Nutritional Guide - Flipbook - Page 21
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant and some people are more sensitive
to it than others. Some people find that caffeinated
products such as cola-style fizzy drinks, coffee and tea
(including some herbal teas like green tea) can overstimulate their bowel and cause food to pass more quickly
through the digestive system. Caffeine does not always
need complete exclusion; up to 3-4 cups of tea or coffee
a day are usually tolerated in those without additional
bowel or bladder issues. Just swapping a few drinks to
some decaffeinated versions (teas, coffees, herbal options
like rooibos etc.), a day can help reduce dehydration
and discomfort.
Spices
Moderate to heavily spiced foods and added flavourings
are common irritants to a sensitive bowel. Chilli (fresh,
dried, powdered or in sauces) is the most anecdotally
linked trigger. Initially after surgery (6-8 weeks), it is
advisable to have a bland diet with minimal spices to
reduce the irritation to the bowel. After this time, spices
can be gradually reintroduced to individual tolerance. Some
people may take longer i.e. 6-12 months for their gut to
settle and be less sensitive, others may take less than the
usual 6-8 weeks. People who may have had a very high
threshold pre-surgery may have a lower tolerance postsurgery, but this is not definitive.
Fibre & Irritant
Food &
Drink Table
Food groups
Starchy
carbohydratecontaining
foods/
ingredients
(includes
bread,
potatoes,
cereals etc.)
TIP: You may
tolerate a food
hot, but not
cold e.g. justcooked vs.
cold pasta.
Foods to avoid or reduce
Foods to choose more of
(higher fibre/irritant)
(lower fibre/irritant)
Wholemeal, granary or bread
and rolls that contain nuts,
seeds and dried fruit chunks.
This is the same for bread-like
products like chapati, naan etc.
Wholegrain/brown, wild or
under-cooked rice. Bulgur
wheat, couscous, buckwheat
and similar grains. Potato, yam,
cassava and taro that aren’t
peeled or soft. Weetabix®,
Shredded Wheat®, oat- or
wheat-bran type cereals (e.g.
Bran Flakes), porridge, muesli,
granola and other higher
fibre cereals. Crackers that
have nuts, seeds and dried
fruit chunks e.g. ‘Ryvita fruit
crunch®’.
White or ‘best of both’ type breads
or rolls. This is the same for breadlike products like chapati, naan etc.
Tacos, tortillas.
White rice, pasta, polenta and
noodles. Potatoes (white and
sweet), without the skin and
polenta. Yam, cassava and taro
well-cooked without the skins.
Non-fibrous cereals that do not
contain nuts, seeds or dried fruit
e.g. Rice Krispies®, Coco Pops®,
corn and frosted flake type cereals.
Crackers without nuts, seeds or
dried fruit chunks e.g. Digestives,
cheese-flavoured crackers or
‘Original Ryvita®’.
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