IBS and Healthy diet

Posted , 6 users are following.

I don't eat brown bread, 5 a day fruit and veg, drink milk. In other words all the things I am supposed to eat to be healthy play up my IBS. Everyone promotes all the above things as being healthy, we should eat etc. but has anyone created a diet for people like me? I would love to know beacuse I must be the most unheathyist person on the planet, and yet I'm not that unhealthy!

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

  • Posted

    Know how you feel. Feel the same sometimes. Think you can google ibs diets but you might get conflicting information and would imagine it is different for each person. In some countries they say eat ten or more portions of veg and fruit a day, so five is not much. The UK Government wanted to say a lot more but cut it down to 5 as they could not imagine people following a stricter diet.

    Some would say milk is unhealthy, others fruit. Did you mean "I do not eat brown bread or white bread"?

    • Posted

      HI Carmel good to meet somone in the same boat. I do not eat brown bread as it has the same effect as too much fruit and veg, gets me going and in pain.
    • Posted

      Sorry to hear that. I don;'t find it makes any differene what I eat at all except for sometimes when there is too much citrus fruit or coffee. But I don't know properly yet if I have ibs, a hiatus hernia causing gerd or what, the symptoms are very similar with some people. Hope you feel better soon.
  • Posted

    I lived with, tolerated and feared IBS 'attacks' of alternating constipation and diarrhea for years before understanding what IBS is all about. For IBS as with many conditions, you want to go the lifestyle route first before resorting to drugs and all their side effects. The most important thing is to keep regular. And by regular, you want to 'go' first thing in the morning, a softish stool that is quite long...like the Africans who eat lots of roughage. This was a recommendation from a medical program I listened to on IBS. So to achieve healthy BMs, you need to increase your roughage. Here are ideas:

    Every day, take a TBSP of Fybogel in a full glass of water...or even more water, which is fibre in the form of psyllium husks; pure and simple.  If you don't drink enough water with it, it can work in reverse and cause constipation. 

    1. Eat 6 - 10 servings of vegetables per day.

    2. Starting your day with a healthy smoothie of let's say: a handful of strawberries, half an apple and any fruit or veggie you like, with ALMOND MILK (NOT dairy ever!) and probiotics...the 50 billion beneficial bacteria kind. I add protein powder..again NON dairy. That's possibly 3 fruit servings right at the beginning of the day.

    2. Get some exercise every day to keep things moving...whether it be walking or a sport or an exercise class. 

    3. Limit constipation causing foods such as white rice, cured meats which are  salty like ham, salami, too much meat in general, salty foods like crisps and tea.

    4. Eliminate dairy altogether in every form; yoghurt, ice cream, in cakes and cookies, sauces and salad dressings, cheese in pasta dishes etc.. Be a dairy detective. Read labels.   

    5. Drink plenty of water. (I have a pitcher by my computer so first thing in the morning I drink down 2 full glasses). 

    The Dairy Board has convinced us that dairy is good for us. But if you think about it, it is the breast milk of a cow meant solely for a baby cow. Cows have 4 stomachs which they need to digest such indigestible milk. Zebra milk is meant for zebras. Mouse milk is meant for baby mice. Very high fat whale milk is meant only for baby whales. Human milk is very sweet and digestible and is the only milk meant for human babies. We are the only mammal that robs another mammal of its breast milk...and drinks it not just in infancy but in adulthood. Totally unnatural! 

    Some yoghurts have good bacteria added to them that ferment and are good for your intestines. But you can buy them grown in soy milk which is what I take. 

    I cannot tolerate milk so so many millions of people in the world. Asians totally lack the enzyme necessary to digest it. If I drink milk my nose runs, i sneeze and cough...a lot!  If I have more than a bit, I will run to the toilet. 

    I drink only almond milk...which has a mild, delicious flavour. I have learned that if I cheat (temptation to eat an ice cream cone in summer does happen), then I just learn to tolerate the consequences. 

    But since you are likely in crisis mode, don't cheat at all. Get yourself the almond milk which is in your grocery store and enjoy it. You will get accustomed to the new but mild flavour. 

    You say that you don't eat brown bread. Why not? As long as you are a healthy weight and active, you probably need a piece of toast with your morning smoothie. Try cutting out bread if you really feel it's going to make a difference but unless you have celiac disease, I don't think it will affect your bowels. 

    What has been tampered with and contains chemicals that are not good for us. You would have to read Wheat Belly to understand it all. 

    Cut out ALL dairy and I am sure you will be as fit as a fiddle in now time.

    Good luck Annepink

    Robin

    When you have IBS as we all have, you will do anything to avoid the intense pain of bowel cramping. No one needs to suffer with this 21st century condition. If we all just drank plenty of water, filled our dinner plates with colourful veggies (no beige meals) and moved our bodies more, we would be fine. Listen to your body. Treat it well.  And your bowels will be happy... and so will you! And in your case, if you have adult onset diabetes, with the above regimen and eating far less, especially of carbs, you can be cured of your diabetes. Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle!

  • Posted

    Ooops, sorry, the last part of the post was part of a previous email to someone with adult onset diabetes and IBS. Ooops!
  • Posted

    I'm sure someone must have mentioned this to you but in any case look at the FODMAP diet. (On google) You may be supposed at what foods could contribute to your problem. I know that I was. I reacted negative to the gluten test and the lactose test but cutting down on gluten and cutting out lactose made a big improvement. (Cut out wheat products,bread,pasta etc. there are plenty of alternatives)try gluten free bread,or preferably make your own and lactose free milk from supermarket,or soya,hemp,almond etc    It's a case of trying what suits you and not going along with what you are told is good for you. Good luck
  • Posted

    Re text. Should read "you may be SUPRISED at what foods etc. not SUPPOSED !
  • Posted

    Hi annepink,

    it really is a case of finding what suits you we are all different there are no set rules for IBS even the specialist will tell you so and bowel specialist believe me , my Daughter is a Clinical Bowel Specialist and she finds all her patients really are different and find mostly for them selves,she can give information but it does not suit everybody.

    I have found that stopping all bread helps me I have gone gluten free although not celiac and certainly cannot eat peppers or lots of fruit to much acid and fruit sugar.

    I do wish you well but it is a case of perhaps keeping a note of what you have eaten.

    But please that is only what has helped me not suggesting you do it ,and nobody should say you should do this and that.

  • Posted

    All this is all fine but what about a SLIMMING DIET for IBS that doesn't include fruit,platefuls of salad,brown bread?
    • Posted

      Surely ibs is really being allergic or sensitive to certain things and we are all sensitive to different things so what suits you may not suit John and so on. But there are foods taht are unhealthy or healthy for everyone otherwise arent there. Fruit is never as good as veg, always better to hve veg, and I agree with you about salad, it can be boring and its not filling. Have you tried to German bread, the one that looks like a brown hard heavy brick. It is far healthier than many other breads and filling too.
    • Posted

      Cannot comment  on  Slimming Diet,never been on one
    • Posted

      Salads don't have to be boring. When my daughter lived at home and was going to university and then work every day, I made her an 8 veggie salad and she loved it! It had green lettuce (not iceberg which IS boring), cherry tomatoes, little matchsticks of celery and carrot, red pepper as a garnish, garlic of course, green onions and thinly sliced purple cabbage again as a garnish. The dressing is a standard French vinaigrette of olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, dijon mustard, salt and pepper in a tiny container that I tuck into the salad bowl. That with German bread...great idea. You need protein for dieting or you will be craving soon after the meal. So add chicken chunks or hard boiled egg, nuts, cheese if you can tolerate it. I lived in Germany and got to love their wholesome and highly nutritious breads...with butter because they can be a bit dry. 

      Basically it's carbs that are the enemy for dieters. Reduce as much as possible and keep in mind that fewer carbs = fewer cravings. 

      Sometimes hunger is disguised as thirst. Drink plenty of water. And I guess it goes without saying that fizzy drinks and sugary foods are out if you are dieting. But you can concoct your own from soda water and a 1/4 cup of pure cranberry juice for example, which is low cal and very refreshing. Keep active and keep busy! One other thing...throw out any 'crap' from your kitchen cupboards that can tempt you. You will find your way. 

    • Posted

      I love ice berg lettuce. I suppose a salad is fine if you have some boiled eggs or sardines or something not just the veg.
    • Posted

      Yes Carmel,

      I love iceberg lettuce better than that limp one cos as well is crispy, but like you not just veg,boring and eppersplay me up ,but again we are all different .

    • Posted

      Hi, I have dieted many times.  Although not since I have had IBS. I love salads so always have these diet or not.  Do you not like salad or is it just that you find them boring.  Robin is right they don't have to be. My husband not a great salad fan will aways eat them If apart from usual lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber I add peppers, onions,carrots

      etc.  Try different types of salad leaves.  Watercress also is great with

      lovely peppery flavour.  That said not much help if you really don't like 

      salads.  Are there any fruits which don't upset you.  I am not that fond of fruit but do try to have 1 to 2 pieces a day.  You don't mention what you do have but if you are wanting to lose weight and look after your IBS then you will have to devise your own diet and make it as healthly as you can.  Do you like oily fish (wish I did hate it). Chicken

      always a good protein with what ever veg you can eat.  If you can't take milk what about some of the alternatives  they must do yogurts etc. Try the supermarket and health shop.  Robin mentioned almond

      milk but I don't know anything about it.  Do you take any probiotics

      to help with IBS bloating etc.  If you can't take wholemeal bread then eat good quality white one.  Not sure if I have been of much help. I hope you can work out a diet to suit you.  All the best let the group know how you get on.  ps my downfall always has been and is chocolate. 

    • Posted

      salad plays up IBS. I do manage on average 2 fruit & veg a day which is ok. Oily fish yuk! Had some fish fingers the other day with added omega 3. They tasted of oil! Chickrn is nice but any meat and veg is!
    • Posted

      I agree with you oily fish I can't stand, only wish I liked it as it is good for you.  These days all the processed fish products be it breadcrumbs or batter taste horrible to me.  Never used to be like that, so don't ever buy them these days.  You could try omega 3 capules but sadly they gave me heartburn.  I know lots of people have trouble with salad.  I seem to be ok.  Is your ibs under control?  I find I can eat most things when my ibs is ok.  I think you can only keep trying and eat what you can and watch portions sizes and exercise.  The main thing is to keep your digestive system happy, and as said by others their is no one size fits all.

      Do you take anything for the Ibs? and is it constipation or diarrhea that

      bothers you?

       

    • Posted

      forgot to say I am not eating citrus fruit at the moment as it caused a problem although not all the time.  The fruits I find good are apples, pears,

      nectarines and the odd banana.  I also eat the tinned fruit in juice only if I run out of fresh.  White rice is supposed to be easy on the stomach.

       

    • Posted

      Yes IBS has been under control for a long time now. It's been better since I retired so perhaps some of it was caused by stress! I have a mental list of everything in the past that has set me off and steer clear of them. Occasionally something new sets me off and then I have to think back to what I've eaten to work out what It was.
    • Posted

      I am exactly at the same 'retirement' stage as you. Good for you that you have the ability to work out what sets you off. My IBS is under control...as you know with magnesium which I take at bedtime with my almond milk....and actually my progesterone cream (yam based) which both help me sleep 7 solid hours. Physically, although I could lose 25 pounds, I am in good shape and not on any meds. I am not against them when necessary but I try to eat well, take my supplements, keep physically active and have positive thoughts in order to hopefully never have to resort to them.

      At this stage of my life, I want only positivitiy in my life. 

      I have charted a new course now that I am officially a senior. I have been studying Italian for 5 years, visiting Italy a few times, taking art courses, gardening a lot, doing volunteer work in inner city schools (3), one with autistic children, going to the gym..although not in summer, enjoying my hobby of photography through my camera club, watching documentaries, helping my grown children especially one who has just moved into a new house with her mate. Life is fuller and busier in retirement than I ever imagined. That is why I think my time on this site has run its course. I'm just hanging in there for one young poster to see how he fares. Good luck to you Annepink! (cute name!)

    • Posted

      Yes must agree stress is a trigger for ibs.  I have been retired for over since the end of 2007.  My first grandaughter was born the following spring and I looked after her for 2 days a week for nearly 2 years.  I am glad your IBS is under control and hope it continues to be so.  Mine is not too bad, unfortunately now dealing with anxiety and arthritis pain.

      Not what I wanted for my retirement.  Good luck to you for the future

       

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