The symptoms of this condition can be very individual. Different people can react to different foods. Other triggers for symptoms can also vary.
No one IBS diet works for everyone. People often have to experiment with different options to find the best one.
This article will discuss some IBS diets, their benefits, and how to select ibs specialist in london. We also discuss other factors that could cause IBS flare-ups and recommend when to consult a healthcare professional.
What diet is best to treat IBS?
IBS sufferers will not find a single treatment that works for them all. IBS sufferers may be sensitive to certain foods.
The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders suggests that people keep a log for at least two weeks to identify trigger foods and food groups.
People can use the diary to keep track of:
- They eat the same food and drinks every day
- The symptoms they experience, their severity and their timing.
- Other factors may also play a part, like stress or hormonal fluctuations.
This diary can bring the journal to a doctor’s appointment or dietitian.
If the IBS triggers are not understood by the person keeping a diary, they might benefit from an elimination diet.
Elimination diet
A person may try an elimination diet, which is a diet that eliminates certain foods or food groups for a set period to improve their symptoms.
The IFFGD recommends these steps to try elimination diets for 12 weeks.
- You should make a list of food items that could trigger IBS symptoms. You can track symptoms using the food diary technique or eliminate common triggers like fiber and caffeine.
- Select one food from the list and take it off your diet for 12 weeks.
- If IBS symptoms persist, you can reintroduce the food or eliminate it.
The IFFGD recommends removing fiber from your diet since it can trigger IBS, even for those with constipation.
A dietitian or doctor should monitor this approach. It cannot be easy to obtain the nutrients you need by eliminating certain foods. This can be prevented by consulting a medical professional.
Low FODMAP diet
FODMAP is short for fermentable oligosaccharides and disaccharides. These are short-chain carbohydrates found in certain foods. FODMAPs may trigger IBS symptoms in some people.
To help, researchers from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, created the Low-FODMAP Diet. This diet involves eating low FODMAP food in the right portions for a certain time.
These steps will help you to try the diet:
- Avoid high FODMAP food for 2-6 weeks and replace them with low FODMAP food. It can be difficult to make significant changes in your diet, so it might be helpful to seek the guidance of a dietitian.
- After six weeks, gradually introduce one type of FODMAP at once by eating one food that contains it. A person might test their tolerance to fructose by eating honey.
- Start slowly increasing your food intake by eating a smaller, more controlled amount over 3 days. Monitor for any symptoms during this period.
- To help them remember what they can tolerate or don’t, they can note down if they develop symptoms.
- These steps can be repeated for each type of FODMAP in the following 8-12 weeks.
This allows people to balance low FODMAP food with higher FODMAP food they can tolerate.
High fiber diet
Some people find that increasing fiber intake can help relieve IBS symptoms such as constipation.
There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves when it is dissolved in water. It can be found in fruits, beans, oats and beans. Insoluble fiber, which is not dissolved in water, can be found in whole grains.
IBS sufferers often need to be given soluble fiber by their doctors. Both forms of fiber may be beneficial for IBS symptoms.
Foods high in insoluble fiber can help add bulk to a person’s stool and cause diarrhea, bloating, or pain.