Have you experienced indigestion or constipation with bloating after eating certain types of food? Or does it feel like your body cannot digest any food? These may be signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Ayurveda and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Ayurveda suggests that your Agni, or the digestive fire key to balancing your digestive system, is disturbed. This leads to the accumulation of Amas or toxins in your body, causing a wide variety of intestinal and stomach issues called IBS. IBS issues result in symptoms like a nagging cycle of constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and acidity. Eating certain types of food has been thought to trigger IBS. Let us see which foods to avoid in IBS.
7 Foods To Avoid With IBS
Most of us have heard about Irritable Bowel Syndrome high-fiber diet and a good diet for IBS. But all this may not work until you avoid specific IBS triggers.
- Dairy products
Dairy products and ingredients are high in fat content. This high-fat content can cause diarrhea and other symptoms of IBS. Milk is considered to be a trigger in some, resulting in a condition called lactose intolerance.
- Insoluble fibre
Insoluble fibre is hard to digest in the intestines. Whole grains, meals made of whole grains, and certain vegetables contain insoluble fibre.
- Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like Sucralose, Acesulfame potassium, and aspartame are used in sugary drinks and sweet products. These are difficult to digest and are absorbed slowly in your intestines, triggering IBS.
- Certain fruits and vegetables
Garlic, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes, beans, apples, ripe bananas, pears, mangoes, green peas, soybeans, sweetcorn, etc., are potential triggers for IBS. One should avoid these in their IBS diet plan.
- Gluten
Whole grains, particularly wheat and barley, contain proteins called gluten that interfere with your digestive system. They are hard to digest and require a lot of energy to be processed. These grains can cause constipation and diarrhea in individuals with IBS.
- Processed foods
Processed foods are a combination and rich source of fat, sugar, salt, and preservatives. Examples include deep-fried foods, pickles, frozen meals, ready-to-eat meals, chips, canned foods, etc. The preservatives and high-fat content are the primary causes of IBS and other disorders like cancer, obesity, and heart diseases.
- Alcohol and caffeinated drinks
Caffeinated drinks may be high in sugar and preservatives, while alcohol is also high in sugar. Beers contain barley, a gluten source, while wines, cocktails, etc., have added sugars. Your body has difficulty digesting these foods and drinks, triggering and worsening IBS.
FAQs
- Is ghee good for digestion?
Yes, ghee is considered to ease your stomach and intestines from symptoms of IBS and promote good digestion in IBS.
- What are FODMAPs diet foods for IBS?
FODMAPs stands for Fermentable Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides, Mono-saccharides, And Polyols. These are foods that trigger IBS. Therefore it is advisable to have meals that are low on this FODMAPs. Low FODMAP foods recommended for IBS include potatoes, bananas, soy, rice, oats, grapes, carrots, cucumbers, green leafy vegetables, etc.
- Can I eat curd in IBS?
Even though avoiding dairy products in IBS is advisable, curd is a healthy exception. It contains the essential gut bacteria that stimulate and regulate intestinal digestion and toxins.
References
- https://www.webmd.com/ibs/guide/what-is-fodmap
- https://www.healthline.com/health/ayurvedic-medicine-for-ibs#ayurveda-treatments
- https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/foods-to-avoid-with-ibs#alcohol
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320876
- https://www.webmd.com/ibs/ibs-triggers-prevention-strategies
