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They’re also low-FODMAP and gluten-free. However, keep in mind that everyone’s body is different; some
foods that work for others may not work for you, and vice-versa. Meats and eggs: top sirloin steak, top or bottom round roast, lamb, veal, pork tenderloin, chicken eggs (unless you have an egg allergy) Poultry: skinless chicken breast or thighs, turkey, duck, geeseFish and seafood: tuna, salmon, tilapia, sea bass, shrimps, mussels, and other shellfishVegetables: spinach, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, choy sum, red bell peppersFruits: blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, lemons, avocado (only in small amounts) Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, chia seeds, sunflower seeds Fermented foods: tempeh, coconut milk kefir, unsweetened Greek
yogurt (for those who can tolerate dairy)Sweeteners: pure stevia, monk fruit, erythritolLow FODMAP, IBS-friendly foodsTip: Keep a food journal. It could be a simple notebook or app where you can track what you eat or drink daily.
This will allow you to further optimize your keto IBS diet by identifying which foods or ingredients you can tolerate or are more sensitive to. Foods to Avoid (“Diet Triggers”)Here’s a list of foods to avoid since they’re likely to worsen gas, bloating, pain, and other IBS symptoms. Note that most items on the list are high in carbs; however, some of them are keto-friendly but should also be removed from your diet if you’re looking to treat IBS. Grains: wheat, rye, barley, couscous, durumDairy: milk, cheese, ice cream with lactoseFoods high in fructose: processed foods, salad dressings, sweetened yogurt, canned fruits, canned soup, fast food items Vegetables: cruciferous veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbageFruits: sweet fruits like apples, bananas, pears, watermelons, mangoes Sugar alcohols: sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, lactitol [8]Caffeine: coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks with caffeine,
dark chocolate bars and candiesAlcohol: rum, cider, beer (unless gluten-free), dessert wines Tip: While you’re avoiding these trigger foods, make sure you’re also stocking up with keto and IBS-friendly foods for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Also, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about meeting your micronutrient needs — possibly through supplementation — to ensure that you won’t get any vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to eliminating certain foods in your diet. Natural Remedies to Support Your Keto and IBS Diet Keto as a dietary change can go a long way toward reducing IBS symptoms, in addition to helping you achieve healthy blood sugar levels and weight loss. Yet, there are also other interventions to try along with your diet so you can experience optimal relief:Stress reduction: Mindfulness-based stress reduction, which combines meditation and yoga, greatly improves IBS symptoms.
As a result, the answer is yes, going keto can help ease IBS symptoms. In addition, you’ll need to watch out for some sources of FODMAPs that happen to be keto-friendly, such as onions, garlic, and lactose-containing foods and drinks. Overall, however, the keto diet is essentially a low-FODMAP diet, which improves IBS. Another way that the keto diet may help with IBS is by reducing inflammation, another factor that plays a role in IBS. One study on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) found that the diet protects the intestinal barrier and reduces the expression of inflammatory cytokines. [4]Research Studies on Keto and IBSHere’s a list of studies suggesting that low-carb diets may be effective for people with IBS:In a 6-week study, participants (mostly women) with moderate to severe IBS-D (IBS with diarrhea) were given meals with the following macro percentages: 51% fat, 45% protein, and 4% carbs. All participants reported adequate relief from IBS-D symptoms, especially during the last week of the diet. [ref ID = 5]A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial found a significant decrease in clinical symptoms of IBS in all groups that followed a low-FODMAP diet. However, five participants who were given gluten supplementation on top of their low-FODMAP diet experienced worsening symptoms. [ref ID = 6] In other words, avoiding gluten (which is found in high-carb foods like bread, cereals, and baked goods) also helps to resolve IBS. Data from a 2021 study showed that the keto diet was able to reduce the effects of stress on the gut in Wistar rats with IBS.