There is a diet that has been used by bodybuilders for decades to get lean, which has worked well for everyone who has tried it and is even necessary for many people to be able to live a normal lifestyle. This diet can help with bloating, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea while also helping you with your weight loss goals. But what is this miracle diet, and how does it work?
IBS Diet – The Miracle Diet?
The diet we’re talking about is the IBS diet. This diet utilizes low FODMAP (more on this later) foods to minimize exposure to foods that are likely to irritate the gut, which can lead to the symptoms mentioned earlier in this blog. The foods that are on the diet are, almost universally, foods that cause little to no digestive discomfort. The diet was formulated to help people who are living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a widespread disorder that manifests within the large intestine. It is a condition that requires long term management through diet. This involves avoiding foods that are likely to irritate the digestive system. Wheat products, dairy, citrus fruits, and carbonated drinks are just a few of the foods that are causing factors in IBS symptoms. Symptoms of IBS include severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea or constipation and mucus in stool. IBS can be diagnosed by your doctor, who will likely advise you to begin an IBS diet.
FODMAPs
The IBS diet relies on low FODMAP foods. FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Mono-saccharides, and polyols) are a group of short-chain carbohydrates that have been shown to cause digestive distress, particularly in people living with IBS. However, there is an increasingly popular train of thought that these foods may cause varying levels of gastrointestinal distress in the general population and that you can benefit from a low-FODMAP IBS diet regardless of your IBS status.
Problem Foods
The IBS diet can, at first glance, appear incredibly restrictive. There are a lot of common foods found on the list of problem foods, but there are plenty of alternatives that will ensure you can lead a normal life with improved health. The problem foods include:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Apples
- Bananas
- Sausages
- Bread
- Pasta
There are plenty more foods to avoid, which can be found online.
Alternative Foods
There are plenty of foods left to make sure you can enjoy better health from the switch to an IBS diet without missing out on foods you love. Some foods which work well on the IBS diet include:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
- Poultry
- Red Meat
- Fish
- Wheat & gluten-free breads
And many more.
Allergy & Intolerance Testing
Before you start any new diet or add any new foods to your plate, you should take an allergy & intolerance test to ensure you aren’t putting yourself at risk of a whole new set of symptoms or continuation of symptoms you’re already experiencing.
