Milk and other foods that contain lactose, like cheese and ice cream, can cause gas and bloating in people who are lactose intolerant. About 70% of adults worldwide do not produce large amounts of lactase, an intestinal enzyme that helps break down the sugar in milk.
Fat. For some people with IBS, high fat meals can be a symptom trigger. Dairy foods (like cream, butter and cheese) are higher fat foods, and in large quantities might cause discomfort – think a creamy pasta sauce or pudding.
Dairy products, including milk, yogurt, and cheese, can trigger IBS flare-ups. If you find that dairy doesn't agree well with your stomach, consider switching to dairy-free products such as: Coconut milk or almond milk.
While we don't know what causes IBS, we do know that flare-ups are often triggered by food, caffeine, stress, carbonated drinks, artificial sugars, or infectious diarrhea. The more IBS episodes you have, the more sensitive your gut becomes to triggers.
If someone with IBS tolerates dairy products, plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt is a nutritious dietary addition. Greek yogurt contains live probiotics—bacteria that offer many health benefits, including for gut health. If you are lactose intolerant, you might still be able to enjoy Greek yogurt.
Increase the amount of fibre in your diet, for example: cereals, e.g. All Bran®, Bran Flakes®, Weetabix®, muesli, fruit and vegetables and brown bread. You must however drink plenty of water: 1-1½ litres a day. Eat your meals slowly and chew food thoroughly.
This is because chocolate, particularly milk chocolate, contains a lot of sugar, including lactose, milk proteins and fat – all of which can cause symptoms in susceptible persons. This is particularly true in persons who are lactose intolerant or who have conditions like IBS.
Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea From IBS. The BRAT diet is often recommended to help bind loose or watery stools. 5 BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Include plenty of probiotic-rich foods like kimchi, kombucha, miso, or sauerkraut. Sometimes, you can also eat yogurt if you are not allergic to dairy. Try unsweetened sheep or goat yogurt. These are all foods that help your gut flora get and stay healthy.
Cake, brownies, lemon bars, popsicles, cookies, parfaits, and more can all be low FODMAP friendly given they are made with the right ingredients.
Choose easier-to-digest proteins, such as eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, extra-firm tofu, and plain lactose-free greek yogurt. Lower-fat cooking methods, such as baking, roasting, steaming, boiling, and sautéing, can also help you avoid uncomfortable symptoms.
Porridge
Porridge oats contain a high amount of soluble fiber, which could help relieve IBS symptoms, according to the NIDDK .
While everyone's tolerance is different, most individuals with IBS are able to handle small amounts of low-lactose dairy products. This means that the best cheese for IBS is low lactose cheese.
Coffee may therefore worsen symptoms in people with diarrhea-predominant IBS. For those with IBS-C, caffeine may be helpful to stimulate the movement of digestive material in the gut. However, this approach should be taken with caution, as too much caffeine can still lead to abdominal cramps, even in people with IBS-C.
A study in Chinese students found that skipping breakfast was significantly linked to a higher risk of having IBS. This could potentially be down to the higher fibre nature of the diet when you eat breakfast, as well as increasing bulk in the gut, to encourage more regular bowel movements.
Avocados contain FODMAPs that can trigger IBS symptoms and may be high, moderate, or low in FODMAPs depending on how much you eat. In terms of portion sizes, 1/8 of an avocado is considered low-FODMAP and should be safe to eat if you have IBS. Some people may be able to tolerate more.
Water intake might be associated with improvement of IBS through affecting GI function. Water intake might improve constipation among IBS-C patients. In addition, drinking water is a common suggestion for IBS-D patients to prevent diarrhea-induced dehydration.