6 FODMAP Diet Benefits for IBS + Who Could Benefit

For most people, FODMAPs are harmless or possibly beneficial carbohydrates that feed the bacteria in our guts. For people with IBS, they may produce hours of pain, bloating, and frantic trips to the bathroom. Could the low FODMAP diet be part of the solution? Read on to find out. What are FODMAPs? FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates which, in the last decade or so, have been identified as the prime suspects behind irritable bowel syndrome , or IBS. FODMAPs is a catchy acronym that stands for F ermentable O ligosaccharides, D isaccharides, M onosaccharides, A nd P olyols [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Fructose Lactose Fructans and galactans Galacto-oligosaccharides (GAS) Polyols (sugar alcohols, or any sweetener that ends with -ol) The human gut can’t digest or absorb FODMAPs. Instead, they are fermented by some types of gut bacteria , such as Prevotella , Actinobacteria , Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium species [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The major products of FODMAP fermentation are short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate . These nutrients feed the cells of the intestinal wall, lower intestinal pH, and strengthen the gut barrier . As intestinal pH decreases, so do the populations of Enterobacteria and Clostridia , widely considered “bad” bacteria [ 7 , 4 , 8 ]. SCFAs also activate AMPK , an “energy sensor” that revs up metabolism. When AMPK activates, the body burns more fat and becomes more sensitive to insulin [ 9 , 10 ]. For most people, then, FODMAPs should be beneficial. So why are they associated with such troublesome symptoms in some people? Despite their potential benefits, FODMAPs may produce (or at least worsen) symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome , or IBS. IBS is a digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and […]

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