Greek yogurt is another good option, but it should be plain and unsweetened. If you find plain yogurt hard to stomach, consider adding low-fructose fruits such as berries or, better yet, nuts, which also help with IBS symptoms and have high levels of fiber.
If someone with IBS tolerates dairy products, plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt is a nutritious dietary addition. Greek yogurt contains live probiotics—bacteria that offer many health benefits, including for gut health. If you are lactose intolerant, you might still be able to enjoy Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt is made by straining yogurt, creating a thicker and creamier texture. This process removes whey and most lactose, making Greek yogurt lower in lactose and low FODMAP at 23g, as per Monash (3).
Choose easier-to-digest proteins, such as eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, extra-firm tofu, and plain lactose-free greek yogurt. Lower-fat cooking methods, such as baking, roasting, steaming, boiling, and sautéing, can also help you avoid uncomfortable symptoms.
Chobani is naturally lower in lactose compared to many other dairy yogurts due to the straining and fermentation processes and the addition of an enzyme (lactase) to some products. This helps to digest any of the leftover high FODMAP sugar lactose, making it FODMAP friendly and easy on the tummy.
This means people with IBS can safely consume a serving of medium-sized firm yellow or green bananas daily without triggering gastrointestinal symptoms. However, ripe bananas, which have higher levels of fermentable carbohydrates called fructans, can trigger IBS symptoms in some people.
Avocados contain FODMAPs that can trigger IBS symptoms and may be high, moderate, or low in FODMAPs depending on how much you eat. In terms of portion sizes, 1/8 of an avocado is considered low-FODMAP and should be safe to eat if you have IBS. Some people may be able to tolerate more.
Cheese is a common food that people with IBS avoid, as it is thought to trigger symptoms. However, there is no definitive evidence that cheese is a trigger food for IBS. Some people with IBS can tolerate cheese without any problems, while others find that it makes their symptoms worse.
Porridge has many benefits for your overall health, including gut health and IBS. It can be beneficial for both IBS-C and IBS-D. Porridge can be a great meal option, even on a low FODMAP diet. When preparing porridge make sure you use only low FODMAP ingredients if you are following a low FODMAP diet.
Probiotics: The good bacteria can help you go.
Kimball says any yogurt — not just those that advertise they're good for gastrointestinal health — can be a good source of probiotics that help relieve constipation. “I usually look for a low-sugar Greek yogurt,” she says.
Gut bacteria and endotoxins
Yogurt is thought to reduce inflammation by improving the integrity of the intestinal lining. And, by bolstering this layer of tissue, endotoxins — produced by gut bacteria — cannot cross into the bloodstream and promote inflammation.
A recent study showed that consuming 2 to 3 cups of homemade yogurt - containing Lactobacillus - on a daily basis lead to the complete relief of IBS symptoms along with 1-2 normal bowel movements daily. Out of the 189 IBS patients in the study, 169 achieved complete improvement of symptoms within 6 months.
“Yogurt is associated with decreased inflammation, decreased insulin resistance and it may prevent type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Hu says. Nutrition researchers believe yogurt's anti-inflammatory power comes from the probiotics it contains, but that has yet to be confirmed with rigorous trials, he says.
As a result of our authentic straining process, most Chobani® Greek Yogurt products contain less than 5% lactose per cup and Chobani® Greek Yogurt drinks contain less than 8% lactose per bottle.
Greek yogurt is an inexpensive, quick, and easy way to get protein into your diet—but it may be making you bloated, as well. Lactose, which is found in many dairy products, especially yogurt, milk, and ice cream, may give you a bloated belly if you are lactose intolerant3 .
Traditional sourdough breads made from wheat, wholemeal wheat, and spelt flours are low FODMAP because they contain reduced levels of fructans (2). This means they can make a great low FODMAP bread option.
High-FODMAP dairy foods include: Cottage cheese, cream cheese, milk, quark, ricotta and yogurt. Low-FODMAP dairy foods include: Cheddar cheese, cream, feta cheese, lactose-free milk and Parmesan cheese.
In people with constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), treatment options include a high-fiber diet, bowel retraining, gut-directed psychotherapy, and pharmaceutical drugs like Trulance and Linzess.