Sensitive Foods in IBS

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, it means that the portion of your digestive tract that stores stool functions improperly and causes bothersome symptoms. The most common symptoms, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. While no known cure exists, medications, relaxation techniques and dietary changes, including foods you're sensitive to, can help reduce your symptoms. For best results, seek specified guidance from your doctor or dietitian.

Dairy Products

Dairy products, though valuable sources of protein, calcium and vitamin D, may trigger or worsen IBS symptoms. Unlike a dairy allergy, a sensitivity, or intolerance, to dairy products produces gradual, often mild digestive symptoms according to coauthors of "Food Allergies and Food Intolerance" Jonathan Brostoff and Linda Gamlin. Since IBS symptoms are chronic and dairy products may be present at most of your meals, a dairy sensitivity may be difficult to note. However, it is one of the more common IBS-related sensitivities. If you experience frequent gas, bloating and diarrhea and consume dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese or hard cheeses regularly, try eliminating these foods from your diet. If your symptoms improve, you may fare best by replacing dairy products other dairy-free calcium-rich foods, such as soy milk, salmon, tuna, almonds, broccoli and tofu.

Gaseous Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables play an important role in most every healthy diet. If you're sensitive to the natural sugar called raffinose, prevalent in cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and asparagus, you'll likely experience increased gas and bloating. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that IBS sufferers experiencing gas also avoid beans, bananas, raisins, grape juice and apple juice. If fiber-rich foods worsen your symptoms, try cooking vegetables and peeling fruits prior to eating them. You may also find that boiling beans for several minutes, then allowing them to soak overnight reduces some of their gas-promoting properties.

Fiber-Rich Grains and Wheat Products

As fiber-rich foods, whole grains may help prevent or alleviate constipation associated with IBS. If you're experiencing diarrhea, however, or have a wheat allergy -- one of the most common food allergens, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, whole grain foods may worsen your condition. If you have a sensitivity to wheat but not to high-fiber foods, consume wheat-free grains, such as long-grain brown rice, wild rice and air-popped popcorn, most often. If you have a wheat allergy, even occasional or modest wheat consumption can trigger significant allergic reactions. If you suspect an allergy, seek proper testing from your doctor. During bouts of diarrhea, swap whole grain breads, pasta and cereals out for enriched white bread, sourdough bread, instant rice and low-fiber cereals until your symptoms subside.

Fatty Foods

Many people with IBS experience heightened symptoms after eating fatty foods. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends cutting back on unhealthy fat sources, such as red meat, french fries, doughnuts and margarine, and consuming more cold-water fish, lean meats and plant-based oils for improved symptoms. Meats particularly high in fat include top sirloin and porterhouse steak, ribs, pork sausage, deli meats, hotdogs, organ meats, dark-meat poultry and fried chicken. When dining out, request that high-fat cream or cheese-based sauces be served "on the side" or omitted. At home, grill lean protein sources, such as fish, atop olive oil or nonstick cooking spray and use natural herbs and lemon juice rather than butter or cheese as seasoning.