
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic ailment that causes abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and bowel changes. It is challenging to deal with and affects many people’s lives regularly. There are medicines and treatments available to manage the condition, but there is no cure-all solution. This is where lifestyle and diet come into the picture. When dealing with IBS, it is essential to know what to eat and what to avoid. Here is a list of some common IBS food triggers you need to be aware of:
- Alcohol
Alcohol often serves as a trigger for IBS symptoms. For starters, alcoholic drinks can contain gluten, sugar, and have a dehydrating effect on the body. Consuming alcohol serves to irritate the gut and affect the mobility of the gastrointestinal tract. Avoiding excessive consumption of drinks like beer, wine, or even mixed alcoholic beverages is advised. - Beans and Legumes
Oligosaccharides, a type of carbohydrate abundantly present in beans and legumes many times does not sit well with the gut. The fermentation of this particular carb in the stomach leads to gas, which then leads to bloating and discomfort. However, the amount of this specific carbohydrate varies in various legumes and beans, and you may find yourself acceptable in some varieties over others. It is safe to wash and soak them for a standard amount of time to avoid the aftermath.
- Caffeine
Giving up your morning cup of coffee, or the ones after can be trying. But caffeine can still serve as a typical IBS trigger food. Coffee or other caffeine-containing drinks can cause diarrhea and trigger some other symptoms as well. The only sure way to know how adversely it affects your symptoms and can contribute to their presence is by giving up all types of caffeine. You can go back to implanting it into your routine but with moderation.
- Dairy
Milk and other dairy products serve our bodies with sugar known as lactose. Often, our bodies do not react well to that sugar, which is known as lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance can lead to the formation of gas and exhibit symptoms like diarrhea and bloating. All of which is sure to trigger IBS. It is, therefore, essential to avoid or monitor the consumption of dairy products. It is safer to consume dairy products like parmesan, brie, or mozzarella, as they have low lactose content.
- Insoluble fiber
Fiber is known to add bulk to our diet. It proves healthy to maintain a sound digestive system and gut health. And of the two types of fiber—soluble and insoluble—one acts as a typical IBS trigger food, and the other is a common IBS reliever food. IBS symptoms manifest differently in different people. It is essential to know which fiber is going to help you. While insoluble fiber can help relieve constipation in some, it can also cause bloating or diarrhea in some others. It is, therefore, essential to stick to high-soluble fiber-containing foods that prove to be of immense help in relieving the symptoms.