IBS and your diet

Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about IBS and the best way to manage this condition. In conventional medicine, medication is the typical go-to remedy. However, the research surrounding medication for IBS has shown mixed results in terms of efficacy and effectiveness. Plus, certain medications prescribed for IBS such as antidepressants, laxatives, antispasmodics, and antidiarrheal medications, have their own long list of side effects.

That’s why diet and lifestyle changes are still the biggest part of a person’s treatment plan, even in conventional medicine. We take this a step further in functional medicine by acknowledging that there is still no perfect IBS diet plan that works for everyone. In fact, studies have shown that simply eating more fiber - the often default recommendation for most people with IBS - can actually make symptoms worse for some people.

So when patients ask me “What is the best diet for irritable bowel syndrome?”, my answer is based on their specific health case. While some people do very well on paleo, AIP, and other similar diets, I always take a whole-health approach when considering what foods are going to be best for them as an individual based on their lab work, food sensitivities, and more.

IBS and FODMAPs

When it comes to food sensitivities and how they play a role in IBS, FODMAPs are at the top of the list. This strange sounding acronym stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. In short: fermentable sugars. These short-chain sugars are contained in many different foods and are not fully digested in the gut, which can cause them to be excessively fermented by gut bacteria.

This fermentation releases hydrogen gas that could lead to distension of the intestines, which can cause uncomfortable IBS symptoms in some people, such as pain, gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. This would be considered a FODMAP intolerance, and tends to be common in those with IBS.

The reason a FODMAP intolerance can go years without being discovered is because most high-FODMAP foods are actually considered healthy, food foods like fruits and vegetables. 

That’s why an effective IBS diet plan should take into consideration factors like food intolerances to be successful in alleviating symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet that eliminates high-FODMAP foods for a time being can be beneficial for those with IBS. In fact, close to 75% of people with IBS have found relief from their symptoms by following a low-FODMAP diet. (1) This can be short-term or long-term depending on your particular healing journey.

IBS Diet Plan

Again, there is no perfect IBS diet plan for everyone. But with that said, there are certain foods that have been shown to aggravate IBS by increasing inflammation, fueling bacterial dysbiosis, and perpetuating symptoms.

In general, the best diet for IBS is going to consist mostly of clean, whole foods and greatly limit, if not eliminate entirely, pre-packaged, processed foods, sugar, industrialized seed oils, and alcohol.

But to take it a step further, following a low-FODMAP diet is going to be your best bet when starting to heal through food.

What foods will aggravate IBS?

There are certain foods that have been shown to aggravate IBS by increasing inflammation, fueling bacterial dysbiosis, and perpetuating symptoms like in the case of high-FODMAP foods. Ultimately, if you are struggling with IBS symptoms and are already eating a pretty clean diet, these are the foods you should consider limiting next.

1. High-FODMAP vegetables and fruit

FODMAPs were first discovered by Monash University in 2005 and over the years, they have become the ultimate resource for all things FODMAPs. According to their research these fruits and vegetables contain the highest amount of FODMAPs that can irritate people with IBS or other chronic gut dysfunctions.

Vegetables

• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Green peas
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Sugar snap peas

Fruits

• Apples
• Dried fruit
• Cherries
• Mango
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Watermelon

2. Dairy

Not many people know this, but dairy is actually considered high FODMAP! So while that alone is a reason to leave dairy behind, there are many other aspects of dairy that can aggravate IBS. For example, casein - a protein found in animal milk - and lactose are two common food sensitivities that can perpetuate inflammation and symptoms like gas and bloating.

3. High-fiber foods

The type of IBS you struggle with will determine whether or not you do well with eating more fiber. If you have IBS-D it might be best to avoid eating more fiber as this can make symptoms worse. 

4. Nuts and seeds

Some people with gut dysfunction can find that nuts and seeds can be irritating on their gut, especially in their whole form. Plus, nuts like cashews and pistachios are considered high-FODMAP. However, people with a nut and seed sensitivity can still usually enjoy low-FODMAP nuts and seeds in other forms like milk and butter.

5. Wheat

Even if you don’t have a known gluten intolerance (although there are many other reasons to avoid gluten), wheat is high in fructans, a type of FODMAP that can trigger IBS symptoms. (2)

Foods to eat with IBS

If you are already eating a clean diet, focus on these foods to really up your healing journey.

1. Low-FODMAP vegetables and fruit

If you are wondering what you can eat if you are following a Low-FODMAP diet, Monash University has you covered with their extensive list of high and low-FODMAP foods including: (3)

Vegetables

• Eggplant
• Green beans
• Bok choy
• Green bell pepper
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Potatoes
• Zucchini

Fruits

• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi fruit
• Mandarins
• Oranges
• Pineapple

2. High-fiber foods

Again, high fiber foods are on both lists - foods to eat and to avoid - because it all comes down to what type of IBS you struggle with. If you have IBS-C fiber-rich foods could have a positive effect on your symptoms by encouraging regular bowel movements and improving consistency.

Additional lifestyle tips to help with IBS

Thankfully, there are even more ways that you can naturally support healing. These can vary based on your health case, but in general these

1. Probiotics

Since bacterial dysbiosis can perpetuate IBS symptoms, it’s important to correct any imbalances in your microbiome by ensuring your gut has everything it needs to thrive. A daily probiotic like The Probiotic from my supplement line The Collection, will supply your gut with much-needed beneficial bacteria strains to fight off any overgrowths of bad bacteria.

From now until May 31st, get 15% off The Probiotic with the code THEPROBIOTIC15 at checkout!

2. Alleviate stress

Research has found that stress is a major trigger for IBS symptoms. Like this study so eloquently put it, “IBS is a combination of irritable bowel and irritable brain.” (4) Talk about the gut-brain axis at work! Tools like meditation, breathwork, and therapy, can do wonders for helping manage everyday stress in your life. You can learn more about the gut-brain axis and how to restore your gut-feelings connection in my book, Gut Feelings.

Seeking help from a functional medicine expert

At the end of the day, there is no perfect diet for IBS. Even though there are some basic principles about food that reign true across the board, it ultimately all comes back to bioindividuality. 

That’s why I strongly encourage you to seek out personalized functional medicine care if you are struggling with IBS. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we specialize in uncovering exactly what is going on beneath the surface of your symptoms to tailor a dietary plan specific to you. Remember, you don’t have to face IBS alone!

If you are ready to take the next step, schedule a telehealth functional medicine consultation to learn more about how we can help you reclaim your health.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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