What is a low FODMAP diet?
The low-FODMAP diet is a therapeutic diet for IBS and conditions that have similar symptoms (such as inflammatory bowel disease, bowel cancer and Coeliac disease). There is very good evidence that the FODMAP diet can assist in the management of IBS type symptoms for many people, but it is should be noted that it doesn’t help everyone with IBS.
It is currently estimated that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects around 11% of the population globally. In the UK the estimate is up to 20% which equates to over 10 million people, the majority of which are women aged 20-30.
If you have IBS you may have heard about FODMAPs but be uncertain about what they are and whether or not you might benefit from restricting them in your own diet.
FODMAPs is short for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and polyols, but all you really need to know is that this list of compounds are types of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the upper gut which cause alterations in bacterial fermentation and fluid content in the lower bowel (colon). Some people tolerate FODMAP foods perfectly well, but for those that don’t they can cause a range of distressing and uncomfortable gut symptoms such as bloating, burping, trapped wind, abdominal pain and even constipation and diarrhoea.
It should be stressed that the low FODMAP diet is a therapeutic diet for people diagnosed with functional bowel disorders, such as IBS. FODMAPs do not cause IBS, but there is substantial scientific evidence that limiting their intake does help symptom management for many IBS sufferers.
I have recently published a low FODMAP recipe and resource book called Simply FODMAP! A PDF copy is available for £9.99 which is available via this link http://menumentors.co.uk
Simply FODMAP! is a one-stop, easy to-follow guide for anyone following a low-FODMAP diet with over 55 simple and delicious recipes that everyone can enjoy. It’s more than just a recipe book - Simply FODMAP! is packed with useful resources to guide you through the diet including low-FODMAP food tables and food challenge guides, sample meal plans and shopping lists, specialist suppliers and where to go for additional support.
Before embarking on this diet it is advisable that you speak to a qualified nutritionist or dietitian first. For further information email jessicaandersson@btinternet.com
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