Indian Diet Plan for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an uncomfortable disorder manifested by dramatic changes in bowel movements. IBS is a common condition that affects the digestive system. Few experience diarrhea, while some suffer from constipation. Cramps and abdominal pain can make symptoms worse. Here is an Indian diet plan for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

There’s no particular diet or medicine that works for everyone with IBS. But there are lots of other things that can help if you’ve been diagnosed with it.

Different modifications may help different people with IBS. You may need to change what you eat for a few weeks and see if they impact your symptoms. Get guidance from a professional dietician for an appropriate diet that suits your gut. Or you can follow our Indian diet plan for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Causes of IBS:

The exact cause is unknown.  However, it’s linked with the speed of food passing through your gut either too fast or too slow. It can also be oversensitive intestinal nerves, stress as well as a family history of IBS.

Common Symptoms of IBS:

• Stomach pain or cramps worsens post meals and relieves after passing stools.
• Bloating where your stomach feels full and swollen.
• Diarrhea leading to uncontrolled watery stools.
• Constipation where it becomes hard to evacuate stools.
• Tiredness and a lack of energy.
• Nausea feeling of vomiting.
• Incontinence in excretion and urinating.

Indian Diet Plan for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Before we move on to see the actual Indian diet plan for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), let us first see, how to relieve the IBS symptoms with a slight modification in diet?

How to ease bloating and cramps in IBS?

• Eat soluble fiber containing oats, Barley (Jau), stewed Apple, and pear regularly.
• Avoid cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.
• Avoid products that contain a sweetener called sorbitol.
• Eat small meals.
• And avoid heavy fatty foods.

How to reduce diarrhea in IBS?

When you have a leaky gut in IBS, it is best to avoid too much roughage.

• Cut down on high insoluble fiber foods like whole-grain foods, nuts, and seeds.
• Avoid products containing sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sweetener used in sugarless gums.
• Avoid sweet foods.
• Prefer cooked food over uncooked food.
• Avoid eating outside as much as possible.

How to relieve constipation in IBS?

• Drink ample water to help make your stools softer.
• Increase soluble fiber intake. Also include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes, and linseed in your diet.
• You can use psyllium husk to relieve constipation at regular intervals. Read – Isabgol benefits.
• Regular exercise keeps the gut healthy.

Diet for IBS 

The sensitive guts of people with IBS may react to certain foods. For eg – Certain fruits and vegetables, excess sugars, excess fats, refined cereals as well as dairy products. Hot spice and coffee are restricted too. So what to eat? Let us check the list of foods allowed to a person suffering from IBS.

Everybody can tolerate modest amounts of all the foods on the restricted list. Adjustments can be made as a result of experience after the intake of those foods.

List of Allowed foods in IBS :

• Cereals like oats, daliya, quinoa, rice, and rice flakes.
• Vegetables – ridge gourd, Bottle gourd, potato, and sweet potato.
• Fruits – Choose based on diarrhea and constipation.
• Milk – Soy milk and almond milk.
• Meat and fish.

See the details of the List of allowed foods in IBS  –

• Cereals with high Soluble fiber :

Oats, daliya, and quinoa should be included in the diet. Also include easy digesting carbohydrates like rice, rice flakes, and potato. These easily pass in the intestines without causing any irritation to the lining. It relieves constipation and also reduces diarrhea episodes.

• Colorful vegetables:

Though vegetables are high in insoluble fiber, there are vegetables that are gut-friendly. All gourd vegetables are easy to digest and provide adequate vitamins and minerals lost during diarrhea. Thoroughly cook the vegetables before eating. Avoid raw vegetables or salad as it may lead to intestinal lining irritation.

• Fruits:

You can include almost all fruits when you are not experiencing an episode of diarrhea or constipation. Make sure that you wash the fruit before consuming it. Fruits also provide additional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

• Milk and products:

Restrict milk with severe diarrhea. However, curd or buttermilk is well tolerated by an individual with IBS. Paneer also helps to provide nutrition during diarrhea episodes. With milk restriction, you can switch to soy milk (if it doesn’t worsen the symptoms) or any plant-based milk extract.

• Meat, fish, and poultry:

If you have severe abdominal discomfort and symptoms, then it is best to avoid high-fat meat. Fish in limited quantity is acceptable. Eggs also serve as a  good source of proteins at such times.

• Water:

With intestinal symptoms, we stress more on lost vitamins and minerals. But there is also a major loss of water during diarrhea. Keep the body well hydrated. Consume a minimum of 2 – 3 liters or even more water. Water also relieves constipation and softens stools. It also reduces discomfort during defecation.

List of foods to avoid in IBS :

• Restrict onions and pulses like peas, lentils, and beans. This may cause flatulence.
• Reduce your intake of milk in case of diarrhea. Use lactose-free milk or supplement with calcium-enriched plant milk.
• Reduce high-fat dairy foods and fatty meat.
• Avoid hot spicy food and caffeinated drinks. It aggravates the symptoms of IBS. It stimulates the colonic spasm.
• Avoid Fizzy carbonated drinks can tend to cause bloating.
• Restrict alcohol as irritates the gut and may cause diarrhea.
• Avoid Sorbitol-containing foods. Sugar-free mints, chewing gum, flavored water, and other low-calorie products may contain sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol. These can cause diarrhea if excess quantity is consumed.

Read –

Benefits of Isabgol in IBD

Bone Broth benefits 

Benefits of Papaya 

Benefits of Carrot

Read –

Indian diet plan for Ulcerative Colitis 

Low FODMAP diet for Indians

Weight gain diet plan for IBS and Ulcerative colitis

EndNote:

Always keep track of your symptoms and modify your lifestyle accordingly. Be aware of how your body reacts to certain diets. Then, select the appropriate food for your body. National Institutes of Health says along with diet and drinking plenty of water are important. They also suggest that exercising regularly and decreasing caffeine resolves IBS symptoms. Hope this Indian Diet Plan for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) be of help to you.

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