Low Fodmap Diet For Ibs Uk
Diet and lifestyle management can be used as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome ibs when looking to treat symptoms of ibs using a staged approach is most useful.
Low fodmap diet for ibs uk. Ibs is a chronic relapsing and often life long condition and symptoms include abdominal pain bloating and a change of bowel habit. It may be as simple as eating healthily and changing lifestyle factors or there may be slightly stricter and more specific ways to manage symptoms such as the fodmap diet. The low fodmap diet involves cutting out all five families of fermentable carbohydrates. This meal plan is high restrictive and temporary.
A low fodmap diet is complex to follow and takes several months to personalise to each person s needs. The principle behind the diet is to give the gut a chance to heal especially if you have gi problems like ibs people with gi disorders may use this diet as part of their treatment. If you ve ever suffered from irritable bowl syndrome ibs you ll quite possibly have heard of the low fodmap diet which cuts out certain carbohydrates for a period of time to reduce or even eliminate symptoms. While i am a qualified dietitian i m not familiar with your personal medical history your current medications or additional factors that need to be considered when altering your diet or fitness regime.
Research studies have shown that the diet can reduce symptoms in 50 80 of people with ibs. As fodmaps are known to produce gas and draw water into the colon it makes sense that people with abdominal pain and diarrhoea improve on the diet but people with constipation can also improve. A low fodmap diet cuts out many common products that contain certain foods. Ask your personal doctor or dietitian first.
In one 2014 study a low fodmap diet improved the ibs symptoms of both constipation and diarrhoea. The low fodmap diet is also beneficial to those with ibd or severe and recurrent gut health. The low fodmap diet removes foods that contain high levels of fodmaps. Fructans wheat rye onions garlic various other grains and vegetables galacto oligosaccharides beans and pulses polyols certain fruit certain artificial sweetners fructose various fruits honey and agave nectar and lactose animal milks yoghurts and some cheeses.
If they do suggest following a low fodmap diet you ll need to do this carefully to ensure it works well and meets your nutritional needs. If you have irritable bowel syndrome ibs or another disorder affecting your gut the low fodmap diet could help with your symptoms.