IBS and vegetarian diet?

Posted by Twocoastsm @marlenec, May 28, 2023

I have IBS and flare-ups typically involve multiple bowel movements and/or urgency. I eat everything but live with my son and daughter-in-law who are vegetarians. They don’t impose this upon me or their 7 year old son. My problem is my tolerance for the legumes that usually substitute for meat. For example, last night my daughter-in-law made a delicious lentil loaf which I enjoyed but I’m a mess today - used peppermint oil capsules, ginger, and finally resorted to Imodium. It’s a real pain to cook only for myself and not partake of meals that she prepares or that I cook for them to eat. Has anyone else managed a vegetarian diet with this condition ?

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@marlenec

I have tried the low FODMAP protocol a number of times during flare ups and am two weeks into it now but still having some bad days. Since there are periods during which I am able to eat almost everything I’m thinking my issues are more threshold relevant - so if I over load I have trouble rather than if I eat just a small portion of a high FODMAP food. I have the lists of “do and do not eat”foods and the app from Monash university. My PCP attended Monash so he’s familiar with it. I’m seeing a new GI today - because I’m new to the area - so will see what he says. I am just trying to figure out what my possible “permanent” eliminations will have to be within the context of a vegetarian household. I think I will be stuck cooking low FODMAP versions for me since I don’t feel it’s right to impose it on my family - we are of Italian heritage so subbing garlic oil for garlic is tough and my daughter-in-law is a pretty health conscious person so subbing canned lentils for dry in her recipes is probably not something she’d be too thrilled about. I guess I have to understand that if I was living alone I’d be cooking for myself anyway!

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Look at your supplements and make sure they do not contain these https://www.siboinfo.com/uploads/5/4/8/4/5484269/sibo_supplement_checklist.pdf
It is amazing how a tiny amount of a food chemical can upset your digestion. You should also investigate the specific vitamins and minerals you supplement with and choose ones that are digested completely. I had bad gas from a magnesium product which was suppose to be magnesium citrate and turned out to be magnesium oxide [ found this out after a lawsuit against the company).

I am using the Monash University FODMAP app too and find it has really helped me; and you are right you have to be careful you do not stack too many FODMAP safe portions into one meal. That is the trick. Best of luck!

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Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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I live on a plant based diet except for salmon once a week which helps my digestion. Is there a particular plant based diet you are asking about?

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@cipnsue

I live on a plant based diet except for salmon once a week which helps my digestion. Is there a particular plant based diet you are asking about?

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No, I just want to switch to one. I have been moving in that direction and I think it will help my digestion and other issues as well. How long have you been doing it? How hard was it to implement? How has it helped your digestion? I so appreciate your response. Thank you.

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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Switch to one, not following what one is. Switch to plant based and don't eat any flour products either. If I violate and eat flour products, boom, I'm constipated. I have been doing this diet for about 7 years and it works for me. But I also have to do the stool softener, Senokot and flax seed. My condition is very difficult and yours may require all that I have to do. Try the diet first.
Best of luck! Any question, I'm glad to help.

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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Thank you so much. I definitely will give it a go. Thanks for offering your help too.
Susan

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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Just my story. I went 100% vegan for about 6 months. Felt wonderful! Then, all my troubles started, recurring UTIs, joint and muscle pain(couldn’t do my daily 2 mile walk for the pain), vertigo, gas and unbelievable bloating. In all fairness I was under a tremendous amount of stress during this. I quit the vegan diet and ate AIP for about 6 months. I have been diagnosed with Sjogerns syndrome, gastritis and osteoporosis. Now I am eating a modified AIP diet, slowly introducing foods back in. I feel that a vegan diet is good, but in my case, it just didn’t work for me. I eat mostly vegetables and fruits with lean protein. I stay away from grains, sugar and highly processed foods. I also don’t eggs.

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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I honestly believe my switch to mostly plant-based diet (as vegan as I can) has put my Chrohn's in remission along with finally finding the right medications (Stelara). I feel SO much better and I recover much quicker from a flare. I also have PSC and GERD. I am the only one in my family who eats this way though so I'm not 100% but I try to be. No red meat, no dairy, sometimes chicken or fish. The other thing I think that is big is now I only get eggs or chicken from a local butcher so no more grocery store/factory farmed meats which contain so much bad stuff. I try to keep my food as whole as possible too and although there are some tasty meat alternatives out there I like mushrooms or other whole food substitutes. I love beans and grains - so many fun ones and these do not bother me although I understand that might not be the case for everyone. I do avoid foods like pastas, crackers and sugary stuff instead honestly preferring fruit with the occasional indulgence. There are some fantastic sites too with people making yummy recipes (Minimalist Baker) and as an avid cook it has been super fun to try. I also love America's Test Kitchen The Complete Plant-based Cookbook. It has encouraged me to try ingredients I haven't tried before that I now love. I miss nothing about my previous diet - I'm eating this way for the rest of my life. I feel like since going this way a whole new world of tastes has opened up and the bonus is I feel so much better.

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@parrot53

Has anyone here trie the plant based diet including green smoothies?

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I've had Crohn's for over 40 years and I find that watching roughage is very important. I have to be careful about raw vegatables- which I love. But Low Dose Naltrexone has helped a lot. It is finding a doc that understands it is hard. My last colonoscopy was "normal" and now I can eat more roughage but still not with wild abandon. I haven't had to have a biologic. (Knock on wood.)

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@cpd54

Just my story. I went 100% vegan for about 6 months. Felt wonderful! Then, all my troubles started, recurring UTIs, joint and muscle pain(couldn’t do my daily 2 mile walk for the pain), vertigo, gas and unbelievable bloating. In all fairness I was under a tremendous amount of stress during this. I quit the vegan diet and ate AIP for about 6 months. I have been diagnosed with Sjogerns syndrome, gastritis and osteoporosis. Now I am eating a modified AIP diet, slowly introducing foods back in. I feel that a vegan diet is good, but in my case, it just didn’t work for me. I eat mostly vegetables and fruits with lean protein. I stay away from grains, sugar and highly processed foods. I also don’t eggs.

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Sometimes you have to experience pain to have something work for you…..start a new day everyday with a plant-based diet……let it work for you! Personally, I think we all eat too much and too many processed foods….let’s get back to “nature”! Couldn’t we just get together and talk instead of meeting to eat? Just wondering?

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