Dairy-Free, High-Fiber Diets

Digestive disorders require a tailored nutritional approach to increase the quality of life of sufferers. For a number of diseases such as IBS and Crohn's, removing dairy from the diet while striving to increase or normalize fiber intake can provide some relief from symptoms. Whether you have been placed on a dairy-free, high-fiber diet on the advice of your physician or of your own accord, there are some considerations you should make to optimize your experience on the diet.

Dairy Free Dieting

Remove all dairy- and lactose-containing products from your diet to help to curb food allergies or the symptoms of a variety of digestive disorders. This includes milk, cheeses, butter, eggs, yogurt and creams, whether these products are served in their natural state or in a condensed form. Get in the habit of checking the labels of all of your favorite foods to ensure that there are no dairy ingredients, as failure to do so could undermine the veracity of your dairy-free diet. Consider the possibility of using milk substitutes such as soy milk, rice milk or coconut milk for your baking needs. To avoid the need for constant label checking, simply limit yourself to nothing but natural foods such as 100 percent whole grains, fruit, vegetables and lean meat, avoiding processed and pre-prepared items that could potentially contain unwanted dairy ingredients.

Fiber Recommndations

Consume a diet that is rich in high-fiber foods to meet your daily fiber needs. According to information from the Mayo Clinic, men require between 30 and 38 grams of fiber per day, whereas women require 21 to 25 grams. Obtain this amount by sticking to whole grain food variants, such as oatmeal instead of cereal, whole grain pasta instead of refined flour pasta, brown rice instead of white; and eating other fiber rich foods like beans, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, seeds and nuts. Aim to divide your fiber intake evenly across all of your daily meals to avoid overloading your body with too much fiber at any one time. Additionally, aim for an even split between soluble (from nuts, flax and oats) and insoluble fiber (from veggies, fruits and whole grains)--check the nutritional label to ensure a roughly even split between the two types, keeping your high-fiber diet as balanced as possible.