What is the low fodmap diet?
The Low FODMAP diet has been studied extensively in Australia and is quickly becoming the gold standard approach to managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome around the world. It is an evidence based learning diet, meant to determine an individual’s tolerance to certain types of carbohydrates. FODMAPs is an acronym for these carbohydrates: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, And Polyols. They are found in a variety of foods, and are largely indigestible. For many people this is not an issue, but for those with IBS they can wreak havoc in the intestines causing gas, pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea.
The Low FODMAP diet is not meant to be followed for life since it is difficult and eliminates many important foods that are important to the health of the digestive tract. Instead it is a learning tool and the information gleaned can help individuals make changes to manage their IBS.
How does the diet work?
The diet consists of three phases:
1) ELIMINATION - All high FODMAP foods are eliminated from the diet for approximately 3 weeks, or until symptoms stabilize
2) TESTING - Gradual and controlled reintroduction of FODMAPs to determine tolerance. This process can take 4-5 weeks
3) ADAPTION - Using the information gleaned from the testing phase of the diet, a new diet plan will be outlined moving forward
Groundworks Nutrition offers both individual counseling and group classes to help patients follow the Low FODMAP diet protocol.