IBS--Free at Last!

One of My Problem Foods is Allowed on the Elimination Diet

I received this excellent question from a reader in the UK who is preparing to start the FODMAPS elimination diet. As she reviewed the list of allowed foods for the elimination phase of the diet, she saw several foods that have caused GI problems for her in the past.

Readers, I recommend you simply cross out all foods you know worsen your symptoms and do not eat them during the elimination phase of the diet. There are many kinds of adverse reactions to food, and intolerance to FODMAPS carbohydrates is just one. There could be a variety of other reasons why foods that don't contain FODMAPS could cause symptoms, such as food allergy or immune-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Hopefully, if you experience improvement on the FODMAPS elimination diet, you will have dramatically fewer IBS symptoms within a week or two.  This will make the foods you don't tolerate "pop out" at you when you do eat them, whether FODMAPS-containing or not. As long as you don't have an IgE allergy to your problem foods, there is no harm in testing them (eating them) at some later date. Maybe you'll find you can tolerate small portions of them if your diet isn't loaded with other symptom-provoking foods!

Buy IBS--Free at Last!

Agave

Agave nectar and agave syrup are the hot new sweeteners of the day. How do they fit into the FODMAPS elimination diet? Are they capable of causing IBS symptoms?

In my opinion, agave nectar and syrup products are sources of FODMAPS carbohydrates. I would not recommend using them during the elimination phase of a FODMAPS elimination diet.

According to the USDA, cooked agave plant has far more fructose than glucose in it. This is a set-up for fructose malabsorption and may cause symptoms for people with IBS. Also, cooked agave is about 10% dietary fiber. The type of fiber in agave is mostly inulin, which is defined a FODMAPS carb in the “fructans” category, and could also cause IBS symptoms.

The USDA nutrient database doesn't include agave nectar or syrup, so we don't have an authoritative source for nutrition information on these items. From what I gather, agave nactar and syrup are not standard products. Depending on how they are processed, the type and amount of sugars they contain can vary a great deal. The information I have seen on agave industry web sites indicates that agave nectars and syrups are high in fructose and osmotically active; these are described as selling points for the product.

I suggest holding off on agave sweetened products until the challenge phase of the diet; you could include during your fructose challenge.

Buy IBS--Free at Last!