Can you eat feta cheese with IBS

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Page last updated: 20/08/2022 | Next review date: 20/08/2024
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In this brief guide, we will address the query, “can you eat feta cheese with IBS?” We will also discuss what IBS is, what causes it, how diet can affect its symptoms, and other queries related to this subject.

Can you eat feta cheese with IBS?

Yes, you can eat feta cheese with IBS. Actually, feta cheese is one of the cheeses with the lowest levels of lactose, which is helpful for this particular condition.

In the next paragraphs, we will try to further explain the science behind feta cheese and IBS, and why they can be paired? Are there any other cheeses that can be consumed by people with this condition?

What is IBS?

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome and is a condition that affects about 6 to 18% of people all around the globe. But, what is IBS? Well, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, IBS refers to a group of symptoms that take place altogether, causing different symptoms, such as:

  • Altered bowel movements.
  • Bloating.

People with IBS exhibit these symptoms without any visible signs of injury in their digestive tracts. Unfortunately, it is a condition that generally is a lifelong problem, and will cause several changes in the everyday life of people with it.

What causes IBS?

The exact cause of IBS remains unknown, but it has been associated with different situations, such as:

  • Diet.
  • Stress.
  • Poor sleep habits.
  • Alterations in gut bacteria.
  • Food passes through the gut too quickly or too slowly.
  • Several cases of IBS in the family.

Any of these can trigger IBS symptoms. Nevertheless, not all people’s symptoms are triggered by the same agents, which makes it more difficult to find a cause for this condition. Until now there is no cure for IBS, but diet and medication can ease the symptoms.  

What are the symptoms of IBS?

The symptoms of IBS may be different for each person, but some of the most common ones are:

  • Abdominal pain. This increases after having eaten, and it is usually better after using the bathroom.
  • Bloating. People with IBS tend to feel heavy and swollen very often.
  • Diarrhea. IBS could cause you to experience liquid stools all of a sudden.

Some other people may also experience other symptoms, such as:

  • Flatulence. You may have a lot of farting with IBS.
  • Nausea.
  • Lack of energy.

These symptoms are related to an alteration of bowel movements. 

If you want to read more about irritable bowel syndrome and how it can be diagnosed in this link. 

What can you eat if you have IBS?

Most people who suffer from IBS, about 70%, report that food is capable of triggering their symptoms. That is why a high percentage of people with IBS prefer to exclude certain foods from their diet.

But it is unclear why food can trigger IBS symptoms, and also, not all people share the same trigger foods, these can vary from individual to individual. However, foods that tend to cause gas, like FODMAPs, lactose, and gluten, have been commonly associated with the triggering of IBS symptoms. 

Read more about this subject at this link.

So, it is natural that most people with this condition want to avoid consuming any food that belongs to these groups.

What are FODMAP foods?

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. In clearer words, this type of food contains sugar that is not properly absorbed and therefore, can cause intestinal distress.

People with IBS are recommended to adopt a low FODMAP diet to avoid any discomfort these foods can cause. This kind of diet can be very restrictive, but until you figure out what foods are triggering your symptoms, it is better to follow the low FODMAP diet. But, how can you do it?

Well, a low FODMAP diet consists of a three-step elimination process:

  • First, you will avoid consuming high FODMAP foods.
  • Slowly, you will reincorporate them into your diet to find out which ones trigger your symptoms.
  • Once identified, you will only avoid or reduce the consumption of those foods and you will be able to eat everything else.

Is feta cheese a high FODMAP food?

Thankfully not, feta cheese, and some other cheeses, can be eaten on a low FODMAP diet, how cool is that? However, you need to be very cautious when consuming any kind of food to notice if it triggers your symptoms or does not.

Some low FODMAP cheeses are:

  • Blue
  • Camembert
  • Cheddar
  • Cottage
  • Feta
  • Cream
  • Manchego
  • Queso fresco
  • Mozzarella

To a wider list of cheeses low in FODMAP, click here.

Other FAQs about Feta Cheese that you may be interested in.

Can you eat feta cheese with mold

Can you eat feta cheese without cooking?

Can you eat goat’s feta when pregnant?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “can you eat feta cheese with IBS?” We have also discussed other queries related to the subject at hand. 

Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Citations

https://www.fodyfoods.com/blogs/news/ranking-the-best-cheese-for-ibs

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-signs-and-symptoms-of-ibs#7.-Food-Intolerance

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/symptoms/

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