Sweet Potato & Ibs Constipation

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is associated with many unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, constipation or alternating bouts of both. Abdominal distension, pain, cramping and flatulence are also part of the common symptoms experienced by IBS sufferers. Whether you are more prone to constipation or diarrhea, you probably have identified that some foods seem to induce IBS symptoms; sweet potato may be one of these problematic foods for some people.

Sweet Potatoes and Mannitol

Sweet potato is a very nutritious foods but unfortunately it also contains a significant amount of mannitol, a type of sugar polyol, or sugar-alcohol, that is poorly absorbed in many people diagnosed with IBS or suffering from constipation or diarrhea. A serving of less than 1/2 cup of sweet potato is usually not problematic, unless you are very sensitive, but because most people eat more than 1/2 cup at a time, your mannitol intake can easily exceed your threshold, induce constipation and trigger other IBS symptoms.

Polyols Malabsorption

Polyol is a type of short-chain fermentable carbohydrate that is often poorly absorbed in people with IBS. Eating polyol may result in fermentation of these sugars by the bacteria present in your gastrointestinal tract, inducing your IBS symptoms. There is no test to diagnose mannitol malabsorption, but a test can be done to diagnose sorbitol malabsorption, another similar sugar-alcohol that is usually equally problematic for people with IBS.

Other Polyol-Containing Foods

If sweet potato triggers constipation, it is probable that other polyol-containing foods would do the same. For example, cauliflower, mushrooms, watermelon, apples, blackberries, pears, plums, avocado and cherries are rich in polyols. Stay away from sugar-free foods or diabetic foods sweetened with sugar-alcohols, including sugar-free chewing gums and mints. Read the ingredient list carefully to ensure you avoid these sweeteners; they may appear as sorbitol, isomalt, mannitol and xylitol.

Elimination Diet

An elimination diet consists in removing all potentially problematic from your diet for a period of at least two weeks to see whether or not your symptoms are relieved. Foods are gradually reintroduced one by one to gauge tolerance. Note that if polyols appear to be problematic for you, you may also malabsorb other similar short-chain fermentable carbohydrates, such as fructose, fructans, galactans and lactose. Talk to a registered dietitian to ensure you eliminate all potentially offending foods from your diet and help you get relief from IBS symptoms associated with polyols.