When we hear the word FODMAP, we may automatically try to identify its meaning with some kind of English expression. However, there is more to it than that. FODMAP is an acronym that stands for different carbohydrates, meaning: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polysaccharides. These are the substances found in food that may not be properly absorbed in the small intestine after digestion. These improperly digested carbohydrates are fermented by intestinal bacteria, which can lead to gas formation and further abdominal and digestive complaints.
The theory just described in relation to FODMAP was developed by researchers at Monash University in Australia, and during their research they also discovered that foods with a high FODMAP value are responsible for the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). The results of the research are confirmed by practice: doctors and dieticians specializing in the treatment of IBS worldwide prescribe the FODMAP diet to treat complaints.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, which is an intestinal disease affecting 9-23 percent of the adult population, can be associated with a variety of digestive system complaints: it can appear in the form of severe abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea, but in some people it causes constipation, and diarrhea and constipation can even follow each other alternately. It is a common case that the complaints of a patient who has been asymptomatic for a long time recur in a stressful situation, but the complaints can also be related to eating: the patient may feel worse after eating certain foods.
