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Can Onions Trigger IBS?

By 28th March 2022October 10th, 2022IBS
Onions

What is IBS?

IBS is one of the most diagnosed gastrointestinal disorders, with between 5-30% of the population experiencing symptoms [Source: Pubmed]

While there isn’t a test for IBS, the diagnosis is made based on 2 key factors.

  1. The absence of a disease in the gut (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease has been excluded)
  2. The presence of specific symptoms relating to bowel function

These are the common symptoms of IBS, which include bloating, altered bowel patterns, and pain. These a defined with the ROME IV criteria. 

[Source: Pubmed]

While these symptoms describe the sensations within the digestive tract. They do not offer an explanation for why these symptoms are happening. In IBS, these underlying issues can fall into 3 main categories:

  1. Functional Imbalance. This includes bacterial imbalances, SIBO, and low-grade inflammation.
  2. Lifestyle factors. For example, increased stress.
  3. Nutritional Factors. This includes reactions to foods as well as vitamin deficiencies.

Which foods trigger IBS?

Up to 80% of people with IBS identify food as a possible trigger for their symptoms.

These triggering foods can lead to a reaction within a short space of time and result in symptoms such as:

  • Bloating
  • Distention
  • Cramping
  • Nausea
  • Gas
  • Diarrhoea [Source: Pubmed]

While these individuals may see a clear relationship between food and their symptoms, it can be difficult to pinpoint the precise culprit. This may lead to anxiety around food choices and an increasingly restrictive diet.  

Also Read: How Do I Know If I Have IBS?

The low FODMAP diet

FODMAP

A low FODMAP diet is a dietary strategy that has been researched to help improve symptoms of IBS, regardless of the underlying cause of the symptoms

While not a treatment, it can be helpful to think of this diet as a symptom management strategy. [Source: Pubmed]

FODMAPs are groups of non-digestible carbohydrates (including fibres and sugars) founds in a range of natural foods. These include apples, pears, wheat, beans, lentils, as well as garlic and onions.  

FODMAPs actually stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides, And Polyols. These are the scientific names of the carbohydrates founds in these foods.

While it’s common for some of the FODMAPs to aggregate IBS symptoms, it’s not common for all FODMAPs to cause symptoms in the same IBS patient. This can mean that the full version of the diet, referred to as the introductory phase of the low FODMAP diet, is too restrictive for most.

This leads to certain doubts regarding the low FODMAP diet.  

These include:

  1. The diet is too restrictive
  2. It limits lots of healthy foods
  3. It can create anxiety around food
  4. It can be confusing without the support of a nutritionist
  5. It limits beneficial fibres that support long term gut health [Source: Pubmed]

The reason FODMAPs may cause symptoms is due to 3 main factors.

  1. Their osmotic activity. This relates to their ability to bring water into the digestive tract. 
  2. Their fermentability. This relates to how they’re processed by the gut microbiome, which can lead to gas and bloating.  

By activating nerve function, which stimulates intestinal secretions and bowel movements. [Source: Pubmed]

With this in mind, the aim is to identify and limit the specific foods that are most problematic. For some, this can be a simple food such as onion. 

Onions and IBS

Onions belong to the FODMAP category known as fructans. The human body has a limited ability to break these down and only absorbs 5-15% in the small bowel.  

The remaining amount is delivered to the large intestine, where they’re fermented. In an aggravated or imbalanced gut, this may then potentially lead to symptoms such as bloating or diarrhoea. [Source: Pubmed]

How much onion can I eat with IBS?

While onions can be an issue for many and trigger IBS symptoms, there is often an amount that can be tolerated

For some, this may be as little as 1 teaspoon. However, this is highly personalised and does require a certain amount of experimentation. 

There may also be individual tolerance between cooked and raw onion.

How long does an IBS flare take to calm down after eating onions?

As the amount of onion that can lead to symptoms is highly personalised, so is the severity of the reaction. This is also related to how long symptoms last after they flare up.

If onions are an issue, then the reaction can start as quickly as 20 minutes after eating them but may also be as long as 6 hours after the food has been consumed.

The same is true with reactions. 

This can last a short period of time, yet for some, their symptoms may flare up for 2-3 days.  

How do I cook without onion?

There are 3 key ways to cook without onion that can still offer the same flavours.

  1. As fructans do not leach into oil, it’s possible to fry onions in oil and then remove the onion pieces. This will flavour the oil but leave it without FODMAPs. However, the same is not true for when onions are cooked in water, for example, in a stew. This will allow the FODMAPs to dissolve into the liquid and still be present in the meal.
  2. The second option is a spice called asafoetida, which tastes very similar. This can be used in place of onions in cooking.
  3. The green parts of spring onions can also be used as a replacement. [Source: Monash]

Conclusion

While FODMAPs can cause an issue for some, it’s important to keep in mind that the foods aren’t the issue. 

It’s the way the body is responding to these foods.  

As mentioned in this article, this can be due to changes in the gut. For example, changes in the gut microbiome (the beneficial bacteria in the gut).

Working with a registered nutritional therapist can be an important way to navigate these changes. Both through the low FODMAP diet to identify triggers and address the underlying issue to allow these foods to be worked back into the diet.