Have you heard of a low FODMAP diet but don’t understand what it is?
FODMAP is an acronym that stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates, commonly called sugars.
Amongst others, fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides are two kinds of those oligosaccharide that are highly fermentable.
Fructans are found predominantly in wheat, rye, onions and garlic, while galacto-oligosaccharides are predominantly found in legumes, beans, pulses.
As a disaccharide, lactose, found in dairy products, such as milk, soft cheese and yoghurts also belongs to the FODMAP “family”. If you lack the enzyme needed to break lactose down, you will eventually experience some bloating, flatulence, pain and diarrhoea.
For more about dairy intolerance read here.
As well as oligosaccharides and disaccharide, fructose and polyols, like sorbitol and mannitol are also poorly digested, thus contributing to symptoms like pain, bloating and altered bowel habits.
Sugar polyols are found in some fruit and vegetables and are being added to low calorie products such as lollies, gum and soft drinks. Sources of excess fructose are honey, apples, and high fructose corn syrups.
The low FODMAP diet is a 3 phased diet based on elimination, reintroduction, and personalisation, aiming to find a balance between good symptom control and type of diet.
This type of diet has been designed for symptom management in IBS. Because FODMAPs are involved in mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity, like excessive abdominal and pelvic pain, a possible approach to the treatment of several diseases’ functional dyspepsia, endometriosis, diverticulitis and fibromyalgia is being investigated.
Further, the low FODMAP approach has been used to assist in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and in some cases showed improvement in abdominal symptoms of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (Ref 1, 2, 3).
As with any diet, there are contraindications like pregnancy and malnutrition, and it should be followed in conjunction with an experienced professional.
Book a free Pre-Consultation with us to discuss your symptoms and see whether this is the right diet for you.