"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

IBS? A low FODMAP eating regimen might help.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a standard gastrointestinal disorder that affects a minimum of one in 10 people within the United States every year. With symptoms like pain, diarrhea, gas and bloating, it's no surprise that living with IBS can have a major impact on an individual's quality of life.

Diet is a method people manage IBS symptoms. A standard treatment method is to avoid foods that trigger symptoms.

But if you could have trouble identifying your trigger foods, you might profit from adopting an elimination eating regimen. One of the most effective diets for individuals with IBS is the low FODMAP eating regimen.

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates. They are present in many foods and are related to IBS problems, corresponding to diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, and bloating. The following foods contain FODMAPs:

  • oligosaccharides, including fructans (in wheat, onions, garlic) and galactans (in beans, lentils, soybeans);
  • Disaccharides, including lactose (in milk and other dairy products)
  • Monosaccharides, including fructose (in apples, honey)
  • Polyols, including sorbitol and mannitol (in some fruits, vegetables, artificial sweeteners).

The low FODMAP eating regimen works in two steps. First, you eliminate most dietary FODMAP foods for 2 to 4 weeks. Then you replace them with a low FODMAP alternative. You monitor your symptoms for changes after which reintroduce specific FODMAPs separately over a period of six to eight weeks, based on your tolerance. (Your doctor or nutritionist may advise you to maintain a food diary and symptom chart to assist discover problem foods in addition to the quantity.) The goal is to search out out which foods triggers your IBS symptoms, so you'll be able to limit or eliminate them out of your eating regimen. .

Keep in mind that everybody reacts to FODMAPs in another way, and a few individuals with IBS can eat small amounts without symptoms.


Photo: © Rimma_Bondarenko/Getty Images