Are you stuck on the low FODMAP diet?

By Sascha McMeekin, IBS & Low FODMAP Dietitian

Years ago, you were bloated with tummy pains, and recommended the low FODMAP diet.

After 2 weeks on the diet you felt significantly better. You might have thought, why reintroduce FODMAPs when I feel so much better without them? This diet isn’t so bad.

And now, years on you’re still following the low FODMAP diet but actually, your tummy pains are becoming more frequent and you’re bloated more often than you would like.

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Does this sound like you? If so, you are not alone and there are solutions for you.

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This is the most common situation I meet my clients in. Diligently and conscientiously following the low FODMAP diet and never found the time or felt the necessity for the FODMAP challenges. They reach out when their IBS symptoms are returning.

Don’t get me wrong, the low FODMAP diet is the most effective and well-research diet for IBS.

However, it is only ever recommended in it's strict form (eliminating all FODMAPs) for 2-6 weeks for these reasons:

Downsides of a long-term low FODMAP diet

-            Limited sources of prebiotics

High FODMAP foods are excellent sources of prebiotics, fibres that help to grow good bacteria in the gut. A long-term low FODMAP diet can starve beneficial bacteria, and could limit the diversity of your microbiome.  

-            Limited variety of plant foods

The most reliable way to improve your gut health is to increase the amount and variety of plant foods in your diet. Plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. These are almost all the food groups that are restricted on the low FODMAP diet.

Another downside I often see, that is not well documented, is increased gut sensitivity. I notice even previously tolerated foods end up causing tummy pains and bloating after a long-term strict FODMAP elimination.

There is good news!

There are lots of diet and non-diet strategies to help you get off the low FODMAP diet. With my clients I focus on calming the gut-brain axis, increasing dietary variety from tolerated foods, and temporarily using supplements to improve gut health. Once you have satisfactory symptom relief I use modified FODMAP challenges to give you the best chance of tolerating a whole range of foods again.

If you want to finally be free from FODMAPs send me a message on the Contact page.

If you have followed the low FODMAP diet for more than 2-6 weeks this is your sign to complete the FODMAP challenges. I assure you it is well worth it. I would be glad to guide you through the process.

Book here

Hi, I'm Sascha. I have developed my specialisation in managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and optimising gut health over the past 15 years. I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a Monash University trained FODMAP Dietitian. 

My priority is to always provide the highest quality of clinical care. That means making recommendations based on science and in a way that considers your individual needs and goals. I aim to provide calm, qualified advice to bring real improvements to your health and wellbeing.