FODMAP Dietitians & Nutritionists Brisbane
Have you suffered from diarrhoea after drinking milk or consuming dairy products?
Do you feel constipated after eating legumes, wheat and grains, like barley and rye?
Do you experience gas, bloating, or any discomfort after taking sweeteners or sweetened fruit juices?
Do you feel pain in your stomach after eating certain fruits and vegetables?
Get help from qualified FODMAP dietitians…
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be sensitive to FODMAPs.
Our accredited dietitians and nutritionists at New Life Nutrition can help determine if your body is reacting to a FODMAP-rich diet, and also help you identify which foods are triggering reactions with the help of an elimination diet.
We will explain FODMAPs and how they may be affecting your body in simple and easy for to understand terms and guide you every step of the way towards an effective management of your FODMAPs sensitivity, just like what we have been doing for our clients for many years.
We can also develop personalised dietary programs designed to minimise the frequency and/or severity of your symptoms, as well as keep track of your body’s nutrition while following a low-FODMAP diet..
What are FODMAPs?
The catchy acronym that is FODMAPs stand for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. FODMAPs are a collection of molecules – specifically, short chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols – present in many foods.
When your small intestine cannot absorb FODMAPs, the bacteria in your small and large intestine ferments them. This natural process leads to gas production, and culminates in your bloating and flatulence.
FODMAPs actually assist in keeping your colon healthy, but if you have a pre-existing sensitivity to FODMAPs, your digestive system will produce reactions that are painful and uncomfortable.
It is important to remember that while FODMAPs trigger reactions for some people, they are not the underlying cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), intestinal inflammation or other gut and bowel health conditions.
What are the signs of a FODMAPs sensitivity?
The signs that your gut, bowel and digestive system may find it difficult to absorb FODMAPs include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Constipation or Diarrhoea
- Gas
- Stomach cramps
These symptoms usually manifest four hours after you consume foods that contain high levels of FODMAPs.
If you experience any of these symptoms, we recommend you see an accredited healthcare professional who can properly assess your sensitivity to FODMAPs rather than self-diagnosing.
Self-diagnosing may end up in your elimination of foods and nutrients from your diet that your body needs.
Where did my FODMAPs sensitivity come from?
While some of our patients with FODMAPs sensitivity have been previously diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), every patient is different. That’s why it is important to consult with an experienced healthcare professional who can help evaluate your condition and arrive at the correct conclusion.
What foods should I avoid if I have a FODMAPs sensitivity?
There is no absolute list of foods to avoid or lessen the consumption of because your body’s reaction to FODMAPs may be different from that of the other person. It will require time, careful observation and professional testing to determine the exact source of your symptoms, but this is still better than self-diagnosing. Hastily removing all FODMAPs-rich foods from your diet without the advice of an experienced dietitian may result in your malnutrition.
After comprehensive evaluation, elimination testing, diet monitoring and consultation, we have advised some of our patients to curb their intake of the following FODMAPs-rich foods:
- Fruits including apples, blueberries, cherries, pears and watermelon
- Grains such as barley and rye
- Dairy products including milk (cow’s, goat’s and sheep), fresh cottage cheese, ice cream and yoghurt
- Legumes including various types of beans, chickpeas and lentils
- Vegetables including asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, leeks, mushrooms and peas
- Sweeteners such as fructose, honey, xylitol and sorbitol
- Wheat products including bread, cereals and pasta
What foods can I eat if I have FODMAPs sensitivity?
Similarly, the list of foods you can still eat will depend on the result of your individual assessment. What you must remember is there is no need for you to completely eliminate any particular food from your diet. In some cases, reducing your consumption to a manageable level is enough to relieve you of your symptoms.
Below is a list of low-FODMAPs foods our patients consume, upon the advice of our dietitians:
- Fruits including bananas, grapes, kiwi, lemons, oranges and strawberries
- Grains such as corn, oats, quinoa and rice
- Dairy products such as lactose-free products and hard cheeses
- Protein-rich foods including eggs, fish and meat
- Vegetables including bell peppers, carrots, eggplant, lettuce, olives, potatoes and tomatoes
- Nuts and seeds including almonds, cashews, peanuts and macadamia nuts
What are the benefits and risks of a low FODMAPs diet?
It is critical to your health that you only switch to a low FODMAPs diet upon the advice of a certified dietitian or healthcare professional. It is also important to remember that this diet is meant for short-term application only. The risks of developing nutrient deficiencies and life threatening conditions including colon cancer are high if you follow a low FODMAPs diet for a long time without the advice of a health expert.
In addition to this, our dietitians generally recommend a low FODMAPs diet for patients diagnosed with IBS. This diet may provide you short-term relief from the symptoms of IBS, and improve your quality of life.
Our Dietitians are FODMAPs experts ready to help you!
Our accredited Brisbane based dietitians at New Life Nutrition will be happy to help you understand FODMAPs more and the role they play in your body’s digestion.
We have helped many patients identify and manage their FODMAPs sensitivity over the years through our customised diet plans and lifestyle solutions. We also provide a high level of support and patient care as we continue to monitor your body’s nutrition and performance while managing your FODMAPs sensitivity.
Book an appointment with our dietitian and nutritionists now to know more about FODMAPs and how you can handle your FODMAPs sensitivity.
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