FODMAP diet: what is the FODMAP diet and how can it help my IBD

If you suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) you’ve probably heard of the low FODMAP diet. While there isn’t enough evidence to show that low FODMAP can help IBD, it has shown to help up to 75% of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)¹. When you add in that many people with IBD also have IBS, it certainly can’t hurt to try!

What is FODMAP?

FODMAP stands for fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. In simpler terms, it’s certain types of sugars that are difficult for your GI tract to absorb. Poorly absorbed sugars are left to ferment in the intestine, releasing gas that causes bloating, wind and pain. By avoiding these foods, the theory is that the associated symptoms should also be reduced.

Will it help my IBD?

Given that IBD isn’t a single disease, but an umbrella terms for several diseases characterised by inflammation in the gut, it’s hard to say whether or not low FODMAP will help. A low FODMAP diet won’t help reduce inflammation, if you’re currently experiencing a flare or are in an active disease state.

It may be beneficial if you are in clinical remission, but still experiencing IBS symptoms.

How do I know what foods I can eat?

Unfortunately it’s not easy to tell if a food is high or low FODMAP just by looking at it. That’s where the internet comes in handy! There are plenty of lists online that tell you what you should avoid. Monash University, who first developed the low FODMAP diet, have done lots of research into the FODMAPs of foods, and can provide lots of information on what foods to enjoy and which ones to enjoy.

High FODMAP foods

Foods to avoid include:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Mushroom
• Cauliflower, broccoli and sprouts
• Apples and pears
• Mangoes
• Watermelon
• Stone fruit such as nectarines and peaches
• Pears
• Dried fruits
• Foods made with wheat, barley and rye (such as bread, pasta and cereal)
• Dairy made from cows’ milk, such as milk, ice cream and yoghurt
• legumes
• Cashews
• Pistachios
• Honey
• Artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and xylitol

Low FODMAP foods

Foods that are safe include:

• Potato
• Carrot
• Capsicum
• Tomato
• Banana
• Grapes
• Citrus fruits
• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Cornmeal
• Gluten-free breads and pasta
• Low lactose dairy such as hard cheeses, lactose free milk and yoghurt
• Meat, poultry and seafood (check marinade ingredients)
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Peanuts
• White and brown sugar
• Maple syrup (not maple flavoured syrup)
• Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and stevia

Will I ever be able to eat those foods again?

The main goal of eating low FODMAP is to test whether you have a sensitivity to these foods. Your dietitian will assess how long to trial the diet, normally around 4-6 weeks. This allows your symptoms to subside before you slowly reintroduce foods and determine which ones affect you most and should be avoided.

Is the FODMAP diet too restrictive?

Suffering from IBD, there are likely already foods that you avoid as they cause symptoms. Adding another list of ‘no go’ foods can be daunting, or even reduce nutrient intake further. For this reason, it’s important to undertake diets such as the low FODMAP diet with help from a specialised gastroenterological dietitian. The dietitians at IBD SA can help you determine whether a low FODMAP diet might help.

1 https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/low-fodmap-diet-inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-update/

Contributed by Jenny Carney