7 Fruits and Vegetables That Will Worsen IBS and What You Can Eat Instead ...

By Heather

7 Fruits and Vegetables That Will Worsen IBS and What You Can Eat Instead ...

Having IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and being a veggie lover is really tough with all the fruits and vegetables that will worsen IBS symptoms out there. I adore fresh produce, and if it was up to me, my fridge would be filled with all of it! I sometimes wish my stomach was separate from my cravings, because there are many perfectly healthy foods out there that just do not work well for people with IBS, like myself. Just because a food is healthy does not mean it will digest well. I used to make the mistake of thinking my body would adjust to it, like we hear our bodies will with beans. Well, I’m here to tell you, the pain in the meantime isn’t worth it, not to mention the embarrassing social situations. Why would you force yourself to eat foods that hurt your stomach when there are plenty of other healthy fruits and vegetables to enjoy? Check out these top sources of fruits and vegetables that will worsen IBS and then try to eat substitutions listed below instead. I promise this will make a huge difference to your IBS, and you’ll still be eating healthily!

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1

Apples

Can you believe one of the healthiest fruits out there, is one of the worst fruits and vegetables that will worsen IBS symptoms? It’s true: apples are a big no-no if you have IBS. Apples are high in the type of sugars known as fructose and sorbitol. Both of these don’t digest well in the small intestine, where they can ferment. When this happens, major gas is on the way, along with them taking hours to digest. This causes a lot of pain, drains your energy and can make it hard to eat. Instead of apples, try bananas, oranges or berries. All of these still contain sugars, but different types that are easier to digest. I suggest eating less fruit overall anyway, which makes a huge difference. Fruit sugar is one of the biggest issues for people dealing with IBS.

2

Pears

Pears Pears are in the same boat as apples here girls. Pears are high in sorbitol and fructose. Even though pears and apples are healthy and touted as being great for digestion, they are major problems for people with IBS. Instead of pears, pick up papayas or pineapple instead, which actually have digestive enzymes in them that help you digest them properly.

3

Onions

Onions Don’t you just love the way onions add flavor to foods? Onions are high in fructose, despite that they’re a vegetable. An easy substitution is to use garlic cloves, or use scallions, known as green onions, which have less sugar. Onion powder can also be substituted in recipes instead too.

4

Corn

Corn I don’t eat corn that much anyway, but if you love corn, eliminating it can be a great way to lessen IBS symptoms. Corn is technically considered a starch and actually comes from a grain, so it can be tough on digestion for some. Many people can’t digest corn at all, and end up having pains. Try eating other veggies like butternut squash instead of corn. You can cut it into cubes and it still has a sweet taste like corn, but is low in sugar and very simple to digest. Cucumber and tomatoes are also other great options to use.

5

Peaches

Peaches Peaches are very high in the sugar fructose. Many people who gain weight eating fruit actually have fructose intolerance. For those of us with IBS, fructose acts like a fuel for gas in the body, and it can take hours to digest. It causes bloating too, which can be so uncomfortable and embarrassing. Sometimes I crave peaches, but instead I reach for easier to digest options like raw carrots or celery, which take away my craving for sweets. Also, berries are a nice substitute for peaches in any recipe and any time of year. They’re also lower in sugar and easier to digest.

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6

Broccoli

Broccoli Gosh, I love broccoli, and it is so good for you! Yet, broccoli is a big problem, just like cauliflower and Brussel sprouts are, for those of us with IBS. I know the amazing benefits broccoli has, and since it is a cruciferous veggie, it has been found to reduce the risk for cancer in the body, making it a real superfood. So, instead of broccoli, I eat the leafy greens kale, spinach and collards instead. These all have the same properties, yet are so much simpler to digest and they are CRAZY good for you!

7

Peas

Peas Don’t ya just love peas? I do! If you like peas, beans or legumes, then I hate to break it to you, but they are big problems for those of us with IBS too. Peas, beans and legumes are all high in certain sugars and starches that are hard to break down. They’re also a dual source of sugar and protein, so this makes for a double whammy on your digestion process. Our digestive systems like to keep things simple when we have IBS, so stick with other veggies that are safer such as celery and carrots instead. If you tolerate zucchini squash, that’s also fine, but some people with IBS find it gives them issues.

Some of my favorite veggies to enjoy that are safe to eat with IBS are pumpkin, butternut squash, celery, carrots, spinach, kale and romaine lettuce. For my fruits, I enjoy some berries, cucumbers and tomatoes. Eating for IBS doesn’t have to mean you can’t have fruits and veggies. You just need to find out which ones work for you. The 7 fruits and vegetables above are some of the biggest culprits, though there are others.

Do you suffer from IBS? Which fruits and vegetables do you have to avoid and which do you substitute them with?

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These are great suggestions, and as someone with this malady, I will utilize these substitutes, and I really hope they work for me...but I love all of these foods :(...nothing can really replace an organic Gala apple...lol <3

Which type of IBS is this list designed for? There is IBS-C and IBS-D...please advise

There's a lot of produce on this list that bothers my system, peaches and apples being the worst! Although I find roasting my broccoli and cauliflower not only improves the flavour but makes it easier to digest ( sans embarrassing.. Problems lol) might be worth trying for my fellow broccoli lovers :)

Darn. These are the fruits and veggies I love. *sigh*

Good to know! Doesn't bother me as I don't like any of the things on this list.

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