• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist MNIMH

See Available Appointments

  • Home
  • About
    • Credentials
    • Testimonials
    • FAQs
  • Conditions
  • Contact
  • Location
    • Privacy policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Herbalist registers
  • Fees
    • Functional herbal medicine
    • What happens in a consultation
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • 300 A to Z herbs list
    • Programs
    • Courses
    • Books I recommend
    • Equipment for making herbal remedies
  • Latest posts
    • Medicinal Herb of the Month
  • Dashboard Login
    • Herbal Medicine Making
    • The Smooth and Soothe program

Some reasons a low FODMAP diet may not work for IBS

September 24, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

Research shows that if you have irritable bowel syndrome, eating a diet low in FODMAPs is likely to reduce your symptoms. I discuss what FODMAPs are and how they help IBS here.

Briefly a low FODMAP diet restricts foods that contain certain types of carbohydrates, specifically fermentable carbohydrates. However, though a low FODMAP diet is certainly a useful tool to help manage the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, it is not a cure for this complex condition. In fact, research shows that the low FODMAP diet only helps around 60 to 80% of people with IBS.

There are several reasons that a low FODMAP diet may not be entirely successful in relieving symptoms. To uncover the underlying factors can entail a bit of detective work, with careful consideration of the individual circumstances that might be responsible.

Assuming that the low FODMAP diet has been followed closely, it is necessary to look at some reasons why the diet may not be successful. For example, it is important to have an up to date and accurate list of FODMAP foods. Otherwise, since many foods contain FODMAP carbohydrates it could be that some foods that contain FODMAPs are still being eaten.

Another way that the low FODMAP diet may not be successful is because it relies on restricting the amount of certain carbohydrates. So, eating large, infrequent meals can be problematic as this can equate to eating a high intake of FODMAPs at one meal.

Eating out can also be problematic. When eating out, serving sizes might be larger than you might prepare for yourself. Plus, food choices are likely to be limited, or meals may contain FODMAP ingredients that are not included in the description.

Similarly, when grocery shopping, many processed foods contain ingredients that have not yet been tested for FODMAP content. Likewise many contain ingredients that may be difficult to identify due to differences in food labelling, making FODMAP avoidance difficult.

Some ways to limit these potential problems include having a detailed list of FODMAP foods such as the food list created by Monash University. Eating smaller and regular meals, prepared at home from fresh ingredients, and avoiding processed or convenience foods. It is best to minimise eating out where possible, or choose simply prepared meals made from low FODMAP ingredients.

Some tips for low FODMAP meal choices when eating out include choosing plain, protein based meals of meat, poultry or fish, with vegetables, salad, and potatoes or rice. Choose gluten free options, without sauces, and ask for dressings to be served separately.

If, after addressing these potential pitfalls, there are still ongoing symptoms, it is advisable to seek professional advice from your doctor to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms.

You might also like:
Could SIBO be the cause of IBS?
The benefits of probiotics for IBS

Share

Filed Under: gut health and digestion Tagged With: diet, elimination diet, FODMAPs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow me on facebook

Read my article in Your Healthy Living

Your Healthy Living Magazine Article

Download my free ebook

herbal teas for beginners

A Beginners Guide to Medicinal Herbal Teas

Popular Posts

Experts confirm herbal medicines may protect against drug-resistant infectionExperts confirm herbal medicines may protect against drug-resistant infection380 Total Shares
Probiotics and migraine preventionProbiotics and migraine prevention310 Total Shares
Is St Johns Wort a potential migraine treatment?Is St Johns Wort a potential migraine treatment?161 Total Shares
8 natural alternatives to NSAIDs8 natural alternatives to NSAIDs123 Total Shares
How acupuncture works – from a Western perspectiveHow acupuncture works – from a Western perspective110 Total Shares
5 natural remedies for perennial allergic rhinitis5 natural remedies for perennial allergic rhinitis87 Total Shares
How to boost your immune system with shiitake mushroomsHow to boost your immune system with shiitake mushrooms70 Total Shares
Why your gut health is more important than you thinkWhy your gut health is more important than you think44 Total Shares
Best herbal remedies to heal skin ulcersBest herbal remedies to heal skin ulcers33 Total Shares
A different approach to Meniere’s diseaseA different approach to Meniere’s disease12 Total Shares
Is bone broth harmful?Is bone broth harmful?6 Total Shares
Some reasons a low FODMAP diet may not work for IBSSome reasons a low FODMAP diet may not work for IBS4 Total Shares
  • Home
  • About
  • Conditions
  • Contact
  • Location
  • Fees
  • Resources
  • Latest posts
  • Dashboard Login

Medical Herbalist and Herbal Clinic | Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough, Leicester and online | © Nikki Hawkes 2022. All Rights Reserved.

This website or its third-party tools use cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to improve your experience. By clicking the consent button, you agree to allow the site to use, collect and/or store cookies.
Please click the consent button to view this website.
I accept
Deny cookies Go Back