Which foods make osteoarthritis worse?

Foods to avoid with osteoarthritis include processed foods, cold and raw foods, nightshade vegetables, red meat, refined sugars, and newly harvested rice, as these aggravate Vata dosha and increase joint inflammation.

What are the best foods to eat if you have osteoarthritis?

The best foods for osteoarthritis include warm cooked grains like aged rice and wheat, healthy fats like ghee and sesame oil, anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric and ginger, and digestible proteins like moong dal.

What are five vegetables to avoid with arthritis?

Five vegetables to avoid include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants (nightshade vegetables), and corn, as these can aggravate inflammation and worsen osteoarthritis treatment. But moderation is the key, and body reactions to vegetables differ from person to person.

Can I eat rice with osteoarthritis?

Yes, aged rice and brown rice are beneficial for an osteoarthritis diet when cooked properly with warming spices. But newly harvested rice should be avoided, as it's heavy to digest and can aggravate Vata dosha.

Foods to Eat and Avoid During IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Home » Blog Post » Gastrointestinal Disorders » Foods to Eat and Avoid During IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Dr Shobitha Madhur
Updated on: September 8, 2025
Category: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Dr Shobitha Madhur
Updated on: September 8, 2025
Category: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Living with irritable bowel syndrome can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially when unpredictable discomfort and digestive distress disrupt your daily life.
In Ayurveda, managing IBS centres on harmonising the digestive fire (agni) and pacifying aggravated doshas by eliminating specific food categories that exacerbate IBS symptoms.

Ayurveda recognises this struggle and offers a compassionate, balanced approach—highlighting simple dietary shifts and mindful practices to gently soothe your IBS symptoms with foods to avoid and restore harmony within. By identifying foods to avoid with IBS and adopting healthy alternatives, you can make a positive move towards better digestion and improved energy.

The Root Cause: Compromised Agni and Its Effects

The term “Grahani” refers to “the organ’s ability to hold food until it is completely digested,” a function that in turn greatly relies upon a powerful Agni. When Agni is compromised or there is an imbalance, it results in improper food digestion, and the outcome is the formation of Ama, one of the main causes of Grahani roga. The manifestations are a change in bowel movements, abdominal discomfort, bloating, indigestion, and vomiting. The fundamental principle of the treatment of Grahani roga is to enhance Agni and decrease Ama. The condition typically starts with an unhealthy diet and a lifestyle of inactivity, both of which are causative factors. The strength of the Grahani organ depends on Agni, and the imbalance of Agni weakens the Grahani. Such weakening of the Grahani implies that the digestive tract is unable to process food well, resulting in the above symptoms. Thus, identifying and avoiding foods that trigger IBS symptoms becomes an integral step toward recovery.

General Irritable Bowel Syndrome Foods to Avoid

A few common groups of food and eating patterns are classed as unwholesome (Apathya) and would need to be avoided or reduced when treating Grahani roga so as not to vitiate the Agni further and cause Ama accumulation:

Irregular Eating Habits: This includes fasting (Abhojana), eating before the previous meal is digested (Ajirna Bhojana), overeating (Atibhojana), and consuming food at irregular times or in incompatible combinations (Vishamashana, Asatmya). These practices directly disturb Agni and lead to improper digestion.
Heavy, Cold, Dry, Stale Foods: Heavy to digest foods (Guru), cold foods (Sheeta), very dry foods (Atiruksha), stale foods (Sandushta bhojana) in general are harmful to Agni and lead to Ama formation.
Junk Foods and Hard-to-Digest Foods: Processed foods from the modern world, commonly known as “junk foods” or “ready-to-eat” diets, are most widely quoted as irritable bowel syndrome foods to avoid. They usually have attributes and flavours (too pungent or overly sweet) incompatible with digestive system. These are foods to avoid with IBS.
Incompatible Food Combinations (Virudhaahara): Foods that, when eaten together, produce toxins or disturbances within the body must be avoided. Avoid eating food not in harmony with an individual’s prakruti (internal constitution), time, or season.
Too Much Pungent, Sweet, Sour, or Salty Tastes (excess or in incorrect setting): taking too much of pungent (Katu), sweet (Madhura), sour (Amla), or salty (Lavana) foods in an unbalanced diet can worsen the condition.
Too Much Water Consumption: Consuming large amounts of water, particularly on an empty stomach, can weaken Agni and is thus termed as an Apathya.
Non-vegetarian Food and Alcohol: Non-vegetarian food and alcohol should be excluded.

Specific Foods to Stay Away From IBS

According to ancient Ayurveda literature, the following particular foods to avoid with IBS are classified as Apathya:

Cereals (Shookadhanya Varga): Wheat (Godhuma) and Barley (Yava) are normally unwholesome.
Pulses (Shamidhanya Varga): Flatbeans (Nishpava), Green peas (Kalaaya), Black gram (Masha), Kidney beans (Rajamasha), and Garlic (Rasona) are foods to avoid with IBS.
Meats (Mamsa Varga): Dry types of meat (Shushka mamsa) are to be avoided.
Phala Varga: Fruits such as Grapes (Draksha), Areca nut (Poogaphala) and Indian jujube (Badara) are also not advisable.
Gorasa Varga: Whey (Mastu), Milk (Paya), and Curd (Dadi) are commonly included under Apathya. But buttermilk (Takra) is extremely recommended due to its medicinal values.
Preparations of Food (Kritanna Varga): Heavier foods and beverages (Gurvannapana), medicated curd preparations (Rasala), and all flour cakes (Apoopa) are to be avoided.
Oils (Tailavarga): Sesame oil (Tila) is stated as an Apathya.
Vegetables (Shaka Varga): While some particular vegetables are helpful, overall “leafy vegetables” (Pathrasakha) and some root vegetables (Kanda) are included in the foods to avoid with IBS.

Foods to Eat with IBS

In those suffering from IBS, diet plays a crucial role in enhancing digestion (Agni) and reducing toxins (Ama). Light, easy-to-digest foods must be used, which improves gut health.

General principles

Opt for light (Laghu), dry (Ruksha), absorbent (Grahi), Deepana (Agni-enhancing), and Pachana (digestive) foods.
Prefer astringent (Kashaya), sweet (Madhura), and pungent (Katu) tastes, with hot (Ushna) potency.
Eat regularly; do not take heavy, oily, or hard-to-digest foods.

Key recommended foods

Buttermilk (Takra): Twice daily with cumin, dry ginger, and rock salt.

Cereals & gruels: Red rice, old rice, and preparations like Laja Manda (thin rice water/gruel from parched rice), Vilepi (thick rice gruel), Peya (light rice gruel), Yavagu (semi-thick rice porridge) are recommended.
Pulses: Green gram, horse gram, red gram, pigeon peas can be consumed in moderation
Fruits: Pomegranate, wood apple, banana, jamun, pineapple, papaya, oranges, and lemons are recommended
Vegetables: Ash gourd, spinach (wild & common), black nightshade
Spices & herbs: Ginger (with warm water & lemon), nutmeg, fennel, carom seeds, and rock salt.
Others: Light vegetable soups, small quantities of ghee.

Lifestyle Modifications

Ayurveda emphasises that diet is not the only pillar of health; lifestyle (Vihara) also plays an essential role in the management of Grahani roga. Patients are typically told to refrain from excessive sitting, leave a gap between dinner and rest, not sleep during the day, and include light physical exercise. Certain yogic postures (Bhujangasana, Mayurasana, Paschimottanasana, Matsyendrasana, Sarvangasana) and respiratory techniques (Anuloma Viloma Pranayama) are advised to decrease stress and aid digestion. Avoiding feelings like fear, sadness, and excessive thinking is also necessary to maintain Agni and avoid the psychological impact that may exacerbate symptoms of IBS.

Conclusion

Management of Grahani roga, or IBS according to Ayurveda includes overall management that starts with the treatment of vitiation of Agni and formation of Ama. By taking care to eliminate culprit foods from the diet and including good lifestyle behaviours, one can immensely improve digestive function and find relief from the debilitating symptoms of it. This is reminiscent of the Ayurveda principle – prevention is always better than cure and the right food can be the greatest medicine.

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References

Sharma, P., et al. (2022). Dosha imbalances in IBS: an Ayurvedic study. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 13(3), 245–252.

Patel, R., & Joshi, S. (2021). Role of Agni in gastrointestinal disorders. AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda), 42(1), 15–21.

Gupta, V., et al. (2020). Impact of fried foods on gut motility in IBS. International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 11(2), 98–104.

Singh, A., & Kumar, N. (2019). Pungent spices and Pitta aggravation. Ayurved Research, 8(4), 210–216.

Rao, D., & Shastri, B. (2021). Dairy products and mucus formation: IBS perspectives. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27(6), 484–490.

Mishra, P., et al. (2020). Legumes’ digestibility in functional bowel disorders. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 65(5), 1429–1437.

FAQ

What are the worst foods for IBS?

The worst offenders include heavy, oily, and fried items along with dairy, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables due to their tendency to aggravate IBS and produce gas. Spicy and processed foods also overstimulate digestive fire and should be listed among irritable bowel syndrome foods to avoid.

What foods should I eat to stop IBS?

Focus on warm, cooked grains like basmati rice and oats, paired with steamed vegetables and soothing spices (cumin, coriander, and turmeric) as core IBS foods to eat to strengthen digestion and balance Vata and Pitta. Incorporating ghee in moderation further supports healthy gut function.

What is the biggest trigger for IBS?

Oversized portions of heavy, oily, and refined foods constitute the primary trigger by disrupting agni and creating toxic ama that manifests as irritable bowel syndrome. Regular consumption of spicy and gas-producing legumes and cruciferous vegetables also ranks among the top foods to stay away from IBS.

Is rice bad for IBS?

No, when prepared as warm, well-cooked basmati rice, it is among the most recommended IBS foods to eat, offering light nourishment without burdening digestion. Its neutral quality helps pacify both Vata and Pitta doshas, making it a staple in foods for IBS meal plans.

Dr Shobitha Madhur

Homepage B RCB

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