"IBS" is the shortened description of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Although it is recognised as a term used to describe a common discomfort of the gut and bowels, in short, Irritable Bowel syndrome can not be explained away in a few simple words. The answer is a lot bigger than the question!
- Alcohol is a gastrointestinal irritant and often triggers IBS attacks, especially on an empty stomach. Small amounts of alcohol in cooking are fine
- Artificial fats, such as Olestra, can cause abdominal cramping and diarrhea in people who don’t even have IBS
- Artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol, can trigger pain, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea
- Battered and deep-fried food
- Biscuits
- Caffeine is a gastrointestinal stimulant and should be avoided, especially in higher doses
- Carbonation in soda pop and mineral water can cause bloating and cramps
- Chocolate
- Coconut milk
- Coffee: regular and decaf coffee contain an enzyme that is a powerful irritant of the gastrointestinal tract
- Croissants, pastries, biscuits, scones, and doughnuts
- Dairy products such as cheese, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, milk, cream, ice cream, whipped cream, yogurt, frozen yogurt
- Doughnuts
- Dried bananas – they are often deep fried in oil
- Egg yolks (whites are fine, do try to buy organic)
- French fries
- French toast
- Fried chicken
- Hot dogs / Corn dogs
- Margarine
- Mashed potatoes which have butter / milk
- Mayonnaise
- MSG used a lot in Chinese food. MSG has been implicated as a cause or trigger of various digestive issues
- Nuts and nut butters
- Oils, fats, spreads, etc
- Olives
- Onion rings
- Pancakes
- Pastries
- Pie crust
- Potato chips – unless they are baked
- Poultry dark meat and skin. Skinless chicken white meat is fine
- Red meat, such as ground beef, hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, roast beef, pastrami, salami, bologna, pepperoni, corned beef, ham, bacon, sausage, pork chops, and any other meat that comes from cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, etc
- Salad dressings
- Skillet-fried food that is cooked in fat or oil
- Solid carob – but carob powder is OK
- Solid chocolate – but baking cocoa powder is OK
- Tartar sauce
- Waffles
- Wheat, rye, barley or other foods containing gluten
