Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that affects up to 30 percent of the American population, according to Dr. James Balch and Mark Stengler, authors of "Prescription for Natural Cures." It is characterized by irregular contractions of your digestive tract, which can produce symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloating or constipation. Although there is no known cure for irritable bowel syndrome, avoiding allergy-causing foods may help ease its symptoms. An elimination diet may help you determine which foods contribute to IBS.
Common Suspects
Certain foods are more likely than others to cause allergic reactions that contribute to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Dairy products, including milk, cheese, cream cheese and yogurt, are among the most common allergy-producing foods, according to Balch and Stengler. Other foods that commonly aggravate IBS include wheat, refined sugar, hot peppers, fried foods, chocolate and red meats. High-fructose corn syrup, eggs, nuts and chewing gum may also contribute to symptoms. Consider these foods first when planning your elimination diet.
Eliminating Suspected Allergens
Make a list of the foods you most commonly consume. Note those items that are common suspects. Immediately remove these foods from your diet. You may notice that your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms become more severe for a day or two after you remove suspected allergens from your diet. However, after this adjustment period, you may notice an improvement of your symptoms. Avoid these foods for at least two weeks.
Reintroduction
After the two-week period has passed, choose one of the foods you have eliminated, and reintroduce it into your diet for one to two days. Take note of whether you experience an increase of IBS symptoms. Remove the food from your diet for two days, then reintroduce another food from your list. Continue this process until you have reintroduced each of the suspected allergens.
Permanent Elimination
After you have completed the reintroduction phase of your elimination diet, review your experience. Identify the foods that worsened symptoms upon reintroduction, and permanently eliminate these foods from your diet. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after permanently eliminating suspected allergens.
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