Eating for IBS

Iristxo

Hi guys

Long time no see, hi to all the regulars.

So, question for you all as I do remember some of you metioning in the past that you were sufferers of IBs.

We (me and the kids) eat mostly unprocessed foods. Some red meat (not loads, we're careful with sat fat), free-range chicken breasts, fish, some full-fat dairy (not a lot, most of it fermented), 6 or 7 eggs a week, mostly cooked veg, some fruits, a portion of oatmeal a day, olive oil, very little coconut oil, one or two cups of coffee a day (me, not the kids). We mostly stay away from wheat and gluten. We barely eat any nuts or seeds.

This has worked great for me in recent times in terms of energy, weight loss, etc. However, recently I have had relapses of IBS and I am now at a loss as to what to do with my diet. High fat foods and red meat are supposed to be bad, but we can't live on chicken, fish and fruit/veg!!! As it is our diet is limited enough by the elimination of gluten and sugar and most processed foods.

Some websites recommend eating more grains, pasta, rice, potatoes, however these are generally high GI high carb foods that we try to avoid, since we try to eat some 25-30% fat and 25-30% protein and get carbs from fruit and veg and also try to avoid gluten.

Any pointers anyone?

Incidentally I must add that this "bout" of IBS was triggered I think by a short period in which I ate too much wheat and sugary stuff. My doctor is currently testing for celiac desease, but I suspect this might be part of the problem as I have always bloated badly after eating wheat.

Anyways, any help appreciated, thanks

El_Dangeroso

How are the stress levels, sleep? When my diet is perfect but I still get IBS symptoms this is the next thing I look at. IBS can cause stress so it's a vicious cycle sometimes.

What are the symptoms? Cramping, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation?

You might also wanna try out some HCl acid, 'NOW digestive enzymes' are pretty magical in this regard, a short course and I'm back on track in about a week.

Other things to try are a week of very low carb + daily apple cider vinegar, followed by a week where the only carb is plenty of white rice and add in plenty of homemade chicken stock-based clear broths.

esperanza1

Are you sure you have IBS? Have you been tested for food allergies or sensitivities?

Iristxo

esperanza1 wrote: »

Are you sure you have IBS? Have you been tested for food allergies or sensitivities?

I am on it, results back in a week. Dairy seems to be the culprit but there are plenty of times when I eat it or drink it with no problems? I don't know, the intolerances thing is a bit baffling...

Iristxo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

How are the stress levels, sleep? When my diet is perfect but I still get IBS symptoms this is the next thing I look at. IBS can cause stress so it's a vicious cycle sometimes.

What are the symptoms? Cramping, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation?

You might also wanna try out some HCl acid, 'NOW digestive enzymes' are pretty magical in this regard, a short course and I'm back on track in about a week.

Other things to try are a week of very low carb + daily apple cider vinegar, followed by a week where the only carb is plenty of white rice and add in plenty of homemade chicken stock-based clear broths.

Hiya Temple

My stress levels have been ok, nothing more or less than the usual... Symptoms: cramping, bloating, alternative diarrhea and constipation (mods I have already been to the doc so don't lock up the thread).

Thanks for those, tips, must try that. I gather you have had problems with this in the past, obviously. While trying to get over it, did you cut out the red meat/dairy? If I cut out another food group my alternatives are going to be sooooo limited

El_Dangeroso

Iristxo wrote: »

Hiya Temple

My stress levels have been ok, nothing more or less than the usual... Symptoms: cramping, bloating, alternative diarrhea and constipation (mods I have already been to the doc so don't lock up the thread).

Thanks for those, tips, must try that. I gather you have had problems with this in the past, obviously. While trying to get over it, did you cut out the red meat/dairy? If I cut out another food group my alternatives are going to be sooooo limited

I don't actually eat much dairy, odd bit of cheese is it really, but I SWEAR by kefir, it settles my stomach when not much else does, having said that you have to do what works for YOU.

Never heard about the red meat thing before, is that something you suspect triggers it?

Ugh, so you have the full gamut of symptoms, I feel for you I really do. Definitely try the Hcl, metamorphosis told me he had a good experience on them too, maybe he can chime in if that's still the case?

Oh! and how could I forget, my last bout of issues completely resolved upon giving up eggs.

You could try giving up the big eight for a week or two and see if that makes a difference.

esperanza1

Iristxo wrote: »

I am on it, results back in a week. Dairy seems to be the culprit but there are plenty of times when I eat it or drink it with no problems? I don't know, the intolerances thing is a bit baffling...

If dairy seems to be the culprit, you may just be lactose intolerant.
I have read that IBS is often diagnosed when doctors are unsure what the real cause is... a lot of misdiagnoses going on.

I know there'd be many skeptics out about the blood type diet, but have you read Dr Adamos book, Eat Right for Your Type. Over the past few months, I started to eat many of the foods recommended for my blood type and avoid those that are bad. Funnily, I have lost some weight and have less digestive problems when eating the good foods!

Have you asked your doctor for your blood to be tested to see if you are allergic to certain foods? I got a test done recently to test whether I am allergic to wheat, corn, pork, chicken and tomatoes. Even though all of these are considered as foods to avoid for my Blood Type - Blood type B- it turned out that I am allergic to none of them. This does not mean, however, that I am not sensitive to these foods. I will be getting a patch test done by an allergy specialist at the hospital to determine this in January. I'll keep everyone posted on the results - we'll soon find out whether there's any truth to the Blood Type diet. :-)

Iristxo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

I don't actually eat much dairy, odd bit of cheese is it really, but I SWEAR by kefir, it settles my stomach when not much else does, having said that you have to do what works for YOU.

Funny you should say that, because I swear by kefir and I absolutely love it, but recently it has caused me diarrhea as well, as in if I have it on an empty stomach in the morning it will send me straight to the toilet in about 20 min, with fairly loose stools. That's not good, is it? I think it might be the lactose, but then again, isn't most of the lactose in the kefir fermented? So it could be the casein.... imagine that, a world without butter, cheese, milk or cream. Not that I eat a lot of it, but not eating any at all...

Magenta

I have IBS and I find that taking a probiotic multivitamin every day works wonders.

metamorphosis

Yup, i had a positive experience with the now the digestive enzymes so id strongly recommend them, having limited wheat has absolutlet helped with my symtoms, rice and rice cakes, some dried fruit and potatoes are great for how active i am, if i have milk on an empty stomach im garunteed to be on the loo shortly after, never have that effect when theres something in my stomach, same with too many oatcakes, so thats why i sub the rice cakes with almond or cashew butter or coconut oil/butter. Never gotten big into the kefir, must give it a try

Stomachs been mega for a long time now. If i do have a little too much wheat in a go after not having much for a while, i get the brain fog, tiredness and and toilet symptoms. much better off without it in my case.

Iristxo

metamorphosis wrote: »

if i have milk on an empty stomach im garunteed to be on the loo shortly after

Isn't that a sign of something not sitting well with you, or I am mistaken?

metamorphosis

Iristxo wrote: »

Isn't that a sign of something not sitting well with you, or I am mistaken?

I just took it to mean that i don't tolerate milk the best that's why I don't have it all that often. Got tested for LI before which showed i wasn't, i just guessed it was down to me not been able to break down the milk sugars effeciently.

El_Dangeroso

Iristxo wrote: »

Funny you should say that, because I swear by kefir and I absolutely love it, but recently it has caused me diarrhea as well, as in if I have it on an empty stomach in the morning it will send me straight to the toilet in about 20 min, with fairly loose stools. That's not good, is it? I think it might be the lactose, but then again, isn't most of the lactose in the kefir fermented? So it could be the casein.... imagine that, a world without butter, cheese, milk or cream. Not that I eat a lot of it, but not eating any at all...

There's plenty of lactose in kefir, not as much as milk but if it didn't have lactose it would be very bitter.

OK! So that's actually a good thing to notice since it tells us something. Someone else mentioned FODMAPS and I think that might be a good route to go down. It's clinically proven to reduce IBS symptoms. Lactose is a FODMAP.

List of other FODMAPS:

http://www.ibsgroup.org/brochures/fodmap-intolerances.pdf

And the plan is after eliminating all FODMAPs for a while (I think 3 months? but there's a book) you can begin to reintroduce them again one by one.

As meta mentioned rice cakes are a great tummy settler for diarrhoea, also bananas.

Iristxo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

There's plenty of lactose in kefir, not as much as milk but if it didn't have lactose it would be very bitter.

OK! So that's actually a good thing to notice since it tells us something. Someone else mentioned FODMAPS and I think that might be a good route to go down. It's clinically proven to reduce IBS symptoms. Lactose is a FODMAP.

List of other FODMAPS:

http://www.ibsgroup.org/brochures/fodmap-intolerances.pdf

And the plan is after eliminating all FODMAPs for a while (I think 3 months? but there's a book) you can begin to reintroduce them again one by one.

As meta mentioned rice cakes are a great tummy settler for diarrhoea, also bananas.

I'm going to try lactose-free milk and see how I get on with that. I love my coffee, but I need to have it with a bit of milk otherwise I can't enjoy it. I would hate to give up my daily cup of coffee.

Can I do the kefir with lactose-free milk?

El_Dangeroso

Iristxo wrote: »

I'm going to try lactose-free milk and see how I get on with that. I love my coffee, but I need to have it with a bit of milk otherwise I can't enjoy it. I would hate to give up my daily cup of coffee.

Can I do the kefir with lactose-free milk?

The lactose free milk isn't actually lactose free, it just contains an additional enzyme to process the lactose, not sure if it would help or not. Says on the FODMAPs sheet I posted that it's OK.

Oh, and give up coffee, that is definitely contributing to the diarrhoea. Rombout's do a lovely decaff, they sell it in Dunnes and Tesco:



It's tough for the first week but I really does help.

Iristxo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

The lactose free milk isn't actually lactose free, it just contains an additional enzyme to process the lactose, not sure if it would help or not. Says on the FODMAPs sheet I posted that it's OK.

Oh, and give up coffee, that is definitely contributing to the diarrhoea. Rombout's do a lovely decaff, they sell it in Dunnes and Tesco:



It's tough for the first week but I really does help.

I read in several places that even decaf coffee irritates the lining of the stomach, so that doesn't help either....

El_Dangeroso

Iristxo wrote: »

I read in several places that even decaf coffee irritates the lining of the stomach, so that doesn't help either....

For what it's worth it seems to be the caffeine for me, but you could switch the herbal tea of something? Or kombucha?

esperanza1

Iristxo wrote: »

I'm going to try lactose-free milk and see how I get on with that. I love my coffee, but I need to have it with a bit of milk otherwise I can't enjoy it. I would hate to give up my daily cup of coffee.

Can I do the kefir with lactose-free milk?

Have you tried rice milk?