Ice cream and IBS
Can ice cream and IBS work together? Of course, even if you’re following the FODMAP diet, you should be able to treat yourself to some ice cream! Follow our tips when buying ice cream, and you’ll avoid turning your ice cream treat into a stomach disaster.
It’s perfectly fine to enjoy ice cream, even for those following the FODMAP diet. You just need to keep an eye on the ingredients:
- Lactose
- Fructose
- Juice concentrate from apple, pear
- Wheat flour
- Glucose-fructose syrup
- Oligofructose (-syrup)
- Inulin
Low-FODMAP ice creams
There are some large-pack ice creams that are low-FODMAP. Below, you’ll find a selection:
- Lactose-free blueberry cream ice cream (Triumf)
- Lactose-free Double Chocolate Parfait (Carte D’or)
- Lactose-free mint caramel cream ice cream (SIA)
- Lactose-free wild strawberry/strawberry cream ice cream (SIA)
- Lactose-free crushed chocolate cream ice cream (SIA)
- Lactose-free vanilla cream ice cream (SIA)
- Lemon sorbet (SIA)
- Raspberry sorbet (SIA)
- Passionfruit sorbet (SIA)
- Lactose-free Double Chocolate Parfait (GB)
- Dairy-free vanilla ice cream (Oatly)
- Dairy-free chocolate ice cream (Oatly)
- Vegan Lovely Vanilla ice cream (Choice, GB)
When it comes to popsicles and cone ice creams, it’s hard to find those that are completely free from FODMAPs.
So far, we’ve found two:
- Cola-pop (SIA)
- Tutti-frutti (Triumf)
Note! The information on the packaging is always the most up-to-date. Use the FODMAP scanner in the app to immediately find out if the ice cream is safe to eat or not.
Protein ice cream
Over the past year, more and more “fitness ice creams” have hit the market. These ice creams are marketed as a better alternative to regular ice cream since they contain higher amounts of protein and fiber and less regular sugar. However, for sensitive stomachs, these ice creams can be a real FODMAP bomb! They often contain inulin, sugar alcohols, and oligosaccharides — ingredients that have all been analyzed as high-FODMAP. So, even though they may be healthier than “regular ice cream” in many ways, those of us with sensitive stomachs should stay away from them.
Some people find that their stomach acts up even when they eat lactose-free ice cream. In such cases, it’s likely that the reaction is due to the fat rather than the milk protein. Try eating a smaller amount of ice cream and see if you have the same reaction, or try a dairy-free ice cream to see if that works better. The most important thing is to understand what’s causing the reaction.
Belly Balance digital treatment
In the Belly Balance app , you can log symptoms, keep a food diary, scan products, find FODMAP lists, and much more to help you manage your IBS.
Sofia Antonsson
Reg. Dietitian, Belly Balance
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