For people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the frequent diarrhea or constipation can be quite annoying, although there is currently no drug treatment, but there is a type of diet called low-FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharides And Polyols) that can relieve stomach discomfort and reduce the symptoms of IBS.
According to a study by the Department of Nutrition Sciences at King’s College London in the UK, this diet can improve 86% of the symptoms. However, what is FODMAP diet? Are there any taboos? Let’s continue reading.
1. Stress and busy life are prone to IBS
Modern people live a busy life, with a fast pace, and work pressure is also high. Over time, the abdomen is always stuffy and bloated, and sometimes constipation occurs. If you have this condition, then you may have IBS. IBS is a functional disorder of intestinal motility, in addition to causing abdominal bloating and constipation, it will also have the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea (extended reading: How to deal with diarrhea and indigestion? Avoid these foods)
- Feeling like you have not completely emptied your bowels when you defecate
- Stool with mucus
- Abdominal rumbling
The cause of IBS is not clear at present, and many factors affect the regulation and motility of the intestines.
2. Low-FODMAP diet helps to alleviate IBS symptoms
There is no way to cure IBS by eating a certain food, but in recent years, there is a diet called low-FODMAP. This diet can relieve the symptoms of IBS. Low-FODMAP diets include the following:
- Cereals: oats, corn, cassava, sorghum, quinoa
- Protein: beef, pork, fish, chicken, eggs, tofu
- Dairy products: lactose-free milk and yogurt, rice milk, almond milk, coconut juice, hard cheese
- Vegetables: bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, celery, bok choy, kale, radishes, chives, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, ginger, taro, lettuce, olives, melon gourd, angelica, potatoes, green onions (green), turnips, bell peppers, green beans, water chestnuts
- Fruits: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, grapefruit, honeydew, melon, kiwi, bananas, lemons, limes, citrus, passion fruit
- Nuts: almonds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pine nuts, sesame seeds
Low-FODMAP diets can be divided into three stages:
- Elimination phase (Elimination): According to the data from the Canadian charity Gastrointestinal Society, patients first need to avoid foods with high FODMAP, usually for 6-12 weeks, and then adjust according to their physical condition. The ingredients to be careful of include: lactose, fructose, fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides and polyols. In most cases, as long as the diet is adjusted according to the doctor’s instructions, IBS will gradually improve. If there is no change, you may need to consider other treatment methods.
- Reintroduction phase (Reintroduction): When the patient’s IBS symptoms have returned to normal, or have been greatly improved, they can start to consume FODMAP foods, but it is recommended to use 3-7 days as a benchmark, so as to observe whether there are food irritants.
- Maintenance phase (Maintenance): The purpose of this stage is to eat as normally as possible, but avoid FODMAP foods that cause irritation. The frequency of IBS attacks will gradually decrease until it disappears.
In addition to IBS patients, functional gastrointestinal tract disorders, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases can also use low-FODMAP diets to reduce discomfort.
3. These 4 types of carbohydrates should be eaten less for IBS patients
As mentioned earlier, low-FODMAP diets can relieve intestinal discomfort. So what is FODMAP? What are the effects on the body? FODMAP actually refers to carbohydrates that ferment (Fermentable) in the intestines. They are oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols.
These are short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that we almost always eat every day. However, for IBS patients, these carbohydrates should be eaten less, because the intestinal sensitivity of patients is higher than that of ordinary people. The hydrogen released by the intestinal flora and the high water absorption of FODMAP foods cause constipation, which can make patients feel very uncomfortable.
Although FODMAP foods can make IBS patients uncomfortable, they do not need to be completely avoided, because these foods are high in nutritional