Are you suffering from any of these symptoms? Diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, abdominal distention or stomach pain? Were you told by your doctor that you have Irritable Bowel Disorder (IBS), Crohn’s Disease, Colitis, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)? If so, you may want to seriously think about following the low FODMAP Diet. This diet was developed at Monash University in Australia and is specifically designed for people that have gut disorders.
The word FODMAP is an acronym that stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. They are short chain carbohydrates that are not absorbed and consequently, begin to ferment in the colon and are consumed by bacteria. The waste products produced by the bacteria cause the above mentioned symptoms and if not corrected, can lead to other complications.
The diet, when first used, is considered a type of elimination diet that helps heal the gut. It is advisable to follow the diet for about 6-8 weeks being sure to drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day to help flush out toxins. After the 6-8 week cleansing period, one nutritious ingredient that is not Low FODMAP, can be consumed. It is pertinent to take notice of any negative occurrence that take place by maintaining a log or diary and jotting down any symptoms experienced.
It is highly recommended that you do not follow this diet on your own. It is best to work with a qualified health care practitioner such as a functional medicine doctor, naturopath and/or nutritionist who can run a series of tests to determine if this is the best diet to follow.
Once you get the “food as medicine” prescription to implement the diet and feel overwhelmed, you can contact me, Ilia, the healing through food specialist/chef/teacher who can work with you to design customized menu plans or offer you a series of cooking lessons specifically tailored for the Low FODMAP Diet or have the customized meals prepared for you in your kitchen by my company, Healthy Nourished Body.
In the next post, I will be discussing which foods you can consume and which ones to steer clear of for the Low FODMAP Diet.
Ilia Regini is a certified healing through food specialist/health supportive chef/culinary instructor/ writer/ blogger and speaker. Healthy Nourished Body offers chef service, cooking lessons, healthy kitchen makeovers and customized menu planning for healing through food dietary protocols. www.healthynourishedbody.com www.facebook.com/wellnourishedbody63 or e:[email protected]
