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6. Alcohol
No, it’s not technically a food, but alcohol should be eliminated from your diet as well, as it can cause multiple problems. It can aggravate common IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, poor absorption of nutrients and food sensitivities. Alcohol can also create new digestive issues including heartburn. Non-alcoholic beverages such as fruit juices, soda and coke should also be avoided because of the high sugar content. Healthier options include water with a slice of lemon or cucumber, coconut water and smoothies with low FODMAP fruits and veggies.
Other Considerations
For best results you should seek professional advice from a dietitian. Generally speaking, the recommendation would be to restrict problematic foods for six to eight weeks until you notice significant improvement in the IBS symptoms. A dietitian will advise which foods to eliminate and when to start reintroducing them. The goal is to gradually increase the level of intake you can tolerate. The low FODMAP diet is temporary diet, not a lifetime diet.
It is worth testing for other food sensitivities, since they are so common in IBS. Some foods may be low FODMAP but cause symptoms. These foods should also be avoided. Food sensitivities are frequently associated with environmental allergies, which can be also tested by various lab tests and treated accordingly.
Improving your diet, along with other lifestyle changes, can help you better your manage IBS.
Read more about avoiding high FODMAP foods over on NewLifeOutlook.
Resources
Huffington Post (Corn Syrup in Unexpected Foods)IFFGD (The Low FODMAP Diet Approach)Stanford Healthcare (The Low FODMAP Diet)
Although several drugs are currently available for this condition, you should know there are other treatment options for IBS.
