Should certain foods be avoided for IBS?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    The trigger foods for irritable bowel syndrome vary for each individual, which makes it challenging to create a universal list of foods to avoid. However, common aggravating foods include wheat products, dairy, fried foods, beans, caffeine, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and onions.

    IBS “trigger foods” will be different for everyone, and making a “one size fits all” list of foods to avoid is therefore difficult. However, there are some common foods that seem more likely to aggravate IBS symptoms, such as: