Description

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FODMAP stands for "fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols." Low FODMAP foods are low in these substances. The low FODMAP diet may also benefit people with inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A 2020 study found, for example, that the diet had a favorable impact on symptoms in people with Crohn's disease. It may also help those with celiac disease. The low FODMAP diet is not a long-term diet plan but a way to identify and substitute specific foods that may worsen symptoms. Experts do not recommend following this diet for more than 6 weeks due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

A team of researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, developed The Low FODMAP Diet. The group was the first to prove that low FODMAP diets improved IBS symptoms. The diet plan classifies FODMAP foods as high and low. It recommends that people with IBS avoid high FODMAP foods and choose low FODMAP foods as their daily staples. It is important to note that serving sizes can also change how well a person tolerates a specific food. For example, having a large amount of a low FODMAP food could turn it into a high FODMAP food. Originally, the diet was somewhat restrictive, raising concerns about nutritional deficiencies and disordered eating. Many dietitians now take the approach of a FODMAP-gentle rather than a FOPMAP-free diet. Experts recommend working with a dietitian to avoid both over-restriction and under-restriction.