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Diet, lifestyle and medicines

There's no single diet or medicine that works for everyone with IBS. But there are lots of things that can help if you have been diagnosed with it.

Do

  • cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients when you can

  • keep a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get – try to avoid things that trigger your IBS

  • try to find ways to relax

  • get plenty of exercise

  • try probiotics for a month to see if they help

Don't

  • do not delay or skip meals

  • do not eat too quickly

  • do not eat lots of fatty, spicy or processed foods

  • do not eat more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)

  • do not drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day

  • do not drink lots of alcohol or fizzy drinks

Information:

You can buy a key from The IBS Network shop or Disability Rights UK shop that can help you access public toilets if you get symptoms while away from home.

  • eat oats (such as porridge) regularly
  • eat up to 1 tablespoon of linseeds a day
  • avoid foods that are hard to digest (like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, beans, onions and dried fruit)
  • avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
  • ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Buscopan or peppermint oil
  • cut down on high-fibre foods like wholegrain foods (such as brown bread and brown rice), nuts and seeds
  • avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
  • ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Imodium (loperamide)

Important

If you keep getting diarrhoea, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

  • drink plenty of water to help make your poo softer
  • increase how much soluble fibre you eat – good foods include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and linseeds
  • ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help (laxatives), like Fybogel or Celevac
Information:

The IBS Network has more about diet and IBS and IBS medicines.