What foods should I avoid if I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

There is no single list of foods that must be universally avoided by everyone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), as food triggers vary from person to person. However, your doctor may recommend trying to avoid gluten or following a low-FODMAP diet to identify the foods that trigger your symptoms. It is advisable to work with a healthcare professional to determine the specific foods that trigger your symptoms.

Understanding Personal Food Triggers for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that occur together, including recurring abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both [3]. Although IBS can cause significant discomfort, it does not cause visible damage or disease in the digestive tract [3]. Identifying foods that trigger your symptoms is an important first step in managing IBS. Keeping a food diary can help track eaten foods and subsequent symptoms, allowing you and your doctor to identify potential patterns and triggers. It is important not to eliminate entire food groups without medical supervision to ensure you are receiving adequate nutrition.

The Low-FODMAP Diet

Your doctor may recommend trying a specific diet called a low-FODMAP diet to reduce or avoid certain foods that contain carbohydrates that are difficult to digest [4]. Examples of foods that contain FODMAPs include:

• Fruits such as apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, mangoes, nectarines, pears, plums, and watermelon, or juices containing any of these fruits.
• Fruits canned in natural fruit juice, or large amounts of fruit juice or dried fruit.
• Vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic and garlic salts, lentils, mushrooms, onions, and sugar snap peas.
• Dairy products such as milk, milk products, soft cheeses, yogurt, custard, and ice cream.
• Wheat and rye products.
• Honey and foods containing high-fructose corn syrup.
• Products, including candies and chewing gum, that contain sweeteners ending in "-ol," such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol [4].

Your doctor might suggest trying a low-FODMAP diet for a few weeks to see if it helps relieve symptoms. If symptoms improve, your doctor may recommend slowly adding FODMAP-containing foods back into your diet. You may be able to eat some foods containing FODMAPs without triggering IBS symptoms [4].

Avoiding Gluten and Increasing Fiber

Your doctor may recommend avoiding foods containing gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—to see if your IBS symptoms improve [4]. Foods containing gluten include most cereals, pasta, and many processed foods. Some people with IBS experience increased symptoms after consuming gluten, even if they do not have celiac disease [4].

Your doctor may also recommend eating more fiber, especially soluble fiber found in beans, fruits, and oat products, as it may improve constipation in IBS by making stool softer and easier to pass [4]. To help your body adjust to more fiber, add high-fiber foods to your diet gradually. Too much fiber at once can cause gas, which may lead to IBS symptoms [4].

When to See a Doctor?

If you are experiencing IBS symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor to diagnose your condition and develop an appropriate treatment plan. A doctor can perform tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [2]. For example, a fecal calprotectin test can help distinguish between IBS and IBD, as IBS does not cause inflammation in the intestines [2]. To learn more about IBS, you can visit Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment (Arabic).

If you experience symptoms such as blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or severe and persistent abdominal pain, you should seek immediate medical attention, as these symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that requires urgent medical evaluation [2].

Medical references

• Definition & Facts for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Irritable Bowel Syndrome - NIDDK
• Calprotectin Stool Test