Irritable Bowels? Avoid These Foods!
If you suffer from irritable bowels, you can improve and relieve symptoms by following the proper diet. Eating well will allow you to have a normal life. In this article, we’ll highlight the foods that you should NOT and cannot eat if you have irritable bowels. Avoiding these foods can help to significantly alleviate the pain associated with IBS.
Steer clear of fried and fast food
French fries, fried chicken and other deep-fried foods might make your tastebuds tingle, but they’re not great for your health. In fact, foods that are fried in excessive amounts of oil can actively harm your health – and most especially so if you have irritable bowel syndrome. Fast food (hamburgers, pizza and hot dogs, for instance) are also included on the list of foods to avoid, as these foods can aggravate the problem.
Steaming or baking is a healthier alternative to frying. Grilled food – whether in a pan or on a grill – is much more healthy, too. If you must use a bit of oil, choose olive or coconut oil.
Red meat should be an infrequent treat
No matter how you slice it (or cook it), we recommend avoiding eating red meat. Red meat includes sausages, ham, bacon, ground beef and pork chops. Why? These meats take longer your body to fully digest and, therefore, spend more time in your body. This, of course, has a direct effect on your intestinal health.
Although there are many people who think that they cannot survive even one meal that is not centred round meat, this isn’t the actuality. Start by reducing the portion size and try to limit your consumption to three times a week. When you do eat it, prepare it by baking or stewing and choose meat that is tender, lean and without fat.
Dairy products? No thanks!
If you’re someone whose bowels are irritable, dairy products should be off the menu. This group of foods has no fibre to aid proper digestion. They also contain fat and lactose. In addition, whey protein and casein actually increase digestive problems and can cause serious diarrhoea or constipation.
You can easily replace cow’s milk with almond, soya, oat, coconut, hazelnut, quinoa rice or macadamia milk. In fact, you have far more choice to suit your preferences when you opt for plant milks.
Forego the egg yolks
It’s best to give eggs a miss altogether. If you find that difficult, at least avoid the yolk. It’s full of fat and can be difficult to digest, which puts more pressure on your bowels. Egg whites are much easier to digest and are therefore more healthy, but eggs are easily replaced in recipes.
So long, sugar and artificial sweeteners
White, refined sugar lacks important vitamins and minerals, so its only contribution to your body is carbohydrate. This doesn’t really offer any substantial health benefits. In general, all refined sugars and artificial sweeteners can cause digestive problems. You’re better off reducing your consumption as much as you can.
Get acquainted with healthier alternatives such as agave nectar and maple syrup. You can also try molasses or rice syrup. There’s an array of sweeteners to explore and something to suit every use. These options will provide your body with a more easily digestible form of energy.
Beverages loaded with sugar or caffeine are a no-no
It’s common knowledge that most carbonated drinks contain tonnes of sugar and that’s bad for intestinal health because these sorts of drinks can cause dehydration. When your body doesn’t get enough water, constipation can be the result.
If you feel that you can’t swear off coffee (because you need its high caffeine content), you should ensure that you also drink plenty of pure water. Green tea is also a good option, as are natural fruit juice made at home. With plenty of healthy liquids, you’ll promote proper digestion and good intestinal health.
