozen yogurt may also contain these components. So be careful while buying them as they too can have unpleasant effects on your digestive system.
3. Gluten: Gluten is a protein found in a lot of foods that are processed from cereals like wheat, barley and rye. Several studies have linked IBS with gluten sensitivity. A study by Vazquez-Roque MI and colleagues reported that gluten alters the bowel barrier function and causes diarrhea in IBS patients. If you're prone to diarrhea, you should avoid gluten-containing foods like breakfast cereals, pastas, cookies, cakes, white bread and soy sauce.
4. Beans: Although the perception about flatulence after consumption of beans may be exaggerated, if you have a sensitive bowel it definitely holds true in your case. Beans are rich in dietary fibre and some resistant starches, which are acted upon by bacteria present in your intestine. Most of the gas is produced due to the action of bacteria. Beans may especially undesirable for IBS patients because it contributes to gas pooling and impaired gas expulsion.
5. Coffee: Coffee contains caffeine that has a stimulatory effect on the digestive system. Although there is less evidence linking caffeine to gastrointestinal dysfunction, if you figure out that your symptoms are stimulated after having caffeine containing foods like coffee, chocolates, colas and stimulatory drinks, you should eliminate them from your diet.
6. Alcohol: The exact reason why alcohol may not be advisable for people with IBS is unknown. But observational studies have found that most patients with IBS were regular alcohol consumers. One of the studies has shown that women who consumed alcohol for one week or more had increased chances of suffering from IBS compared to those who drinking alcohol in moderate amounts. Alcohol may also contribute to irregular dietary pattern that can worsen IBS symptoms.
References:
By Stephen Wangen. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution
Vazquez-Roque MI and collegues. A controlled trial of gluten-free diet in patients with irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea: effects on bowel frequency and intestinal function.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Adults: Diagnosis and Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Primary Care (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
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