Trigger foods: how they are looked for
General information, not health advice. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your own symptoms.
What a food and symptom diary is, and why it is something to bring to your doctor or dietitian.
Last updated ยท By Torstein Skulbru
Written by a software developer, not a clinician, from the sources listed below. How the guides are written.
The short version
A trigger food is a food or drink that seems to set off gut symptoms. A food and symptom diary is one way people keep track, and it is something doctors and dietitians ask for. Working out what a pattern means, and whether to change your diet, is for your doctor or dietitian.
What is a food and symptom diary?
A food and symptom diary is a running note of what you ate and drank, roughly when, and how you felt afterward. The NHS mentions keeping one for IBS, and says people may be asked to keep one when a food intolerance is being looked into. For an IBS appointment, the NHS says it might help to write down details of your symptoms beforehand.
What foods can trigger IBS?
For IBS, the NHS lists alcohol, caffeine, certain foods such as spicy or fatty food, stress and anxiety, and regular antibiotic use as things that can trigger a flare-up. It also says flare-ups can happen for no obvious reason.
Can one bad day tell you what the trigger is?
Not on its own.
The NHS says food intolerance symptoms usually start a few hours after eating. Because flare-ups can also happen for no obvious reason, a single rough day is hard to read. A pattern across many days is a question to raise with your doctor or dietitian, not a conclusion.
How do doctors and dietitians look for trigger foods?
According to the NHS, a doctor may refer you to a dietitian. If a food intolerance rather than IBS is being looked into, tests can include a special diet where a suspected food is avoided, and after a few weeks it is eaten again to see whether symptoms return. NICE says single food avoidance and exclusion diets should only be given by a healthcare professional with expertise in dietary management.
The NHS says it is important not to cut foods out without the advice of a GP or dietitian, because you could miss out on vitamins and minerals.
When should you see a doctor?
- The NHS says to see a GP if you think you might have IBS and have had symptoms for over 4 weeks.
- The NHS also says to see a GP if diet changes are not helping, or if you need to avoid lots of different foods to control symptoms.
- The NHS says to ask for an urgent appointment if you have lost a lot of weight for no reason, have bleeding from your bottom, or find a hard lump or swelling in your tummy.
Sources
- NHS: Diet, lifestyle and medicines for IBS. Describes keeping a diary of what you eat and any symptoms; says to see a GP if you need to avoid lots of foods.
- NHS: Symptoms of IBS. Lists alcohol, caffeine, certain foods such as spicy or fatty food, stress and anxiety, and regular antibiotic use as possible triggers; flare-ups can also happen for no obvious reason.
- NHS: Getting diagnosed with IBS. A GP asks when symptoms happen, for example after eating certain foods; writing down symptom details before the appointment may help.
- NHS: Food intolerance. Symptoms usually start a few hours after eating; a diary and a supervised avoid-then-reintroduce diet are used; foods should not be cut out without advice.
- NICE guideline CG61: Irritable bowel syndrome in adults. Single food avoidance and exclusion diets should only be given by a professional with expertise in dietary management.
Gutrude helps you keep the diary: a record to bring to your doctor or dietitian.
