White bread: I live in the U.K. and what I... - IBS Network

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White bread

LEENOL48 profile image
31 Replies

I live in the U.K. and what I thought was a safe food I have found that white bread is absolutely making my ibs terrible the stomach pain wind and loose stools does anybody else suffer with this what else can I eat for lunch when I have little time and not many facilities at work

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LEENOL48 profile image
LEENOL48
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31 Replies
Wickerman profile image
Wickerman

Hi. Yeah white bread does the same to me. Although I don't have celiac I find gluten free bread much more palatable.

LEENOL48 profile image
LEENOL48 in reply to Wickerman

I did try the gluten free bread but was told by a dietician that there are lots of extra additives in gluten free bread so to be careful

Sheeniejay profile image
Sheeniejay in reply to LEENOL48

Have you tried spelt bread? I find that's better for me generally. I also gave up yeast and eat "desem" (sourdough) bread (I live in Netherlands), which uses zero yeast & I go to an eco supermarket to get it so zero additives, zero sugars etc You could try making Irish soda bread - with spelt flour (a low fibre one). It takes about 40 mins total & super simple & relaxing to make. BBC website has a recipe, I think but there are heaps out there - good luck.

Kitkat28 profile image
Kitkat28

Hi

Yes I can’t eat white bread, white pasta or white rice. I’ve changed all of the above to brown and find this is much better for my ibs c.

Good luck k

Whoopdedoo profile image
Whoopdedoo

U.K. wheat and white bread is so processed that for years it is a no to many with IBS-d.

Biggest improvement I found was giving up anything with U.K. wheat in it.

BabsyWabsy profile image
BabsyWabsy in reply to Whoopdedoo

I have a theory that a lot of us have gut problems because of a lifetime of eating highly processed bread made using the Chorleywood method, which is far quicker than traditional bread, hence its use in commercial bakeries since 1961. My biggest improvement was also to cut out UK wheat entirely. Another potential issue is that glyphosate is often used to dry the wheat prior to harvest. A lot of wheat products have been found to contain glyphosate residues which I believe is also classed as a carcinogen.

Whoopdedoo profile image
Whoopdedoo in reply to BabsyWabsy

My dad was a baker and always said bread wast the same when we stopped getting it from New Zealand.

When I’m in France I can eat baguettes, croissants and biscuits with no problems . It’s fabulous.

swarke22 profile image
swarke22

There is a flour in Northumberland you can buy which uses the old type of grain. Golchesters.com which I have used also sourdough from Sainsbury’s as there is no commercial yeast in it. Lovely toasted too.

swarke22 profile image
swarke22 in reply to swarke22

Sorry should say Gilchesters

Mmaj profile image
Mmaj

I have found that Spelt and Rye bread doesn't cause me problems. Small loaf from Asda about 90p. White bread kicks off my ibs.

BabsyWabsy profile image
BabsyWabsy in reply to Mmaj

I'm OK with spelt and rye too. Didn't know Asda did a loaf though.

Mmaj profile image
Mmaj in reply to BabsyWabsy

Yes, they always have it in stock in my branch of Asda. It is only a small loaf.

Barnclown profile image
Barnclown

Some sufferers find sourdough breads are more digestible

One of the other reasons some uk breads are indigestible is that the dough is mass produced, partially baked & frozen before delivery to supermarkets where it’s rebased fully & sold as fresh baked bread. The ‘double’ baking process turns bread into ‘resistant starch’ which is a considered type of fibre so of course is notoriously indigestible, same goes for ANY twice cooked starry foodstuff eg: reheated rice, pasta, potatoes, muffins, crumpets etc etc.

Fibre-like Resistant starch food stuffs CAN be helpful to patients needing fibre in their diets, but for patients like me who are hypersensitive to food fibre/residue & whose small intestine function is failing/failed, resistant starches can have very bad effects...this link explains the pros & cons of resistant starch:

digestivehealthinstitute.or...

asbayford profile image
asbayford

Bread/wheat is one of the most high foods in fructans (along with onions and garlic etc)

I eat schar wholesome white loaf, it's been deemed low fodmap and is gluten/wheat free.

Studies are now finding many IBS sufferers are not actually gluten sensitive but fructan intolerant x

BabsyWabsy profile image
BabsyWabsy in reply to asbayford

I am wary of Schar because some of their products are made with Codex wheat starch. This is starch that has,20ppm gluten in it because it has been 'washed', so it can legally be called 'gluten free'. I get a reaction to this.

For a rare treat I sometimes have spelt sourdough loaf from Riverford, but it is expensive.

asbayford profile image
asbayford in reply to BabsyWabsy

That's crazy how they can call them gluten free then if you get a reaction to it. I guess in a low fodmap diet it's perfectly ok as it's not the gluten we react to, but for celiacs it's not good at all!

BabsyWabsy profile image
BabsyWabsy in reply to asbayford

I am allergic to wheat, not coeliac but this isn't good for coeliacs either because the <20ppm is cumulative. So eat a lot of it and you could be in trouble.

xjrs profile image
xjrs

Waitrose Spelt sourdough bread has been tested by Kings College in London as being low fodmap:

waitrose.com/ecom/products/...

The thing to watch out for in gluten free breads are things like added fruit juices such as apple juice which are going to be high fodmap.

Download the Kings College Food Maestro app to your phone:

kcl.ac.uk/lsm/schools/life-...

This lists a lot of UK supermarket products and tells you whether they are safe on a low fodmap diet - there should be a few safe gluten free breads listed on there.

Unfortunately the key is to bring your own lunch.

BabsyWabsy profile image
BabsyWabsy in reply to xjrs

Bring your own lunch is now my default setting :-)

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs

Yep all bread and anything yeasty does this to me....

Try sour dough gluten free warburton cob. It great.

Could b the gluten or yeast.

Try some good probiotics to

Mayhill profile image
Mayhill

I mostly have sushi for lunch, or bring cold meat and vegs. But it's a struggle, particularly when eating out.

Woodlong profile image
Woodlong

Oh its Terrible... I usually have plain crackers and Tin tuna in spring water or probiotics

Pig2 profile image
Pig2

Hi, yes i am so much better now gluten and lactose free. Try the fodmap plan , I can eat a few cream crackers or gluten free crackers or oat crackers with cheese or tuna salad. Good luck 👍

LizzieAFib profile image
LizzieAFib

I found out by accident (staying with sister-in-law who's coeliac & therefore gluten free) how much better I was when not eating wheat - energy levels better, Ibs d better. I’m also lactose intolerant so don’t have milk or soft cheese anymore.

Also because of ibs I have to be very careful which GF bread I buy, as lots of them have ingredients that upset my digestive system, eg artificial sweeteners

IBSNetwork profile image
IBSNetworkPartnerIBS Network

We have lots of recipes on our website that may help theibsnetwork.org/recipes

Ernest2 profile image
Ernest2 in reply to IBSNetwork

Hi IBSNetwork,

Any chance you could pin this post please.

Best wishes,

Ernest

LEENOL48 profile image
LEENOL48 in reply to Ernest2

Hi Ernest not sure what you mean

Ernest2 profile image
Ernest2 in reply to LEENOL48

Hi Leenol,

Apologies my reply probably wasn't clear. There is a feature on healthy locked for very useful posts to be "pinned". If you scroll down or look to the right (depending on what phone or computer you use) you should be able to see that section somewhere. For IBSnetwork we currently only have one pinned post, and I think this post merrits adding to the list. That though is the judgement of the administrators, who are "IBSNetwork" (organisers of the charity) who setup and kindly run this forum for us. Anyone: Please correct me and/or add further info here.

I think you do have to ask why more people have IBS symptoms than in the good old days, and there are probably several reasons, and the info in this post might well explain one of them.

Many thanks to all, wishing you well,

Ernest

Viklou profile image
Viklou

Make something the night before and if you have a microwave at work heat it up and eat it. One thing you'll appreciate with this issue is bathroom time is sometimes longer than preparation time. Makes you think a little more outside the box of convenience.

Ernest2 profile image
Ernest2 in reply to Viklou

Hi Viklou,

What are your favourite lunches. Also if you are out somewhere with no microwave, what might you eat please?

I've just been diag with increased cholesterol (from previous years) so looking for inspiration.

Best wishes,

Ernest

Viklou profile image
Viklou in reply to Ernest2

I tend not to eat much during work due to bathroom issues but I am partial to chicken /rice. Sometimes soups are ok depending on how I am when I get up or what kind of a night I've had

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