A low FODMAP diet is considered one of the best and most effective IBS treatments. Research at Monash University and numerous other centers around the world has shown that a low FODMAP diet is effective in providing relief from abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating in up to 3 out of 4 people. Because of this, a low FODMAP diet is recommended as the first treatment of choice for people with IBS. This diet does not ‘cure’ IBS. However, it does help a person with IBS understand the high-FODMAP foods that trigger their own symptoms and how much of them can be tolerated.
The diet is a 3-step process designed to help you develop your best IBS diet.
* Step 1 - Low FODMAP Diet
- for 2-6 weeks - swap high FODMAP foods for low FODMAP foods.
* Step 2 - Reintroduction Diet
- for 8-12 weeks FODMAP rich foods are reintroduced foods back into your diet one by one to identify which FODMAP types trigger your IBS symptoms, and which do not.
* Step 3 - Personalization Diet
- after identifying your high FODMAP trigger foods, foods that are well tolerated are reintroduced back into your diet. In the long-term it's about finding a balance between tolerated FODMAP-rich foods and the avoidance of others.
In most cases, people can reintroduce many high FODMAP foods back into their diet but may not be able to eat them as often or in the same quantity as before. It is important to have the support of a dietitian with proficiency in this protocol to guide you through the process to best maximize your symptom relief, avoid over-restricting foods, and successfully identify the foods that trigger your symptoms while maintaining a nutrient balanced diet.
