The wines generally worse for IBS are sweet, dessert wines, fortified wines (like port and sherry), and lower-quality wines with high sugar content, due to their high levels of fermentable sugars (FODMAPs), especially fructose, which trigger bloating, gas, and discomfort in sensitive individuals. While dry red, white, and sparkling wines are usually better low-FODMAP choices in moderation, alcohol itself can irritate the gut, so portion control and avoiding sugary mixers are crucial for managing IBS symptoms.
A single glass—about 150 ml—of dry red, white, rosé, or sparkling wine can often be enjoyed without triggering IBS symptoms. However, sweet wines, such as dessert wines, sherries, and ports, tend to contain more fermentable sugars and are typically categorized as high FODMAP alcohol.
According to Dr. Rafatjah, the best wine to drink with IBS is a dry, low-sugar wine. Dry wines are the lowest in FODMAPs, and it's even better to drink a dry, non-alcoholic wine to take it easy on your digestive system.
Alcohol can irritate the gut, which can lead to a flare-up of IBS symptoms. If alcohol is one of your triggers, you may notice increased cramping or bloating after consuming even a small amount. You also may notice diarrhea or constipation if you're especially sensitive to alcohol.
In general, white wines are more acidic than red wines, with sweet white wines being the most acidic. The tartration level (meaning the % of the wine that is acid) of red wine is around 0.6 to 0 . 8%, whilst in white wine this rises to between 0.7% and 0.9%.
Caffeinated beverages like coffee, energy drinks, and soda can cause IBS flare-ups. They are especially likely to cause diarrhea and other symptoms on an empty stomach. Caffeine is considered an irritant because it stimulates the frequency of contractions in your colon.
Foods that can trigger your IBS symptoms include:
Alcohol can also make symptoms worse). Water, sugar-free squash and herbal teas are good choices.
7 Worst Drinks for Gut Health
Red wine and the gut microbiome
Spector that involved volunteers in the U.S. and Belgium found that participants who drank red wine had a wider and healthier range of gut bacteria than those who didn't. No other alcohol had any clear benefits.
Water is the drink of choice for heart health. If you're thirsty, drink water. When the weather is warm or we're exercising, our bodies need more water than usual. Unflavoured milk, tea and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation.
A 2021 study published in the journal Gut links sugary drinks to early-onset colorectal cancer. Researchers found that participants who reported drinking two sugar-sweetened drinks a day had more than double the colorectal cancer risk as those who drank less than one per week.
Key takeaways: Alcohol can irritate the gut and trigger IBS symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and pain. Low-FODMAP options like dry wine, vodka, gin, or whiskey are usually better tolerated than rum, cider, or sugary cocktails.
What can help?
IBS medicines from a GP
If pharmacy medicines are not helping with your symptoms of IBS, a GP may prescribe a stronger medicine, such as: amitriptyline. citalopram.
Is there a cure for IBS that can eliminate it quickly and permanently? Unfortunately, there is not — but that doesn't mean IBS patients have to just live with it. Treatments and lifestyle factors can help patients better manage their uncomfortable IBS symptoms and avoid flare-ups.
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.
IBS poop varies greatly, often fluctuating between hard, lumpy, and difficult-to-pass stools (IBS-C) and loose, watery, and urgent stools (IBS-D), or alternating between both (IBS-M), sometimes with mucus present, but not blood. Shapes can range from small pellets to thin, pencil-like forms, and color might shift due to speed of passage (e.g., green/yellow for fast, darker for slow).
Merlot is rich, heavy and is on the lower side of the acidity scale. Pinot Noir, on the other hand, is very high in acidity. With a lighter body and higher acidity, Pinot Noir shines with light and fresh red berry flavors.
Top Red Wine Contenders for Gut Health Enthusiasts:
Merlot is a fundamentally fruit-forward wine. Cabernet sauvignon is a savory, earthy-driven wine, particularly when grown in cooler climates. Cabernet sauvignon's body is fuller, heavier and more robust, lingering for longer on the tongue than merlot's medium-body, quicker finish.
But many people have worse IBS symptoms when they eat or drink certain foods or beverages. These include wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, beans, cabbage, milk and carbonated drinks. Stress. Most people with IBS experience worse or more-frequent symptoms during periods of increased stress.
Alcohol not only causes your body to expel liquids quickly, but also impairs the function of the large intestine and hampers water absorption. This activity can lead to diarrhea like symptoms due to the intestines' inability to properly and efficiently digest the contents of the gastrointestinal tract.
It has since been found that 82% of IBS sufferers are also low in vitamin D (less than 20 ng/mL)2 so naturally we come to question if there is a link between vitamin D and IBS symptoms. The University of Sheffield has been spearheading this important area of research.
Choose lower-FODMAP drinks – Opt for alcohols that are less likely to irritate the gut, such as dry wine, gin, vodka, or whiskey. Avoid high-FODMAP or high-sugar options like rum, cider, and dessert wines.