Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no laughing matter. According to the medical research charity Guts UK, it is the most common digestive system disorder, with up to one-third of the UK population experiencing symptoms. It causes stomach cramps and discomfort, diarrhoea, bloating and constipation that come and go and can last for weeks or months at a time.
The exact cause of IBS is not yet known, although research suggests it may be connected to the way the brain and gut communicate. As a result, food moves too fast or too slowly through the digestive system . Experts believe stress, bacterial infections and food intolerances can also cause IBS, and studies indicate some people may have a genetic predisposition to the disorder.
It’s also twice as likely to affect women as men. There is no complete cure for IBS and it’s usually a lifelong problem, but all hope is not lost: with the right diet and lifestyle changes there is a way to control the symptoms. What is the fodmap diet? The diet restricts the consumption of “fodmaps” — four types of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and most likely to cause bloating, wind, constipation and diarrhoea in people with IBS.
Fodmap is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. These are all types of starches that can affect people with a sensitive digestion. “The fodmap diet removes these fermentable carbohydrates in order to reduce digestive symptoms.
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