Yes, potatoes can trigger IBS symptoms in some individuals, often due to their high insoluble fiber content, which can worsen constipation, or sometimes due to resistant starch or other components, though regular white potatoes are generally considered low FODMAP and okay in moderation, unlike sweet potatoes, which are higher in FODMAPs and more likely to cause issues. Individual triggers vary, so keeping a food diary helps determine if potatoes, or how they are prepared (fried vs. boiled), affect you personally.
Foods that may make IBS constipation worse
Foods That Can Soothe an IBS Flare-Up
Eating potatoes without removing the alkaloids leads to the development of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, feeling of weakness, dizziness, and dyspnea about 20 minutes after eating, and food poisoning may develop although it is generally mild.
For kids with IBS, a low-FODMAP diet can significantly reduce symptoms. Examples of low-FODMAP foods include bananas, carrots, rice and lactose-free dairy products.
What can help?
For IBS, common trigger foods to limit or avoid include fatty/fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, wheat/gluten, dairy (lactose), and high-FODMAP items like onions, garlic, apples, and beans, which ferment in the gut causing gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation; the key is identifying personal triggers through an elimination diet, often guided by a dietitian using the FODMAP diet.
Potato allergy symptoms are similar to those seen in other food allergies. These can include hives, itching or eczema, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat, wheezing, nasal congestion, trouble swallowing, lightheadedness, or fainting.
drink plenty of water to help make your poo softer. increase how much soluble fibre you eat – good foods include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and linseeds (whole or ground)
The starch in potatoes can be hard to digest -- it's called resistant starch. So your body changes some of it into short-chain fatty acids that help keep your gut healthy and may help prevent obesity, colon cancer, and diabetes. Cooking does away with some, but it comes back when the potatoes cool.
Dietary Strategies to Restore Gut Microbiota in IBS
And on days when your gut is especially moody, simple options like plain rice crackers, lactose-free yogurt, or a smoothie with cinnamon can be just as comforting as a full meal.
Lifestyle and home remedies
How Long Can an IBS Flare-Up Last? The truth is that the length of a flare-up varies. They can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on factors like what triggered it and how you manage your symptoms. On average, most flare-ups last about 2 to 4 days.
What is the best bread for IBS sufferers? Sourdough bread and gluten-free bread are the best types of bread for people with IBS. The lengthy fermentation process used to make traditional sourdough bread reduces the amount of fructans, which are the kind of carbohydrates in bread that cause IBS symptoms.
Water and other non-caffeinated drinks, for example herbal teas, are recommended as a beverage for patients with IBS[13,59,60]. In contrast, carbonated water and other carbonated beverages should be avoided by IBS patients, because they may cause symptoms[59,60].
Potatoes. Spuds are usually a safe choice for a dinner side item. The starch gives some people gas and bloating, though.
Stopping a flare in its tracks
Yes, russet potatoes are low FODMAP. Russet potatoes are great for mashed potatoes or baking due to their fluffy starchy content.
Choose potatoes that are firm without soft spots, mold, or a green tint just below the surface. The green color is caused by a toxin called solanine, which if eaten in excess can cause digestive symptoms like stomach upset and diarrhea in some people.
Taylor Swift has severe food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, and peas, requiring extreme caution with food preparation and dining out, even leading to cross-contamination issues like a blender incident with almond milk that contaminated her juice, highlighting the seriousness for anyone with multiple food allergies. Her experiences, including a childhood tree nut allergy (where her dog saved her life) and managing allergies at her own events, underscore her commitment to allergy awareness and safety protocols, says Allergic Living, The International Business Ethics Case Competition, Allergic Living.
Eat more of these foods
Buscopan is a type of medicine called an antispasmodic. It relieves painful stomach cramps, including those linked with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
There isn't a cure for IBS. But, most people manage symptoms by avoiding triggers and taking medications when necessary.