What are the foods that help manage IBS-D symptoms?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Let us understand what IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is. I have seen low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet helps along with self-check on food tolerance. Initially, one can start with the FODMAP diet, then gradually change the quantity and add preferred foods.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an uncomfortable disorder characterized by dramatic changes in bowel movements. Some people experience diarrhea, while others have constipation, cramps, and abdominal pain. In your uncle's case, he has diarrhea.

Dietary allowance:

1. Eat more fiber if constipated: Fiber may improve constipation in IBS because it makes stool soft and easier to pass.

2. Consume soluble fiber like oats, boiled or steamed fruits, and vegetables.

3. Drink plenty of fluids.

4. Eat regular meals. Be sure to eat breakfast every day. Do not skip meals.

Don’ts

1. Restrict intake of caffeinated drinks (for example, tea, coffee, or cola).

2. Avoid skin, pips, and piths from fruit and vegetables.

3. Avoid foods high in fat, such as chips, fast foods, burgers and sausages, crisps, and cakes.

4. If you are lactose intolerant, reduce the amount of lactose you consume. Milk and paneer are lactose-containing foods.

5. Try not to have alcohol every day and then have no more than two units a day.

6. Limit insoluble fiber intake from whole grain breads, bran, cereals, nuts, and seeds (except golden linseeds).

7. Limit intake of foods high in resistant starches like sweetcorn, green bananas, and muesli that contain bran.

In IBS, every person may respond to different foods differently. It is important to try and test foods (see body's response) and then become liberal with their use in daily routine.

Low-FODMAP fruits can include:

1. Blueberries.

2. Cantaloupe or rockmelon (half a cup).

3. Coconut-desiccated (half a cup).

4. Grapes of all types.

5. Honeydew melon (half a cup).

6. Kiwi fruit (two small).

7. Lemons and limes (including juice).

8. Mandarins.

9. Oranges.

10. Passion fruit.

11. Pineapple (one cup).

12. Raspberries.

13. Strawberries.

14. Papaya.

15. Fresh dates.

Low FODMAP vegetables can include lady's finger, french beans, carrot, tomato, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, ivy gourd, pumpkin, drumstick, cucumber, and capsicum.

Spices to be used like ginger, turmeric, jeera powder, coriander powder, mint leaves, and coriander leaves.

Avoid green chilly, red chilly, garlic, onion, and shallots.

High-FODMAP fruits can avoid:

1. Apples.

2. Apricot.

3. Avocado (very small quantities may be tolerated).

4. Bananas, ripe.

5. Blackberries.

6. Cherries.

7. Grapefruit.

8. Mango.

9. Nectarine.

10. Peaches.

11. Pears.

12. Plums.

13. Raisins.

14. Watermelon.

15. Dry fig and dry dates.

Foods to avoid:

1. Vegetables like beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, corn, lima beans, onions, parsnips, peppers, potato skins, spinach, winter squash, spring onion, and shallots.

2. Cereals like brown rice, wild rice, red rice, cereals containing nuts, dried fruit, or seeds, multi-grain bread or crackers, whole-wheat bread, wheat roti, barley, bran, couscous, gnocchi, granola, muesli, muffins, rye, semolina, and pasta.

3. Pulses like black chana, rajma, chickpea, lima bean, and urad dal.

4. Vegetables and legumes like onions, asparagus, beans (broad, cluster, lima, soya), cauliflower, cabbage, savoy, mushrooms, peas, scallions, or spring onions (white part).

5. Nuts like cashews and pistachios.

6. Milk like cow milk, goat milk, rice milk, sheep's milk, and soy milk made with soybeans.

7. Dairy products like cream, custard, ice cream, sour cream, cream cheese, and ricotta cheese.

8. Drinks like apple juice, pear juice, mango juice, sodas with HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), and herbal tea (strong).

9. Condiments like jam (mixed berries), pasta sauce (cream-based), relish, and tzatziki dip.

10. Sweeteners like agave, HFCS, honey, inulin, isomalt, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.