6: Beans and Legumes
Many of these items have a substance in them called fructans, which is going to cause bloating. For most people, this just results in gas. “Beans, beans, good for your heart…” and all that. Though in people with IBS, this extra gas is extra discomfort and extra pain. There are varieties that contain less fructans, such as simple black beans or pinto beans, but it’s just not worth it for a food item that nobody’s that deeply in love with anyway. It’s one that’s easy to avoid.
7: Beer
Don’t shoot the messenger here! Beer contains gluten, a lot of empty calories, and combines this with a stimulant in alcohol. In other words, beer is the perfect storm of ingredients that will cause your IBS to go crazy. We don’t make the rules. The more you’re stimulating your IBS with these sorts of compounds and components, the more your IBS is going to wake up, kick off, and leave you dealing with the literal blowout.