Diets/Low-FODMAP
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Low-FODMAP Diet

A science-backed approach for managing IBS and digestive discomfort by limiting fermentable carbs.

What Is It?

The Low-FODMAP diet was developed by researchers at Monash University in Australia to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols — short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and can cause bloating, gas, and pain.

How It Works

The diet has three phases. Phase 1 (Elimination): Remove all high-FODMAP foods for 2-6 weeks. Phase 2 (Reintroduction): Systematically test each FODMAP group to identify your triggers. Phase 3 (Personalization): Build a long-term diet that avoids only your specific triggers while maintaining maximum dietary variety.

Benefits

  • 75% of IBS patients experience symptom improvement
  • Evidence-based and clinically validated
  • Identifies individual food triggers
  • Reduces bloating, gas, and abdominal pain
  • Leads to a personalized long-term diet
  • Recommended by gastroenterologists worldwide

✅ Foods to Eat

  • •Low-FODMAP fruits (strawberries, oranges, grapes, kiwi)
  • •Low-FODMAP vegetables (carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, spinach)
  • •Proteins (meat, fish, eggs, firm tofu)
  • •Grains (rice, oats, quinoa, corn)
  • •Lactose-free dairy
  • •Maple syrup (as sweetener)

🚫 Foods to Avoid

  • •High-FODMAP fruits (apples, pears, watermelon, mango)
  • •Onions and garlic
  • •Wheat in large amounts
  • •Legumes (beans, lentils)
  • •Dairy with lactose (milk, soft cheeses)
  • •Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol)
  • •Honey and high-fructose corn syrup

Sample Day

BreakfastOatmeal (made with lactose-free milk) topped with strawberries and maple syrup
LunchRice paper rolls with shrimp, carrots, cucumber, and rice noodles
SnackRice cakes with peanut butter and banana
DinnerGrilled chicken with roasted potatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers

🔬 Scientific Evidence

The Low-FODMAP diet is one of the most rigorously tested dietary interventions for IBS. Multiple randomized controlled trials show that 68-76% of IBS patients experience significant symptom relief. It is endorsed by the American Gastroenterological Association and is now standard first-line dietary therapy for IBS worldwide.

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