FODMAPs and Your Health

Kathleen

Cupcake
SUPER Supporter
I posted this elsewhere but thought it may be of interest to someone here as well. While I have only been on phase one of low FODMAPs, To be honest, I had not heard much about them until recently....or maybe I just did not pay enough attention. Although I have only been doing the diet for 13 days, I have experienced a huge reduction in digestion issues, pain from inflammation, and my sinuses seem to be clearing up. Once the first phase is over, I will add foods back in to discover what is causing my body issues. Since I will be doing this for a bit, I thought I would seek whether anyone else is doing this...or has done it before.

From my post elsewhere:

I am no expert and have only begun to explore FODMAPs. Many people associate FODMAP exploration with IBS or simply gut health. While I have some digestion issues, it is not due to IBS and really I have had zero idea what has caused them. What I did not want was to go to another physician or health expert and receive another prescription. Instead, I am working with my primary physician, endocrinologist and a nutritionist to see whether I can improve my gut health. Also, I experience a lot of inflammation, which I am hoping to improve. I would recommend anyone who wants to explore FODMAPs to talk it over with their medical team!

My mother believed strongly that food was medicine. As I grow older, I very much believe that she was on to something. In a nutshell, I've only been doing to low FODMAP diet to eliminate various foods for a few days, and can say that I have less gut issues today than I had before starting it. I have also had less achiness. Maybe that is why I perceive my mood to be better! So, in hopes that anyone might be interested, here are some basics. If it is in Italics, it is from various notes I have written down.

To help others understand, I have put down in Italics definitions I have found elsewhere:
FODMAPs are fermentable short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, which can lead to digestive issues like bloating, gas, and abdominal pain in sensitive individuals. The acronym stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.

Characteristics of FODMAPs​

FODMAPs are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, leading to various gastrointestinal symptoms when they reach the large intestine. Here are some key points about FODMAPs:
  • Fermentation: They are fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas as a byproduct, which can lead to bloating and abdominal pain.
    • Bloating
    • Gas and flatulence
    • Abdominal pain
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation
    • Inflammation
    • Brain Fog and Memory Issues
    • Mood

Types of FODMAPs​

FODMAPs can be categorized into different types based on their structure:

TypeExamples
OligosaccharidesFructans (found in wheat, onions)
DisaccharidesLactose (found in milk and dairy products)
MonosaccharidesFructose (found in fruits like apples)
PolyolsSugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol

I found
this very basic overview about FODMAPs. Like many, it focuses on IBS. There is an almost overwhelming amount of information about FODMAPs. Monash University seems to be on the forefront of publishing what they discover and supporting those seeking low-FODMAP solutions.

Low FODMAP diets, to my understanding, are to be used as diagnostic tools rather than a forever diet. I found this journal that is helpful to me to log what I'm eating and will help me evaluation foods when I start to reintroduce them. In any case, here is a space to discuss FODMAPs and resources for those who are exploring how they impact their bodies.

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Thank you @Kathleen , very informative!! Hubby works for a lady who is experiencing all of those symptoms and her primary care doc and gastrointestinal doc want her to eliminate foods and sent her home with FODMAP information. Unfortunately she never follows directions or follows up with doctors. She's had problems for many years. She'll quit the doctor, then find another in several months. Pretty sure there are unaddressed mental health issues in play. But I found the information her docs gave her very interesting, I bet many of us have issues from FODMAPs!!
 
It's really confusing when starting out, and I am a science geek with backgrounds in biochem and genetics. Truly very overwhelming and often counter-intuitive. I ended up reading multiple books, but I found the tools above to be the best resources for anyone who was starting out....like me. It won't tell you why, for example, an apple is a high FODMAP item whereas an orange is a low FODMAP. It won't explain why canned mushrooms are low where as many mushrooms are high. It won't tell you why celery is a high FODMAP food! (That one blew my socks off.) But it is a good list to do checks and balance. And the journal can help you track symptoms.

Monash University offers an app which costs $9 USD, and it is hugely informative. They maintain the app and the little bit of money goes into their research and app maintenance fund. There app also offers restaurant suggestions and recipes. But even that was a bit overwhelming: The journal and chart are easier.

To date, I do believe I have a slight lactose sensitivity, and may have a slight-moderate glucose issue. However, I am becoming more and more convinced that onions and garlic are not my friends.....and I do love them SO much. But being pain-free is a gift I never thought I would experience again...and so I will avoid them if I need to. Scallion greens (low-FODMAP) makes a reasonable substitute for onion. And I can cook garlic in oil (NOT water) and drain out the solids to use the oil to substitute for garlic. All acceptable and I will take on a challenge. Plus, like others on here, I like to cook.

I'd suggest that the lady work with a dietician who is knowledgeable about FODMAPs.
 
It's really confusing when starting out, and I am a science geek with backgrounds in biochem and genetics. Truly very overwhelming and often counter-intuitive. I ended up reading multiple books, but I found the tools above to be the best resources for anyone who was starting out....like me. It won't tell you why, for example, an apple is a high FODMAP item whereas an orange is a low FODMAP. It won't explain why canned mushrooms are low where as many mushrooms are high. It won't tell you why celery is a high FODMAP food! (That one blew my socks off.) But it is a good list to do checks and balance. And the journal can help you track symptoms.

Monash University offers an app which costs $9 USD, and it is hugely informative. They maintain the app and the little bit of money goes into their research and app maintenance fund. There app also offers restaurant suggestions and recipes. But even that was a bit overwhelming: The journal and chart are easier.

To date, I do believe I have a slight lactose sensitivity, and may have a slight-moderate glucose issue. However, I am becoming more and more convinced that onions and garlic are not my friends.....and I do love them SO much. But being pain-free is a gift I never thought I would experience again...and so I will avoid them if I need to. Scallion greens (low-FODMAP) makes a reasonable substitute for onion. And I can cook garlic in oil (NOT water) and drain out the solids to use the oil to substitute for garlic. All acceptable and I will take on a challenge. Plus, like others on here, I like to cook.

I'd suggest that the lady work with a dietician who is knowledgeable about FODMAPs.

Some excellent posting, Kathleen!

Lee
 
It's really confusing when starting out, and I am a science geek with backgrounds in biochem and genetics. Truly very overwhelming and often counter-intuitive. I ended up reading multiple books, but I found the tools above to be the best resources for anyone who was starting out....like me. It won't tell you why, for example, an apple is a high FODMAP item whereas an orange is a low FODMAP. It won't explain why canned mushrooms are low where as many mushrooms are high. It won't tell you why celery is a high FODMAP food! (That one blew my socks off.) But it is a good list to do checks and balance. And the journal can help you track symptoms.

Monash University offers an app which costs $9 USD, and it is hugely informative. They maintain the app and the little bit of money goes into their research and app maintenance fund. There app also offers restaurant suggestions and recipes. But even that was a bit overwhelming: The journal and chart are easier.

To date, I do believe I have a slight lactose sensitivity, and may have a slight-moderate glucose issue. However, I am becoming more and more convinced that onions and garlic are not my friends.....and I do love them SO much. But being pain-free is a gift I never thought I would experience again...and so I will avoid them if I need to. Scallion greens (low-FODMAP) makes a reasonable substitute for onion. And I can cook garlic in oil (NOT water) and drain out the solids to use the oil to substitute for garlic. All acceptable and I will take on a challenge. Plus, like others on here, I like to cook.

I'd suggest that the lady work with a dietician who is knowledgeable about FODMAPs.
Unfortunately she won't, she had the chance and said she won't change her diet😕. I'm glad you are getting relief. It's all about learning to cook and eat what doesn't cause misery!!
 
Update: I am at the spot where I am adding foods back in. So far, I have discovered that gluten appears to be contributing significantly to my persistent sinus issues. I had not experienced any sinus issues for a couple of weeks. Yesterday, I had a little bit of gluten and experienced a bit of stuffiness. Today, I added a bit more and am pretty stuffy. To the point where I'll be discussing it with my dietician tomorrow. It's really hard to avoid gluten, but I suspect that I will end up not militantly dodging it, but definitely reducing the amount I eat. I have a few more days before introducing a different item....pending the appointment tomorrow.
 
It's brimstone and treacle, TG. On one hand, it is great to discover health issues and know you have the power to make it okay. On the other hand, my friends no longer wish to even attempt feeding me. :lol: I saw my dietician today. She feels that I should shelve gluten (avoid it) and start with one of the fructon groups...like apples since it is apple season. We both agree that onions and garlic are at the bottom of the list for now as they are very common to cause issues. So I have my little add-on chart and directives for the next month. She hasn't told me to dump the diet coke yet, so we are still friends. :D
 
It's brimstone and treacle, TG. On one hand, it is great to discover health issues and know you have the power to make it okay. On the other hand, my friends no longer wish to even attempt feeding me. :lol: I saw my dietician today. She feels that I should shelve gluten (avoid it) and start with one of the fructon groups...like apples since it is apple season. We both agree that onions and garlic are at the bottom of the list for now as they are very common to cause issues. So I have my little add-on chart and directives for the next month. She hasn't told me to dump the diet coke yet, so we are still friends. :D
I've always heard that if you are a diet coke person, you can never stop it!!
 
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