Personal Health

The Low-FODMAP principle can help irritable bowel patients, but has risks

Symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome are aggravated by some foods. A diet that is low in fermentable carbohydrates seems to get many, but not permanently. Some of it is not yet deciphered the puzzle irritable bowel syndrome, so could not have Gluten, but a different grain protein, as well as emulsifiers for symptoms to be responsible.

Up to 15 percent of the Germans are supposed to have an irritable bowel, suffering again and again, constipation, others have quite the opposite often the case. Pain and bloating affect almost any of the irritable bowel patients, and by certain fruits and vegetables that are actually healthy, it gets worse.

However, the symptoms can be triggered not only by the irritable bowel syndrome, but also of various other diseases, for example, by celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis (an alternative for both “chronic inflammatory Darmerkrankungen"), Lactose – or fructose – and glucose intolerance, sometimes these are combined even.

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Diagnosis of exclusion irritable bowel syndrome – also the determination of the Multiple is of little

“The correct treatment and possibly a diet select, it is important, therefore, these diseases by investigations to exclude the breath tests, blood tests, endoscopy”, explains Dagmar Mainz, spokesperson for the professional Association of stomach established – intestinal doctors (gastroenterologists).

Irritable bowel is a diagnosis of Exclusion is always, because there are no biomarkers for this disease – not in the blood, breath, stool or in the intestinal mucosa. Also sometimes offered stool Tests, so-called “gut-Ökogramme”, in order to identify the irritable bowel syndrome, were not very helpful, explained the gastro-entero-login. At the most, would be the result of “Leaky gut” (permeable intestinal) and the Patient is not smarter, but around 100 euros los. “We still know too little about the composition of the stool Microbiota in various diseases. With the expensive investigations it can be stated, therefore, is neither a disease, nor it can derive therapeutic recommendations. In this issue, you should save the better,“ advises the expert.

Two causes of irritable bowel

Because much of this is about the irritable bowel syndrome is still unknown, but it is always discovered more. The guidelines are revised currently. According to the latest state of knowledge, the expert reported, come as the trigger for the irritable bowel two factors to consider:

Both can alter the Microbiome in a way that the intestinal device, so to speak, out of balance and completely harmless stimuli overreacts to certain substances in food. “Irritable bowel patients exhibit a Microbiome, which contains, among other things, much less of the beneficial bifidobacteria than in the gut of healthy people is the case,” explains Dagmar Mainz the possible Background.

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Food is not the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, but can cause discomfort

It is established that irritable bowel syndrome is not caused by foods or certain ingredients. However, our diet influences the Microbiome: fresh, varied and unprocessed foods are the requirement for a Balance among the intestinal bacteria, highly processed foods and finished dietary change and some foods and ingredients will no longer be tolerated properly.

Probably it is not Gluten, but ATI

Often Gluten (Gluten protein in grain) is suspected in this context, as the ingredient in IBS patients triggers symptoms. “Studies have shown that it is probably not the glue protein, but other proteins in wheat, the Amylase-Trypsin-inhibitors, in short ATI,” reported the gastro-entero-login.

Especially highly bred, modern varieties of cereals provide much of the ATIs. Ancient grains such as Emmer and spelt contain a lot less.

The General irritable bowel diet, there are not

Should IBS patients, therefore, at best, only Emmer or spelt bread to eat? “This is not, unfortunately, any rates, because the reactions to the different foods and their ingredients are very individual, so different,” reported the gastro-intestinal Doctor from the practice. Some of the Affected bread-tolerated overall, very good, others even react to spelt with intestinal problems and bloating.

A irritable bowel diet, the does every patient well, his complaints are reduced, and may be used freely for months, was not developed until now. Some patients, however, have had good experiences with the so-called Low-FODMAP diet.

Low FODMAP diet for irritable bowel – which foods can be risky, which relieve

This food should be reduced, which contain certain difficult-to-digest substances: short-chain, fermentable carbohydrates and, in particular, fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, shortened to FODMAP.

Foods rich in FODMAPs are and, therefore, savings should be:

  • Apple
  • Bulb
  • Plum
  • Avocado
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Cauliflower
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • gluten-containing products (bread, pasta)
  • Dairy products with lactose
  • Meat (fat) and sausage
  • Sweeteners such as sorbitol, xylitol
  • Invert sugar

Foods with a low amount of FODMAPs, which often easily can be consumed:

  • Berries
  • Orange
  • Mandarin
  • Salads
  • Tomato
  • Carrot
  • Pumpkin
  • Potato
  • Kohlrabi
  • Broccoli
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
  • Gluten-free bread and pasta
  • Oat bran
  • lactose-free dairy products, and Butter
  • Lean meat and fish

FODMAP diet not on his own authority to perform

Studies of this diet, there are still a few, however, show a significant, positive effect on irritable bowel patients. “But the FODMAP diet is THE irritable bowel diet, even if it is able to alleviate complaints,” brakes Dagmar Mainz to high expectations. Because this form of nutrition with little meat, lactose, and wheat mountains, a lack of risk, such as of protein, the reasons for it. In addition, it is observed under the diet, there is often a significant weight loss.

The Low-FODMAP diet is only an Option if all of the Tests conducted and no evidence of a specific intolerance such as lactose have been found and if the symptoms are very pronounced.

In any case, the Patient should perform this diet for a limited time, and not alone, but only under a doctor’s care. Regularly parameters to be tested in order to detect a defect as early as possible and to be able to catch him. The complaints in the course of the diet take largely, can get food back on the dining plan.

Four important nutritional rules for irritable bowel patients

As the diet irritable bowel complaints reduce – without a strict diet? The gastro-intestinal Doctor’s advice:

1. Take note of your individual intolerances and they feed accordingly. Not every IBS Patient must refrain from Apples, and can tolerate a smaller amount very well, others react contrary to expectations, on broccoli, although this is unlikely to contain irritants.

2. You waive generally done food. Particularly risky emulsifiers, i.e. the additives that are included in many processed foods – in soups, sauces, Ice cream, Mayonnaise, cakes, biscuits, sausages, bread, are, in fact, often in the Light-products such as reduced-fat yogurt and cheese. Emulsifiers can alter the Microbiome in the gut.

3. Try soluble (ground) dietary fiber, such as psyllium seed shell powder and wheat bran, of course, you should drink plenty of fluids. Many patients who have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, to register a great relief, but also in the case of diarrhea, soluble fibers can compensate for substances. Not soluble fiber, such as those in whole-grain products and raw food included, will not be tolerated by the most irritable bowel patients.

4.You try, in spite of irritable bowel to feed syndrome versatile, with natural, organic or probiotic yogurt, which is also a more diverse Microbiome promises.

In addition to diet, there are a number of other treatment options, besides medication, and relaxation techniques. What comes to whom is in question, must be individually and decided to discussed.

Anyone who suspects they may have a irritable bowel syndrome, you should let the complaints as early as possible by a doctor to clarify, and the sooner, the better. Important is the careful medical history is, whether, for example, an intestinal infection, or antibiotic therapy, as well as the exact description of the symptoms.

Because these signs, numerous Overlaps can have diseases to other serious bowel, are in-depth Tests and investigations is important. The diagnosis of Exclusion irritable bowel syndrome is an individual nutrition plan is important, and the personal incompatibilities consideration is taken to feed without one-sided. The complaints are in spite of everything, very strong, is the Low-FODMAP diet, limited in time, and with medical support, a Option.