Q. Is date sugar low FODMAP? If so, in what quantities? I know dates are not, but I’ve seen conflicting information from low-FODMAP sources I usually trust and it’s not on the MONASH app. A. The short answer: as of this writing, we can only guess about the FODMAP status of date sugar. It probably has a small low FODMAP serving size, less than 2 tablespoons. Is date sugar low FODMAP? Date sugar is made from ripe, pitted dates that are dried to a very low moisture content and ground into a powder. Dates are the fruits from certain types of palm trees. But date sugar is not the same as palm suga ..read more

Q. After going low FODMAP a few years ago, I’m still loosely eating that way. I’ve read it is not good to stay on the diet long term but I feel like it really helps me keep IBS undER Control. Why not stay low FODMAP INDEFINITELY when it may be helping? The short answer is that a Low FODMAP diet may be too limited in some cases. More variety, usually results in a more nutritious diet and promotes a better food quality of life. In many ways it is so much simpler to just follow the rules and stay low-FODMAP than it is to go through the uncertainly of the reintroduction process. But simple isn’t a ..read more

Q. Can IBS lead to diverticulitis? What about megacolon? Cancer? Inflammatory bowel disease? Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency? A. The sort answer: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) does not cause other conditions. As thinking people, we feel a strong need to connect the dots, to understand the reasons things happen, to ask why? Was IBS the reason we developed another condition? Would treating our IBS differently have prevented the other disease in the first place? Will IBS will lead to health problems in the future? The S in IBS stands for syndrome, which is essentially a collection of symptoms ..read more

Q. Should I wait until after the holidays to start my low-FODMAP diet? There are some special foods and meals coming up that I really don't want to miss out on. A. It's your call, of course, but many people find a way to follow low-FODMAP diets during the holidays so they can feel their best on special occasions and vacations. A few limited exceptions to the diet will not ruin your low-FODMAP diet. Just get right back on track at the next meal or snack and carry on. You have choices Has your doctor or dietitian recommended that you try a low-FODMAP diet for your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS ..read more

Lisa Rothstein, low FODMAP recipe developer and co-author of IBS-Free Recipes for the Whole Family. This is a continuation of Lisa Rothstein’s guest post about low-FODMAP, wheat-free baking. Lisa has much more to share today to help you become a successful low-FODMAP baker--this is a treasure trove of information and tips for bakers. She is the recipe developer and co-author of the cookbook IBS-Free Recipes for the Whole Family, Flavor without FODMAP Series, with Patsy Catsos and Karen Warman. Onward! Secrets to Successful Low-FODMAP Baking, Part 2 Now that you have learned some bas ..read more

Lisa Rothstein, author of IBS-Free Recipes for the Whole Family (2015, Pond Cove Press) Readers, you are about to learn the secrets to successful low-FODMAP baking from a real master. I’d like to introduce Lisa Rothstein, co-author of IBS-Free Recipes for the Whole Family. She has really poured her heart into this post, which reflects her 25 years of experience as a gluten-free baker. That experience came in handy when she began developing low-FODMAP recipes, since most gluten-free flours are also low in FODMAPs. She is the author of this post, and well as next week’s post, which will be ..read more

Q. "Why is gluten ok on a low-FODMAP diet? I thought gluten was bad for people with IBS?" Must a low-FODMAP diet be gluten free? A: The answer is very simple. Gluten is not a FODMAP. One of the most persistent myths about low-FODMAP diets is that the diet must be gluten-free. Not true. It's an understandable mistake, because wheat, barley and rye are significant dietary sources of both gluten and FODMAPs. Gluten is a protein found in these grains. FODMAPs, on the other hand, are carbohydrates, in this case specific types of fiber called fructans and GOS. Fructans and GOS are oligosaccharides ..read more

Vegans eat foods from plant sources only. No animal products whatsoever are consumed. In my experience, people with IBS who adopt a vegan diet typically have a higher intake of FODMAPs. That happens because most animal products do not contain FODMAPs (lactose is the exception), while plant foods often do. Is it difficult to get enough protein on a vegan diet without triggering your IBS symptoms? Many vegan pantry staples are high in FODMAPs. (certain sugars and certain fibers in the diet capable of causing excess gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation for people with IBS ..read more

Q. Does sensitivity to individual FODMAPS change over time? Can a food that was formerly well tolerated become problematic at a later time? Or vice versa? A. The short answers are yes, yes, and yes. But there are many nuances here. Let’s take your questions one at a time. Does sensitivity to individual FODMAPs change over time? I’d like to use the word tolerance instead of sensitivity. Can one’s tolerance to FODMAPs change over time? Yes. First, let’s recall that it is normal for FODMAPs to pull extra water into the intestines via osmosis, and to be fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas and ..read more

If you’ll be starting a FODMAP Elimination Diet today, or perhaps after the long weekend, this post is for you! Whether you are trying this dietary experiment for the first time, or getting ready for a do-over, today’s post will help you make a great start. As you may be aware, a FODMAP elimination diet usually entails 3 phases: elimination, reintroduction, and personalization. The main goal of the elimination phase is to learn whether you can get meaningful improvement in your symptoms on a low-FODMAP diet. The process of discovering IBS food triggers heralds a new beginning for many IBS pat ..read more