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What foods should I avoid so my IBS won't act up?

By Barbara Bradley Bolen, Ph.D., About.com

Updated August 30, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Question: What foods should I avoid so my IBS won't act up?
Answer: There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to specific foods and IBS, because a variety of factors -- stress, hormones -- can affect the severity of IBS symptoms. Therefore, you may find that a food that bothers you after one meal may be fine another time. It also is important to remember that simply eating a large meal may exacerbate symptoms, regardless of the types of foods eaten.

That said, there are some foods that do have the potential for aggravating the digestive system:

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