Let's talk digestion, IBS, SIBO & FODMAPS... No, this is not a weight loss picture of me🤣 In fact these pics are just a couple weeks apart. Crazy right! I look pregnant, but I'm not. My stomach was stretched to the max with bloat from eating high FODMAP foods. Those suffering from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) may experience bloat, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion & belching on a regular basis. Very uncomfortable! A common cause of IBS is SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). SIBO also happens to be found in many autoimmune cases. I'm in the troubleshooting phase of my healing journey & just went to Cedar Sinai to test for SIBO after asking my ND to rule it out.
Following a low FODMAP diet has controlled the symptoms for a while now but it's not an actual fix. Once you start eating them again the bacteria is being fed and will populate. FODMAP stands for "fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols" which are basically a group of highly fermentable, short & medium chain carbohydrates. Just a few examples of high FODMAP foods are garlic, onion, legumes, cauliflower, wheat, ripe banana, mushroom, asparagus, cashew, cherry, mango, watermelon. A FODMAPS intolerance means your body is less able to digest these types of carbs. Either from a lack of digestive enzymes or an insufficient amount of GLUT5 transporters in the cell membrane of the enterocytes to transport fructose across the gut barrier.
When working with my clients on any health issue, we start with a food & mood journal to find what foods may not be agreeing with their body and then we start working on repairing digestion with diet and digestive support supplements. Have you noticed certain foods may make you bloat more than others?