Foods to Avoid If You Have SIBO
If you are on an elimination diet, the foods you decide to eliminate will depend on your diet plan. You can work with a licensed dietitian to help develop your plan.
In some cases, your doctor or dietitian may advise you to eliminate a type of carbs known as FODMAPs from your diet. Several symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may improve if you reduce the amount of FODMAP in your diet. Studies show that a low-FODMAP diet may reduce abdominal pain [1] and bloating.
Since most people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also have SIBO, doctors usually recommend a low-FODMAP diet for people with SIBO. [2]
The major types of FODMAPs are:
- Lactose, a sugar molecule in dairy products
- Fructans, a sugar compound found in gluten products, fruits, some vegetables, and prebiotics
- Fructose, [3] simple sugars commonly found in fruits and some vegetables, honey, and agave nectar
- Polyols, sugar alcohols often used as low-calorie sweeteners
- Galactans, a compound found in some legumes
Foods that contain high levels of FODMAPs are:
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Agave nectar
- Honey
- Soda and soft drinks
- Garlic
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Butternut squash
- Cauliflower
- Artichokes
- Beans
- Apples
- Dried fruits
- Sausage
- Flavored yogurt
- Ice cream
- Sweetened cereals
- Barley
- Rye
- Grains
- Peas
- Mannitol
- Sorbitol
People react to these foods differently. Some people may experience certain symptoms after eating FODMAPs, while some people may not. Note that a low-FODMAP diet is a type of elimination diet. It would help to plan a SIBO elimination to suit your diet. The low-FODMAP diet is a popular treatment plan. However, there is little evidence that shows that it can help treat SIBO.
Plus, restricting FODMAPs has been linked toTrusted Source potentially harmful changes in the types of bacteria growing in the gut. This effect was seen in people with IBS who followed a low-FODMAP diet for a prolonged period of time. People with SIBO already have an excess amount of unhealthy gut bacteria, some experts believe that a low-FODMAP diet is not always beneficial.