Are you someone who loves spicy foods but suffers from IBS? If so, you may have heard that spicy foods can exacerbate IBS symptoms. This is because many spicy foods contain capsaicin, a compound that can stimulate the digestive system and cause discomfort for those with IBS.
Understanding the diet and its underlying principles can help you more effectively follow the diet, support a healthy relationship with food, and manage your GI symptoms.
Although there is currently no research detailing the role of alcohol in triggering IBS symptoms, an observational study reports approximately 1 in 3 people with IBS report experiencing symptoms from consuming alcohol.
You may have noticed that not everyone with IBS experiences the same triggers, or symptoms during flare-ups. In fact, most people with IBS have different triggers and “IBS-safe foods”. One of the reasons for this is that there are different types of IBS. Knowing and understanding your dominant type of IBS can help you identify ways to manage the symptoms.
Snacking is often viewed as a bad habit that should be avoided and a barrier to weight loss. Despite what the diet culture may tell you, there is a purpose for snacking…[it] can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
It is currently estimated that 10 to 20% of the world’s population experience IBS. Studies report that women and people under the age of 50 are experiencing higher rates of IBS, with Canada reporting one of the highest rates of IBS across the globe. Additionally, research has shown that women with IBS are more likely to experience symptoms during their periods.
Normally, low-calorie sweeteners pose no risk to us (unless consuming in huge amounts) but, they can be troublesome for individuals with GI conditions. But for some, this could be aggravating GI conditions and triggering unpleasant symptoms.
The low FOMDAP diet essentially removes foods with high contents of FODMAPs from your diet.
Many people with IBS avoid breakfast because they are avoiding the symptoms that begin shortly after. What people don’t realize is that certain foods that are prone to give you IBS symptoms are very commonly eaten at breakfast.