If you feel you have IBS please have a doctor evaluate you to be sure you don’t have a serious medical issue. IBS symptoms of bloating, flatulence, cramping, diarrhea or constipation can range from mild to significant. What to eat to reduce symptoms is highly individual. An often suggested meal plan is a Low FODMAP (fermentable oligo, di, mono and polyols) diet.

Below are very general suggestions for limiting FODMAPs. Remember this diet if highly variable from person to person as to what is tolerated and what is not. Not all people with IBS need to restrict all of the FODMAPS. The goal is to have as varied diet as possible and still manage GI discomfort.

• Fructose:
  Check food labels for: fructose, crystalline fructose, high fructose corn syrup
  Examples: some low calorie drinks, sweetened soft drinks and beverages
  Some fruits such as apples, pears, watermelon, excess fruit juice, dried fruit.
  Honey and agave syrup
• Lactose:
  Milk (unless lactose free)
  Ice cream
• Fructans:
  Check labels for: Inulin or chicory root extract
  Examples: high fiber nutrition bars
  Foods made from wheat such as white bread, whole wheat bread, pasta and cereal
  Rye, Barley
  Some vegetables such as onion, garlic and asparagus
• Galactans:
  Baked beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
• Polyols
  Check labels for: sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol
  Examples: sugar-free foods, liquid medications.
  Some fruits such as prunes, apples, peach, pear, plum, watermelon, blackberry, apricots, nectarine
  Some vegetables such as cauliflower, mushrooms, snow peas.

Other General Healthy Eating Tips:

• Eat at regular times. Don’t skip meals. Don’t overeat.
• Relax while eating. Don’t rush through meals.
• Limit alcohol to 1 drink or less a day for women, 2 drinks or less for men
• Limit fatty, greasy or fried foods.
• Limit caffeine

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