In an earlier article, “What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?” in addition to recommending peppermint oil as a daily dietary supplement, I mentioned a few eating tips, although it didn’t go into specifics, other than to avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages due to their stimulating effects on the colon. If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), avoid fried chicken, fat, alcohol, whole milk dairy products, caffeine, and dark chocolate.
In an earlier article, “What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?” in addition to recommending peppermint oil as a daily dietary supplement, I mentioned a few eating tips, although it didn’t go into specifics, other than to avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages due to their stimulating effects on the colon. After doing further research, I found a list of foods to avoid, especially if you plan on traveling or participating in some sort of outdoor activity in which a bathroom may not be readily accessible. I found in addition to caffeine that fat – in any form (meat or vegetable) stimulates the colon. Therefore, the leaner the meat, the lesser the chance of having a sudden urge to defecate, develop gas, cramping, and bloating. Therefore, one of the biggest instigators of IBS symptoms is fried chicken – skin and all! In the example of fried chicken, there are three sources from which fat is consumed:
- Meat
- Skin and egg batter
- Oil in which it is fried
If you do like chicken, probably the safest way to eat it is in your own homemade soup provided you follow this simple guideline:
- Buy boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- Trim off any remaining fat
- Boil it in seasoned water prior to adding any vegetables, noodles, or matzo balls
- Keep it refrigerated several hours until any remaining fat has floated to the top and hardened
- Skim off remaining fat before adding anything else
While it may sound contrary to common sense, alcohol, despite its relaxing effects, has been shown to increase colon activity, especially when consumed in excess or in concentrated forms such as hard liquor. The irony is that women often consume alcohol to relieve cramping while experiencing pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Additionally, during this time, they also often crave chocolate, which is also loaded with fat (cocoa butter, full cream milk powder, cocoa liquor, and lecithin). An ounce of milk chocolate contains approximately 6 mg. of caffeine, while dark chocolate contains 20 mg. respectively. If you are a woman who suffers from IBS and also reaches for chocolate during this time – be aware that dark chocolate contains roughly 4 – 5 times the amount of caffeine than milk chocolate. Consuming a candy such as a peppermint patty is coated with dark chocolate and also contains peppermint extract, which is approximately 77% – 98% alcohol. Therefore, if you must indulge, please consider taking a peppermint oil capsule and consult with your gastroenterologist. However, please note that peppermint extract and peppermint oil are not the same.
After doing further research, I found a list of foods to avoid, especially if you plan on traveling or participating in some sort of outdoor activity in which a bathroom may not be readily accessible. I found in addition to caffeine that fat – in any form (meat or vegetable) stimulates the colon. Therefore, the leaner the meat, the lesser the chance of having a sudden urge to defecate, develop gas, cramping, and bloating. Therefore, one of the biggest instigators of IBS symptoms is fried chicken – skin and all! In the example of fried chicken, there are three sources from which fat is consumed:
- Meat
- Skin and egg batter
- Oil in which it is fried
If you do like chicken, probably the safest way to eat it is in your own homemade soup provided you follow this simple guideline:
- Buy boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- Trim off any remaining fat
- Boil it in seasoned water prior to adding any vegetables, noodles, or matzo balls
- Keep it refrigerated several hours until any remaining fat has floated to the top and hardened
- Skim off remaining fat before adding anything else
While it may sound contrary to common sense, alcohol, despite its relaxing effects, has been shown to increase colon activity, especially when consumed in excess or in concentrated forms such as hard liquor. The irony is that women often consume alcohol to relieve cramping while experiencing pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Additionally, during this time, they also often crave chocolate, which is also loaded with fat (cocoa butter, full cream milk powder, cocoa liquor, and lecithin). An ounce of milk chocolate contains approximately 6 mg. of caffeine, while dark chocolate contains 20 mg. respectively. If you are a woman who suffers from IBS and also reaches for chocolate during this time – be aware that dark chocolate contains roughly 4 – 5 times the amount of caffeine than milk chocolate. Consuming a candy such as a peppermint patty is coated with dark chocolate and also contains peppermint extract, which is approximately 77% – 98% alcohol. Therefore, if you must indulge, please consider taking a peppermint oil capsule and consult with your gastroenterologist. However, please note that peppermint extract and peppermint oil are not the same.
Written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS