Fodmap Diets 101: What Is A Fodmap Diet?
Fodmap Diets 101: What Is A Fodmap Diet?
What is a fodmap diet, exactly? Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the first person to ask this question. With the upward trend that fodmap diets have had in recent years, more and more people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon.
Though for anyone still in the dark, wondering ‘what is a fodmap diet?’, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ve covered everything you need to know about fodmap diets. Find out more below.
What Is A Fodmap Diet?
Let’s begin with fundamentals - what is a fodmap diet?
FODMAP is an abbreviation that stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates that aren’t properly absorbed in the small intestine, which causes them to ferment and cause bloating/ abdominal discomforts.
So, a low fodmap diet is an eating regime that avoids foods containing these fodmaps to alleviate gastrointestinal issues. These foods are then slowly reintroduced into the diet one by one to determine which foods are and aren’t tolerable.
Some of the foods to avoid on a low fodmap diet include dairy-based milk & yoghurts, beans, lentils, bread, cereal, sweeteners, as well as certain fruits and vegetables.
The Benefits Of Low Fodmap Diets
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty. Below, we’ve listed the 5 core benefits of low fodmap diets. Find out more below!
Reduce Bloating
One of the core benefits of a low fodmap diet is that it can reduce the discomforts associated with bloating.
This is because the diet restricts the consumption of short-chain carbohydrates such as fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.
When these carbohydrates are consumed by those who can’t tolerate them, they can ferment in the colon and cause gas to build up - leading to feelings of bloating.
A fodmap diet fixes this issue by removing these short-chain carbohydrates in the first place to eliminate feelings of bloating.
Ease IBS Symptoms
If you’re dealing with symptoms of IBS, such as diarrhoea or constipation, it might be worth considering the low fodmap diet.
The low fodmap diet is designed to assist with IBS management. The restrictive phase involves eliminating many of the high fodmap foods that can irritate the gut and trigger constipation or diarrhoea.
By cutting out these foods and slowly reintroducing them, you can adjust your diet moving forward to accommodate for IBS and significantly reduce the symptoms associated with the condition.
Identify Food Allergies
Another great benefit of a low fodmap diet is that it can identify any underlying food allergies that you might not have been aware of.
The process of a low fodmap diet involves cutting out a large portion of high fodmap foods, then slowly reintroducing them into the diet one by one. This helps to determine which foods are tolerable, and others that are troublesome to the gut.
Through this elaborate process of elimination, you can uncover any potential food intolerances or food allergies and adjust your diet accordingly.
Are Low Fodmap Diets Healthy?
The low fodmap diet certainly isn’t for everyone, especially due to the restrictive nature of the diet. If you’re not dealing with IBS symptoms, it may not be worth undergoing.
Firstly, there are many essential food groups on a low-fodmap diet to avoid, which means you can miss essential nutrients if you’re not replacing them with low-fodmap variations.
Also, many of the high fodmap foods that you’ll need to avoid are prebiotics for the gut, meaning that they can help feed and support the growth of good gut bacteria. So, if you are dealing with IBS symptoms and are engaging in a low fodmap diet, it might be worth grabbing a fodmap-friendly probiotic to ensure your levels of good gut bacteria aren’t depleted.
Perkii Probiotic Shots
If you’re on the hunt for a fodmap-friendly probiotic, we’d recommend trying this Perkii Super Ginger Probiotic Shot.
The compact, 60ml bottle is packed with 8 billion probiotics along with 25% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C - making it a great immune booster for those Winter months. The targeted release probiotics inside are 10,000 x more effective at resisting stomach acid, so more gets through to your gut.
In other words, it’s the tastiest way to enjoy your daily probiotic! Head to the online store to shop the range today.
