As an IBS dietitian I am always looking for ways to support my patients. On Instagram @AndreaHardyRD, I talk all about IBS and raw veggies. Do raw veggies cause digestive issues for you?

Do you worry about eating too many raw veggies? 😨🥬🍄 🧄⁠

This is a common fear our patients have when it comes to their IBS – leading to a more restrictive diet than necessary!⁠

Often, raw veggies alone aren’t the culprit of digestive distress, so here are some things to consider:⁠

1️⃣ What are you eating alongside the veggies that might be contributing? Could it be the hummus or other dipping sauce alongside those veggies and not the actual veg contributing to digestive distress? ⁠

2️⃣ Are the veggies themselves high in FODMAPs? Cauliflower, mushrooms, celery – etc. are high in FODMAPs, and it might actually be the FODMAPs rather than raw veg causing the discomfort (and could be swapped for cucumber, carrot, green pepper) ⁠

3️⃣ Are you having really large portions of raw vegetables? Raw vegetables provide a lot of bulk; in IBS, when there is a lot of ‘stretch’ in the gut it can contribute to discomfort. Having smaller portions of raw vegetables and chewing your food well may be one strategy to help if you notice this to be an issue!⁠

At the end of the day – one size doesn’t fit all. Working with a dietitian can help to ensure you have the most liberalized diet possible while pinpointing your digestive culprits!⁠