What is a Low FODMAP Diet and Why Was It Recommended to Me?

If you have been diagnosed with IBS or SIBO, your clinician may have suggested that you follow a low-FODMAP dietary pattern. There are a lot of acronyms here, and the language may be confusing, so let’s start there.

IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (a diagnosis)

SIBO – Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (a diagnosis)

I am not a physician and do not diagnose any condition. I can work with you and your clinician to set up a low-FODMAP diet if that is what is recommended.

F – Fermentabe

O – Oligosaccarhide

D – Disaccarhide

M – Monosaccarhide

A – And

P – Polysaccrarhide

All of these are digestible foods for bacteria. The idea is if you are eating these foods, you are feeding the bacteria that are causing your symptoms, which may include bloating, excessive gas, nausea, constipation, and/or diarrhea.

This diet is not without criticism, so I love to look at research to see what is new and relevant to this diet. Let’s first look at some current research. I always recommend learning about your diagnosis and understanding why you are following a certain dietary pattern so that you become involved in the process. I also recommend keeping a food journal so that you understand what triggers symptoms.

Recently, I started using enzymes, which has been an incredible game changer. I have reintroduced many FODMAP foods successfully with this enzyme. Some clients have found the same results after determining what foods are bothersome to them. They sprinkle the enzyme on their foods, which makes this product different from taking a pill, which may be absorbed before or after what you are eating.

A recent study that summarizes 14 research studies on patients with IBS on a low-FODMAP diet for 6 months to a year or longer can be found at this link:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37807975

Important Takeaways

●     All diets started with an elimination diet

●     A personalized journal was kept with diet prior, diet during, and diet with reintroduction of foods.

●     Only foods tolerated were reintroduced.

●     The diet eaten before elimination and the diet after were often very different. Some foods were tolerated once reintroduced, and some were not. It was very individual.

●     9 out of 9 studies showed improvement long term.

●     7 out of 7 studies evaluated showed improvement in bowel habits.

●     Quality of life improved in all of the studies

Another criticism of this diet is that it’s not good for the microbiome long term because some of the high-FODMAP foods have important micronutrients that feed helpful bacteria. For example, broccoli, which is high in sulforaphane and is a prebiotic that has anti-cancer properties, is not included on a low-FODMAP diet. Things to consider are the ability for some people to add it back in after the gut heals. The other consideration is that with leaky gut – caused by the irritation of the gut intestinal barrier with these conditions – nutrients are not being absorbed well.

While there are limited studies, one shows an increase in the absorption of vitamin D (the only thing tested) with a low-FODMAP diet.

I hope to see more research on this topic, but the bottom line is how do you feel, and use that as your compass on what aspects of this diet are working for you.

If you need some guidance on dietary changes, such as a low-FODMAP diet, look out for my next blog on which foods are low- and high-FODMAP, and let’s talk! Reach me here (add link) for a 30-minute no-sweat consultation.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment.