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Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS involves chronic, recurring gastrointestinal issues characterized by gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea or constipation. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that symptoms cannot be attributed to other causes of bowel disease. It tends to be more prevalent in women and can cause a significant amount of stress in individuals that suffer from it.
The FODMAP diet can help some of those that suffer from IBS. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. It includes naturally occurring sugars like lactose and fructose, sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol and non-digestible fibers like fructans and galactans. Although some of these foods have positive health effects, they are difficult to digest in large quantities for most people (think beans!) and in sensitive individuals, even small amounts can cause GI upset and discomfort.
A low FODMAP diet can help alleviate the symptoms of IBS. Once the low FODMAP diet is introduced, people can reintroduce some of the foods in limited quantities and test for tolerance. The high FODMAP foods don’t necessarily have to be eliminated completely and indefinitely if the foods are tolerated in small quantities after reintroduction. Most people however, are happy to eliminate the offending foods due to the reduction of GI symptoms and discomfort that they experience on the diet.
For more information and for a list of low and high FODMAP foods, check out the following handout by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.