They do say that you should increase fibre intake only incrementally but you likely won't really have pain from it, just perhaps bloating. You could start with 1/2tsp but if you eat according to that basic diet I listed you probably won't even need Benefiber now. SF supplements are needed if say you want to eat spinach which has more IF than SF and you want to make up for the shortfall in SF with an SF supplement (ie Benefiber dissolved in e.g. water). Look at that Harvard link for checking how much IF vs SF a food source contains (it is a rough but usable guide).
I suggest you eat according to that basic diet for 2 weeks, you likely won't have any symptoms by then. then you can start incorporating less safe foods. cooked spinach most likely you'll do fine with but you need more SF with it (refer back to harvard link).
there are the fodmaps, which you can't do anything about if you're sensitive. but after 2 weeks with things being calm, you could try a little bread or pasta. wait and see, if you have problems, then fructans may be a problem, if not then you can tolerate them. there are different columns in the FODMAP chart and some are more sensitive to certain groups than others. (e.g. someone may be able to eat apples but no apricots, someone else may be able to do the opposite and another person may have symptoms from both fructose and sorbitol, depends on the individual.)
SF vs IF in food:
http://huhs.harvard.edu/assets/File/OurServices/Service_Nutrition_Fiber.pdf
one last thing, I know that there is a lot of counting of kcal and fat and fibre content and weighing food and all that if you want to be absolutely sure regarding the numbers, but I've found that it does help enormously and e.g. with SF supplement it never hurts to use more than needed but it does cost money, so that's why I have now learnt just how much cooked spinach weighs how much and how much IF it has and how much SF supplement I should take, accordingly. vast majority of weight lifters and many dieters also count kcal meticulously and they learn pretty quickly so it's not hard at all and that also shows that it's not bad to be able to do it. the mindset that I would now have to count kcal/fat/fibre content and that that is abnormal can create additional stress, which certainly doesn't help IBS or your life in general. I've actually taken the opportunity to learn about food, without IBS that might never have happened. also remember that IBS is not great, but some people have Crohn's disease or colitis, which is a thousand times worse. so a positive attitude overall helps a lot. you're on the way to controlling your symptoms, so don't be afraid 
--------------------
now: stable through EFI+FODMAP dieting (no lactose/no fructose/some fructans and some polyols)
before: IBS-D(pseudo-diarrhoea), bloating, often unbearable pain esp from too much fat: Apr 2007- Dec 2010
FODMAPs: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/072710p30.shtml
[I've tried VSL#3 -> I could tolerate v good amounts of IF (even with less SF), it worked great (but overall I find it too expensive)]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
Re: the most basic diet to eat
