What is the FODMAP diet? You’ve heard people talking about it and they’ve suggested it to you. Now you need to find out more about it and decide if it really is worth trying. Will it really offer weight loss and health benefits?
FODMAPs diet is something commonly suggested to those with IBS problems. It focuses on foods that are good for the gut and won’t cause flare-ups. This can help to reduce swelling, offer weight loss benefits and help you feel healthier and happier within yourself.
Here’s a look at the FODMAP diet, with everything you need to know to help you decide if it’s right for you.
After creating a special form of fructose malabsorption, Sue Shepherd started to research the low FODMAP diet with a team of specialists. She realised that foods that were low in FODMAPs wouldn’t trigger IBS symptoms as much as those that were high in them. It meant that those who suffered from IBS and similar conditions could manage their illness or ailment through a change in the diet.
It has since become a widely accepted diet amongst dieticians when they have patients with celiac disease, IBS or similar chronic conditions.
FODMAPs are found in all the foods we eat. The acronym stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. The only thing you need to know about the scientific terms is that they are molecules in food that the small intestine can struggle to digest. They will move into the large intestine, and become sources of food for the bacteria that lives there.
The bacteria using the food source makes it worse, and this leads to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The condition includes bloating, nausea, pain and changes to stools. There are other gastrointestinal symptoms and it can make weight loss much harder. After all, if you’re not feeling well, you won’t always think about the food you are eating.
How Can I Tell I Have A Diet High In FODMAPs?
It’s not just IBS sufferers who can benefit from a low FODMAP diet. Anyone can switch to it, or at least follow some of the techniques to help create a healthier lifestyle. Many people will have a diet that is high in FODMAPs without initially realising. Just how do you know from the way your body acts?