Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

During a recent review of the IBS literature I came across an article (see reference below) that discussed a diet to help IBS suffers with IBD. It is quite similar to Heather's diet. It may be of interest to some of you.

The Food and Beverage Intolerance, Avoidance Diet Handout was developed by Richard P. MacDermott MD, Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center in Albany, New York.

Foods and Beverages that Induce and Aggravate Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients have gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, gas, bloating, heartburn, etc.) caused by many of the following foods. Food induced gastrointestinal symptoms can begin within 5�15 minutes after eating, or up to twelve to forty eight hours later (due to fermentation). Foods and beverages are additive within and between meals. Foods and beverages eaten out at restaurants will cause problems due to sauces, spices, and hidden ingredients. Listed below are examples of some of the foods and beverages that IBS patients have found to aggravate their GI symptoms. Your problem foods and beverages may differ or may be similar. Keep a list of all foods and beverages eaten. Record what symptoms occur and when, to determine what foods and beverages are causing your symptoms.

1. Milk and milk containing products: such as ice cream, cream cheese, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice milk, cream soups, butter, pudding, whipped cream, cream, cheesecake, chocolate, pastries, crackers, pretzels, cookies, etc.
2. Caffeine containing products such as coffee, tea, colas, sodas, chocolate, etc.
3. Alcohol products: beer, wine, coolers, foods containing or cooked in alcohol.
4. Fruits and fruit juices, particularly apples, apple juice or cider, citrus fruits, orange juice, tomatoes, tomato juice, etc.
5. Spices and seasonings; hot sauce; barbecue sauce; chili sauce; salsa.
6. Diet beverages, diet foods, diet candies, diet gum, sugar free products, "lite or light" products look good and taste good, but to not put on weight, go right through you, causing diarrhea, or stay in the GI tract and cause symptoms.
7. Fast foods and Chinese food: contain spices, sauces, and hidden ingredients.
8. Condiments: ketchup; mustard; mayonnaise; relish.
9. Fried foods and fatty foods.
10. Whole grain or multigrain breads; sourdough breads and bagels.
11. Salads: usually not the lettuce, but rather added ingredients such as bacon bits, croutons, onions, peppers, etc.
12. Salad dressings, particularly those containing mayonnaise, cheese and spices.
13. Vegetables, particularly cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and corn.
14. Legumes: beans, lentils, chili, etc. Popcorn. Foods with high fiber content.
15. Red meats, i.e., steak, hamburger, sausage, bacon, prime rib. Spicy marinades or gravies tend to cause even greater problems.
16. Gravies, spaghetti sauce, cream sauces, cheese sauces, soups, stews, and stuffing.
17. Artificial flavorings, preservatives, and sweeteners.
18. Foods containing large amounts of fructose or high fructose corn syrup (honey, grapes, raisins, nuts, etc).
19. Cookies, crackers, pretzels, cakes and pies.

Foods and Beverages that are Well Tolerated by Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Listed below are examples of some of the foods and beverages that IBS patients have found to well tolerated. The foods and beverages that are easy on your GI tract may differ or may be similar. For each type of food that causes symptoms, appropriate substitutes and alternatives are available. Note that the foods and beverages, which cause problems, differ from person to person and thus finding well tolerated foods and beverages must be individualized. Remember: what you eat and drink is in large part determined by your taste buds, which makes your brain happy, but your stomach, small bowel and colon do not have taste buds and suffer the consequences of eating foods and beverages that please the tongue, but not the gastrointestinal tract. With a modified diet, such as this it is important to use daily vitamins (Multivitamin, Calcium with Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Vitamin B Complex, and Vitamin C).

1. Water. Flavored, noncarbonated water, ginger ale, Sprite. Gatorade.
2. Rice: cooked white, without sauces or additives.
3. Plain pasta, noodles�(avoid tomato, spicy, or cream sauces).
4. Potato�boiled or baked without sour cream; Sweet potatoes. No French Fries.
5. Breads�French, Italian, whole white; English muffins; white rolls; cornbread.
6. Plain fish�broiled, without sauces. Tuna fish without mayonnaise.
7. Chicken or turkey�broiled or baked without spices or sauces.
8. Ham�plain, not smoked.
9. Eggs�soft boiled, poached, and scrambled (use water, not milk).
10. Cereals�dry or with soymilk or rice milk. Plain Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Corn or Rice Checks, Cheerios. Avoid artificial colorings, flavorings, and sweeteners.
11. Soy or rice milk. Soy or rice based products.
12. Salads�lettuce, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg slices, oil and vinegar dressing.
13. Peas, carrots, cooked (avoid raw vegetables).
14. Crackers�Oyster, saltines, or animal crackers.
15. Applesauce, in small amounts.
16. Cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, in small amounts.
17. Fruit cocktail, peaches�nondietetic, canned or frozen.
18. Margarine, jams, jellies, peanut butter.

Reference
MacDermott, R. P., 2007: Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease using a food and beverage intolerance, food and beverage avoidance diet. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 13, 91-96.

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