I’ve got IBS, my GP gave me a list of foods to avoid which includes fruits & vegetables, I thought these were healthy foods?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, gas and altered bowel habits (either constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating constipation and diarrhoea). It’s actually quite common, and around 1 in 5 Australians experience these unpleasant IBS symptoms at some time. Women are more prone to IBS than men, and symptoms tend to first occur in early adulthood.
The great news is, IBS doesn’t cause lasting damage and doesn’t contribute to the development of serious bowel conditions, such as cancer or colitis. It also can’t be ‘cured’ with medication or special diets, but IBS symptoms can be managed through dietary measures and stress management.
A group of carbohydrates called FODMAPs contribute to IBS symptoms of IBS in many people. FODMAP is an acronym for four groups of short chain carbohydrates, or sugar molecules, found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and milk products. When we consume FODMAPs in food or drinks they fail to absorb properly in the small intestine. They stay in the digestive tract and continue their path to the large intestine, or colon, where they trigger symptoms.
The low FODMAP diet has been scientifically proven to help 75% of people gain relief of IBS type symptoms. Unfortunately, food lists printed off the internet are often outdated and may lead to you to restrict foods unnecessarily.
It’s important to work with a dietitian experienced in management of IBS, and with current knowledge on implementing Low-FODMAP diets.
As a Dietitian trained in the use of the Low-FODMAP diet for IBS by Monash University, I can help by:
- Assessing your symptoms and suggesting management strategies
- Guiding you through low-FODMAP elimination and food challenges (if necessary), based on your individual symptoms and lifestyle.
- Providing you with recipes, resources, and practical shopping tips
- Adapting your favourite recipes so they meet your nutritional and health needs
- Ensuring you are eating a healthy, nutritionally balanced and satisfying range of foods for optimal health
- Exploring non-food avenues for symptom management
