Rice and IBS
#346318 - 05/23/09 05:38 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Kim999
Reged: 05/23/09
Posts: 4
|
|
|
Hello. I have a question about rice. Brown rice is the single worst food for me, and white rice though not as bad, is still a trigger. I keep reading that rice is a good IBS food, and even the GI specialist who has given me every diagnostic test imaginable, tells me there is no reason I can't eat rice. But I can't! Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Welcome to the board,
Are you IBS-C, IBS-D or IBS-A?
White rice a safe IBS food. Also, when it is cooked and allowed to cool a bit it produces a substances called resistant starch which acts the same as a soluble fiber. Brown rice on the other hand contains bran which is IF and known to be a problem for many IBSers.
What are you eating with your rice?
--------------------
STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Its hit or miss for me.Sometimes I am ok with rice and other times not so much.Same as bananas.
--------------------
IBS-D since 1999...mostly stable..i do cheat too.Bad me.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hello Dragonfly and Syl. Thank you for your replies! Dragonfly it is reassuring to hear that perhaps rice isn't for everybody. I know I have to trust my body, but I wondered if I might be missing some other cue since "everybody" says that rice should be good for me.
I don't know what your abbreviations mean, Syl. The GI doctor says that I have an irritable everything. I get indigestion and heartburn, as well as IB symptoms. I do not have any complicating factors such as colitis, ulcers, celiac, etc.
I eat my rice with salt and with veggies. I went on the Vicious Cycle Diet for 9 months - no grains or complex carbohydrates of any sort, and that is when I felt the best and everything was under control. Once I started feeling really good, I started craving carbohydrates and unfortunately went a little crazy and got really sick again. I've never been able to sustain that restricted diet to such an extent since, and hence have not felt well.
It does seem that all grains - gluten free or not - are triggers for me.
Kim
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Here is a list of abbreviations. IBS-C (constipation), IBS-D (diarrhea) and IBS-A (alternating between C & D).
The most common IBS grain trigger is wheat. Also, whole grains are problematic for many people particularly the bran in whole grains.
Do you boil your veggies until they are soft or puree them?
--------------------
STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Syl. I've always eaten my veggies lightly cooked or raw. I have just learned in the book that I would be better off cooking them really well. 
I must say that when I was on the Vicious Cycle diet I did OK with my raw veggies (and I do know which veggies I do well with). Perhaps now that I am eating some grains, I can't tolerate the raw veggies as well. Too much.
I have recently read Joel Fuhrman's Eat for Life and he recommends an almost entirely raw, vegetarian diet which he says will heal IBS once your body adjusts to it. So hard to know whether to pursue this and persevere for awhile, or to start working with the recommendations of Heather that are new to me.
Kim
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Rice is something that can cause fullness and bloating if eaten too rapidly or too much at one sitting. It gets heavy. Rice and cooked carrots is something I eat a lot and know if safe for the gut, but sometimes it actually causes bloating because I will eat a ton of it at one sitting and too much for some reason isn't good.
--------------------
IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
You may find this article of interest. It is supports Heather's approach and it is also supported by a fair amount of IBS research.
Here is a quote that you might consider:
"Some people with chronic IBS may also need to stop eating salads and raw vegetables, according to Gary Gitnick, chief of the division of digestive diseases at University of California at Los Angeles. Among other things, raw vegetables can cause gas and diarrhea in people with sensitive digestive systems"
I use to be a raw veggie and salad freak. However, once I removed this foods from my diet and changed to eating nothing but well cooked veggies I found a major improvement in my IBS symptoms.
Good luck 
--------------------
STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks a million for all this Syl. Article was good!
Kim
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I think there are a lot of the old "food rules" that we have to let go of when following the IBS eating plan as laid out here. Many of the things we've always been taught, many people with IBS just can't tolerate:
You must eat your veggies raw because that's better for you.
Never cut the skins off, that's where the vitamins are.
You've got to eat a zillion servings of veggies each day or you won't be healthy.
White bread is straight from the pit of hell and only whole wheat breads should ever come near your lips.
And on and on we go. Honestly, if something works for me, I do it...if it doesn't work for me, I don't do it. Period. I mean, if the "experts" say that we must eat our veggies raw, but raw veggies cause stomach upset, then why continue eating raw veggies? Because them's the rules. Oh well, I've never been one to follow the "rules" anyway. 
So try eating just plain white rice, no veggies in it, for a week and see how that helps your gut. I know I eat plain white rice at least a couple times a week and it helps me a lot. If you find that you just don't like the taste, try a little brown sugar on it...that's how I've always eaten it. In fact, when I started this eating plan, I cut out veggies altogether for a while and I noticed a difference almost immediately. If you're concerned that you aren't getting proper nutrients, you can always take a vitamin supplement...here is a link to a great article on those and what to look for in a supplement.
Good luck!
--------------------
IBS-D since...well, a long time
(probiotic acidophilous, SF supplements, IBS eating plan)
my blog
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
