Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Oh wow, this is a huge problem...

Four cups of coffee a day (and decaf doesn't matter - there's an enzyme in coffee beans that's a GI irritant) would wreak havoc on anyone with IBS. I don't think any dietary measures, or hypnosis, or anything else would overcome that (it sure wouldn't for me). You're just constantly, and seriously, irritating your digestive tract. All of your other efforts may help mitigate this, but I don't think they'll be much more than a band-aid.

I would stop drinking coffee asap, and cold turkey. Since you're not having the caffeine, you shouldn't have any withdrawal symptoms. Try Rocamojo, a roasted soy bean "coffee" that folks on the board love. Do search on the boards for coffee and you'll find lots of good substitutes.

Honestly, you shouldn't have to totally give up all of your beloved foods (including solid chocolate - if you're careful with that, and have small portions after a low fat, high soluble fiber meal). But coffee is right up there with red meat, dairy, and soda pop. No benefits, many dangers.

For chocolate, check the recipe board for tons of ideas for baking with cocoa powder. Unless you have upper GI problems from chocolate, these recipes should be just fine. You can also try baking with small amounts of instant, decaf coffee powder. Just 1 T or so will flavor a whole cake, but will be such a small amount per serving (and it will be in a soluble fiber foundation) that it's usually very tolerable. This is the only way I know to get any form of coffee in an IBS-safe manner.

I think you're going to be shocked by how much better you feel, almost immediately, if you give up the joe.

- Heather

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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