Are cherry tomatoes your hidden IBS trigger? (2024)

FAQs

Are cherry tomatoes your hidden IBS trigger? ›

Cherry tomatoes

Remember, a portion of fruit and veg (for your 5 a day) is 80g. So three cherry tomatoes is about a half of one portion of your 5 a day. You may find they are ok at small doses, but larger amounts can trigger your IBS. In which case, just have a few now and again to keep up the diversity in your diet.

Anything high in fat content like fatty meats, cold cuts, fried foods or foods cooked heavily in oil. Dairy, especially cheese can cause trouble for many people with IBS. Beverages in general pose a problem due to carbonation, sugar content or caffeine. Alcohol is also a common trigger and should be avoided or limited.

A low FODMAP serving of cherry tomatoes is now considered to be 3 tomatoes or 45 grams. Larger servings contain higher levels of excess fructose.

High Fructose Fruits

As previously mentioned, fruits with a high ratio of fructose to glucose or high in fructans can cause IBS symptoms. These include apples, apricots, avocado, ripe bananas, cherries, blackberries, dates, grapefruit, mango, nectarines, peaches, plums, pears, pomegranate, watermelon, and more.

The tomato fruit is high in naturally occurring acids. Because of their high acidic content, for some, tomatoes can stimulate the production of stomach acids which can result in bloating and gas. Try doing as the Italians do - remove the skins after boiling the tomatoes in a pan of water.

While both raw and cooked tomatoes are gut-healthy foods, cooked tomatoes seem to have more of a beneficial impact on the gut. This may be because the process of cooking helps lycopene maintain its integrity during digestion, so more of it gets absorbed. It's great news that tomatoes are such a gut healthy food!

A large salad loaded with raw vegetables, while generally super healthy, will usually make things worse for an IBS patient.

Include lean meats, eggs, and fish to ensure adequate protein intake during an IBS flare. Avoid heavily spiced and processed meats (sandwich meat, etc.) and fried foods. Poach or boil eggs to avoid added fats.

Vegetables: Leafy greens, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, green beans, cucumbers and root vegetables (carrots, turnips and parsnips) are all good options for people with IBS. Grains: Proteins found in gluten, along with fructans found in weight, can contribute to IBS flare ups.

How many cherry tomatoes is 1 of your 5 a day? ›

A portion is 3 celery sticks, a 5cm piece of cucumber, 1 medium tomato or 7 cherry tomatoes.

Roma tomato - also known as plum tomatoes, roma tomatoes are low FODMAP at 48g serves, which is about 2/3 of a Roma tomato. Cherry tomatoes - an easy and convenient way to enjoy tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are only low FODMAP at three cherry tomatoes (45g).

According to both Monash University and FODMAP Friendly, cherry tomatoes are low FODMAP in small servings and you can enjoy them 45g or a 3 tomato serve in the first phase of the diet (1 4). Just keep an eye on portion sizes as they do contain moderate amounts of fructose in 60g serves (1).

Eggs. Eggs digest easily and are a safe choice for people with IBS. Eggs can be enjoyed hard-boiled, soft-boiled, scrambled, or poached. Omelets and frittatas can be your meal of choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and make a great option when eating out in a restaurant.

Tomatoes can be part of your overall produce intake because of their healthful nutrients and compounds, such as lycopene, beta carotene and vitamin C, all of which act as antioxidants and exert anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

Examples of low FODMAP vegetables include carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, and more. To see a larger list of low FODMAP vegetables, download the Low FODMAP Diet and Food List PDF.

A person with ulcerative colitis may be able to eat tomato sauce in moderation. However, it may be best to avoid eating whole tomatoes as the skin can be difficult to digest.

Eat antioxidant-rich foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell pepper). Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar. Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.