How to Easily Modify the IBD-AID Diet To Suit Your Individual Needs

Many people with IBD also have secondary issues.  If you are following the IBD-AID diet, you may need it to modify the diet to meet your individual dietary needs.  This article is going to discuss how to modify the IBD-AID diet to meet these needs. 

Every single person with IBD is unique. For this reason, it can be very difficult to find a diet that works for everyone.

Having a concomitant issue means that a person may experience a secondary symptom or condition, at the same time as their primary disease.

These can include;

• Nightshade sensitivity.
• FODMAP intolerance
• IBS
• SIBO
• Celiac disease
• Allergies
• Specific food intolerances

First you need to identify if you have any secondary dietary requirements.

If you do not have any of these issues, you may not need to modify the IBD-AID diet.

Second, you must learn which foods trigger these symptoms. Then you can learn how you can modify IBD-AID diet to better suit your own personal dietary needs.

Doing this increases the success of the IBD-AID for more people.  You may need a dietician, or nutritional counsellor to assist with this.  Remember to always listen to your own body, and that IBD-AID may not work for everyone.

Let’s look at some of the most common concomitant issues that affect IBD patients.

Nightshade Sensitivity

Nightshade foods include:

• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• White potatoes
• Capsicum/bell peppers

These foods contain solanine. If you have inflammation already present in your body, then the solanine in nightshade foods can worsen that inflammation.  It is important to remember that nightshades do not cause new inflammation to occur.

Simply avoiding these foods while on IBD-AID may help you to better manage your symptoms.

Removing these foods is not necessarily permanent. You may only have to avoid these foods while inflammation is still present in your body. Once the inflammation is healed, you may no longer find these foods cause any issues.

This is a diet modification that I had to make as I have nightshade sensitivity. I have found large quantities of tomatoes to be particularly irritating. 

There are no nightshade foods in Phase-1 of IBD-AID. Tomatoes, and eggplant are introduced in Phase-2 and may need to be avoided, until all inflammation is healed.

FODMAP Intolerance

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates that affect the small intestine. A low FODMAP diet is a temporary dietary plan that has been proven to be helpful for SIBO, and IBS.  Some people follow an IBD-AID, low FODMAP diet and have great success.

There is quite a bit of overlap between low FODMAP diet and IBD-AID diet already. For example both are free of processed meats and wheat.

To follow a low FODMAP diet you first eliminate or minimize all FODMAP foods for a period of time. Then you slowly add FODMAP foods back into your diet. You add each food back into your diet one at a time, so that you can work out which specific items are affecting you.

To modify the IBD-AID diet to suit a low FODMAP diet, many items in phase 1 may need to be restricted to smaller portions.  Or eliminated for a short period.

High FODMAP foods in phase-1 include:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Fruits in large quantities

To read more about the FODMAP diet from Monash University, click here.

Onion and garlic are allowed in Phase-1 of the IBD-AID diet. Instead of using these ingredients try using a healthy oil that is infused with garlic or onion. This way you get the flavour without the FODMAPS.

For other FODMAP items, you are able to eat a small portion and maintain FODMAP compliancy.

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome has many of the same symptoms as IBD.  This can make it difficult to differentiate between the two. You may have IBS if your inflammatory markers have improved, but you are still experiencing symptoms.

To modify the IBD-AID diet to suit IBS needs, you may need to eliminate or reduce your intake of the following food items. These items are common IBS triggers.

• Dairy
• Citrus fruits
• Cabbage
• Carbonated beverages
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Processed foods
• Eating large meals

These items are common triggers for IBS, but remember that every IBS case is unique. You may need to do an elimination diet to discover your personal triggers.  Working with a dietician or nutritionist can be beneficial in identifying your unique IBS trigger foods.

Following a low FODMAP diet has also been proven to help reduce the symptoms of IBS.

SIBO

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is when there is too many bad bacteria in the small intestine. Usually, these bacteria are the type that is usually not found in this area of the GI tract.

You can modify IBD-AID to restrict foods that may be feeding these bacteria. This may help manage your SIBO symptoms.

These foods include:

• FODMAP foods
• Sugars and sweeteners
• Certain fruits and starchy vegetables
• Grains
• Dairy products

A natural health practitioner can test and diagnose you with SIBO.

 

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that is triggered when you eat gluten. IBD-AID is already a gluten-free diet, so you do not need to modify the IBD-AID diet to meet Celiac guidelines.

The only modification needed is to ensure that all ingredients are 100% certified gluten-free.

 

Intolerances and allergies

Allergies cause an autonomic response in the body. Intolerances cause irritation or symptoms in the body. Both should be avoided while trying to heal from IBD.

The most common food allergies are to peanuts, nuts, and shellfish.

Following an elimination diet is the only way to determine what foods you are intolerant to. These intolerances are often to otherwise healthy foods.

I have used an elimination diet to determine my food intolerances. I discovered that I am intolerant to cashews, and zucchinis.

To modify IBD-AID you need to establish what your individual intolerances are. Then these foods need to be avoided while following the IBD-AID diet.

I have found that my food intolerances have changed over time. Once you have discovered your unique food intolerances, it does not mean that you will never be able to eat these foods ever again.

Try removing them from your diet, and re-adding them again, one at a time, once you’re in full remission.

Remember to always pay attention to your symptoms and what you body is trying to tell you.  To learn more about following an elimination diet, speak to a dietician or nutritionist.

 

If you have IBD, you may find that you have secondary dietary issues as well.  If you do, it is easy to modify the IBD-AID diet to your specific needs as outlined above.

Remember that you may not even have to modify the IBD-AID diet. You may find the best success by simply following the standard formula.