Wheat Flour

Wheat is not allowed on the elimination phase of the FODMAPS elimination diet because wheat contains fructans. Sometimes, as I teach the diet to clients, it dawns on me they think I am referring only to whole wheat bread, or whole wheat flour when I say that wheat products are not to be consumed during the trial period.

This post aims to make clear that white bread and pasta are also made of wheat unless otherwise specified! You might see any one of the following "wheaty" ingredients listed on the food label or recipe (this list is not exclusive):

enriched flour or enriched wheat flour

all purpose flour

cake flour

pastry flour

self-rising flour

unbleached flour

stone-ground wheat flour

graham flour

semolina flour

durum wheat flour

whole wheat flour

white wheat flour

sprouted wheat

cracked wheat

Still in doubt after reading the ingredients list? In the United States, products containing have a statement on the nutrition facts panel to the effect of "Contains: wheat".

For more information about the FODMAPS elimination diet, see IBS--Free at Last!

Comments

[Joyce]

Patsy, are you familiar with yeast intolerance or sensitivity? I've never had a yeast infection in my life and tested negative for bacterial overgrowth but I'm wondering if yeast in foods is a problem for me. I'm having trouble finding anything credible about this, online. Thanks, Joyce

[Patsy Catsos]

There do seem to be some people who are sensitive to yeast in their foods, or who may have an overgrowth of yeast in their bodies. There is a lot to be found on the internet under the term candida, but it is difficult to sort out the good information from the bad. I am not an expert in this area, so I cant offer you much but a caution to consider the source of information. I do know that yeast/candida are capable of fermenting carbohydrates and producing gas as a by-product (think rising yeast bread dough); diets for managing candida limit some of the same sugars as in the FODMAPS elimination diet, but there is more to it than that.

Patsy Catsos, MS, RD, LD
www.ibsfree.net

[Amber Taylor]

I bought some corn tortillas today and they say they are 70% corn and then says it has some wheat floour in it.
are these suitable? the only corn tortillas i can find all say that although they are at least 70% corn they contain wheat
Is this okay because the amount of wheat will me minimal or do i have to avoid them altogether?

[Patsy]

Because these contain wheat flower they are not suitable for the elimination phase of the diet. However, stick them in the freezer for later, you can use them during the fructan challenge and beyond.

[Joy Dryer]

Hi Patsy
If sprouted beans are allowed then why wouldn't sprouted wheat be allowed? For that matter how about any high FODMAP grain that is sprouted? Thank you

[Patsy Catsos]

You might very well be right...this is a promising idea. But, as of now, data only exists for sprouted mung beans, so that is all we can be sure about.