Myth Busting: A FODMAP Diet is a Long-term Diet
Is the FODMAP Diet Meant to Be Long Term?
There’s a lot of confusion about the FODMAP diet. In this article, dietitian Laura explains why it’s not a long-term solution for IBS —and how to transition to a more sustainable long-term diet with confidence.
It's understandable to want to stick with a low FODMAP diet if it gives you relief from your IBS symptoms. However, the low FODMAP diet is not a long-term solution for managing IBS.
There are a few reasons why:
- Nutritional Concerns: A low FODMAP diet is restrictive and can be low in essential nutrients like calcium and fibre. Over the long term, a short fall in these nutrients can affect your health.
- Practical Challenges: It's more difficult to shop, cook and eat out on a low FODMAP diet, which isn't sustainable in the long run.
- Impact on Gut Health: Many high FODMAP foods are a source of fibres that nourish the helpful bacteria in your gut. Following a low FODMAP diet can deprive these helpful microbes of essential nutrients.
Research also shows that you don't have to stick to a low FODMAP diet forever to keep control of your symptoms. This is why reintroduction is vital. By reintroducing FODMAP groups, you can figure out which ones bother your gut and which ones are okay. This helps you go back to eating a wider variety of foods while still feeling relief from symptoms.
So, whilst the low FODMAP diet is a helpful tool for finding triggers and giving you symptom relief, it's not something you have to do forever. Going through the reintroduction process means you can enjoy a broader range of foods while keeping IBS symptoms in check.
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