Medical Questions » Stomach Questions » Question No. 1326
| Question: | What' s a good diet for IBS? Should I avoid starch? |
| Answer: | Starch isn' t the baddie here. In fact, the soluble fibres found in some starchy food are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms of IBS. Seeds, fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables can help provide the right kind of fibre too, and if you suffer from frequent diarrhoea,the pectin in apples and bananas can help. Brown rice is generally regarded as the best grain for IBS sufferers. It is the least allergenic choice - vital, as the key factorscontributing to IBSare stress and food intolerances. You can test for these eitherat home, with a 10-day elimination diet, or by sending blood samples off for testing.
Otherwise, eat plenty of fresh vegetables, simply cooked; drink 1 to 1.5 litres of pure water a day; and avoid sulphur-rich foods such as eggs and onions (they contribute to flatulence), sugar, wheat, refined foods, spicy foods, dairy products, alcohol and stimulants. Helpful supplements include a vitamin B complex, magnesium, alfalfa and peppermint oil - choose the enterically coated kind that isn' t absorbed in the stomach. |
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