One effect I am experiencing from IBS is poor absorption of vitamins and minerals. I am not one of those people who regularly takes vitamin supplements, a) because I never remember to take them and b) because I’d rather try to get them into my diet in the most natural way possible - by eating them!

So I’m trying to find recipes high in vitamins to try to compensate and for this reason amongst others, I began a series of Vitamin Rich posts a couple of weeks ago. Each week I am focusing on a different vitamin or mineral and describing the best way to get them into your diet, including recipes along the way. I know for some IBS sufferers, some of the recipes won’t be suitable because we have those certain ingredients which trigger IBS in us, so I’m looking for alternative ingredients as well.

A friend of mine has a violent IBS reaction to onions. So she began trying different types of onion - red onions, shallots and spring onions, but found that all had bad effects on her. She almost gave up hope, finding the idea of trying to cook without onions and probably garlic, really quite traumatic! But then she tried leeks and found that in small portions, they did not have such a bad effect as the others. So, at least every now and again she can have that oniony flavour.

Now I know it’s not the same for everyone, I have read other cases where some IBS sufferers can not eat any of the alliums family at all, from onions right through to chives). I personally don’t get on with peppers, whether they’re raw, cooked, dried or ground e.g. paprika, they don’t agree with me. I have not found an alternative for them or their flavour. Some people are troubled by tomatoes, others by chocolate or oranges, the list is endless.

But some people have found alternatives… carob instead of chocolate, gluten-free and dairy-free foods amongst others. Have you discovered an alternative for a food you can’t eat? Please share your best discoveries with us by leaving a comment.I’d love to know if anyone has found an alternative for peppers :)

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