Foods to Avoid for IBS With Constipation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is a condition that affects a large colon. While doctors are not quite sure what causes IBS, they are sure there is a link between physical or emotional stress, and episodes of the condition. It causes a host of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, excessive gas, abdominal cramping and either diarrhea or constipation. While increasing fiber intake and using gentle laxatives can help deal with the chronic constipation caused by IBS, there are also several types of food that should be avoided to prevent stagnant bowel movements.

High Fat Foods

• Foods that are high in fat and sugar tend to prolong constipation and prevent bowel movements, which is why an individual who is suffering from IBS with constipation should avoid eating them. These foods tend to be low in dietary fiber, the key element to moving waste products through the body. Also, the insoluble nature of fatty particles means that the body has a more difficult time processing them, causing them to build up within the digestive tract. Examples include cheese, duck and ice cream.

Processed Foods

• Processed foods, such as white flour products and certain meats, are also poor choices for individuals with IBS. These also lack adequate amounts of fiber and introduce a variety of chemical ingredients that are foreign to the body's digestive tract. For example, a common byproduct of processed meat is beta-carboline, a synthetic anesthetic that slows the processes of the colon. Examples include white bread, bacon and hot dogs.

Salty Foods

• Foods that are high in salt will enhance and prolong constipation in individuals with IBS as they dehydrate the body. One of the key culprits in constipation is a lack of water in the large intestine. When the intestine is not hydrated enough, the stool becomes hard and dense and more challenging to pass. Examples include chips, salted meats, prepackaged food, frozen vegetables and pretzels.

Alcohol

• Alcoholic drinks and foods cooked in alcohol should be avoided by individuals with IBS with constipation because alcohol, like salt, is a natural dehydrate that will pull water from the colon and dry out stools. Examples include wine, beer, liquor, and cooking sherry and wine based sauces.

Dairy Products

• Another example of foods to avoid when suffering from IBS with constipation is dairy products. While dairy products offer a wide range of health benefits, they require a special digestive acid, known as lactic acid, to be properly processed by the intestines. Most human intestines do not produce enough lactic acid to properly process the amount of dairy that is found in the modern American diet, which results in a host of ingested products that cannot be digested, therefore, causing constipation. Examples include yogurt, milk and cream.