IBS--Free at Last!

IBSDietplan.org Interviews Patsy Catsos About IBS and FODMAPs

IBSDietplan.org interviewed me on these questions:

• How to find a dietitian knowledgeable about FODMAPs
• Is  FODMAPs restriction accepted by the mainstream medical community?
• How to decide between FODMAPS, SCD and Heather Van Vorous/Help for IBS
• FODMAPs restriction v. elimination
• FM v. FODMAPs

Thanks to IBSDietplan.org for the opportunity to get the word out!

2011 Book Update: Vegetables

Today's book update is about vegetables. All who read the list of allowed vegetables in disbelief that brocolli, cauliflower, and corn were allowed are now vindicated! The allowed vegetables list may now conform more closely to your reality. Isn't science fun! HA! We must continually  revise our ideas and theories to match the facts. Ready or not, here we go:

Artichokes, 1/2 cup--add to allowed vegetables on pg. 48, delete from fructans challenge on pg. 62

Bell pepper--clarification that only red bell pepper is allowed on pg. 48, move green bell pepper to polyols challenge on pg. 63

Broccoli--delete from allowed veg on pg. 48, add to fructans challenge on pg. 62 (also contains polyols)

Cauliflower--delete from allowed veg. on pg.  48, add to polyol challenge on pg. 63

Sweet Corn--delete from allowed veg. on pg. 48, add to polyol challenge on pg. 63 (as far as I know, most corn products are made from other varieties of corn--I have not seen any data yet that suggests that products made of corn meal, corn flour, etc. need to be removed from the allowed lists)

Eggplant--delete from allowed veg. on pg. 48, add to polyol challenge on pg. 63 (very small amount of polyols)

Mushrooms--delete from allowed veg. on pg. 48, add to polyol challenge on pg. 63 (significant amount of polyols in this one)

Summer squash (yellow)--add to allowed veg on pg. 48, remove from fructans challenge on pg. 62

Zucchini--add to allowed veg on pg. 48, remove from fructans challenge on pg. 62

 

Welcome to IBSFree.net

Ibsfree.net is your resource for low-FODMAPs living: frequently asked questions about FODMAPS (use the search box in the upper right hand corner of the page), product reviews, recipes, and more. If you own the book IBS--Free at Last! (2009), be sure to seach for the word "update" to make sure you have the latest dos and don'ts. The editor is Patsy Catsos, a registered, licensed dietitian in private practice, and author of IBS--Free at Last! Available from Amazon.com, IBS--Free at Last! includes a step-by-step elimination diet, menus, shopping list, and label reading tips to help you learn to manage your irritable bowel syndrome. Please use the "comments" link at the bottom of each blog post to ask questions so that everyone can benefit from the discussion that follows. Follow Patsy Catsos on Twitter (see sidebar) or "like" IBS--Free at Last! on Facebook to be notified about new posts and other interesting tidbits. Thanks for visiting!

A Note for RDs Attending FNCE

I know there are a number of registered dietitians (RDs) following me on Twitter; I love hearing your great stories about how FODMAPS has helped your patients. I like hearing about the challenges of teaching the diet, too. It helps me learn, grow, and improve my teaching materials. RDs: Please stop by my booth (#52) at the Product Marketplace on Sunday at FNCE to say hello. I'd love to meet you!

Featured Story in August, 2010, issue of Today's Dietitian

The FODMAPS approach to managing the symptoms of IBS is really catching on! Dietitians throughout the land will be more prepared to help their patients after reading the excellent article by Kate Scarlata in the August issue of Today's Dietitian. Click here to read the article (which includes a couple of quotes from me).

Top Story on This Week's WebMD GI News

Well, its official. WebMD's interview with me about the FODMAPS elimination diet was the "top story" on this week's WebMD GI newsletter. The name of the article is "IBS--Finding the Right Diet for You."  Check it out, and pass it on!

Does anybody have an "in" with Oprah, The Doctors, or Dr. Oz? I'd love to get a bigger audience for my favorite topic!

Does (Portion) Size Matter?

On a FODMAPS- (or fructose-intolerance-) friendly diet, does portion size matter? You bet. But only for foods that contain FODMAPS. Foods that do not contain FODMAPS can be eaten in the portions that are appropriate for your calorie needs and appetite, for example:

• allowed grains and starches
• allowed vegetables
• oils
• meat, fish, poultry, eggs
• lactose-free milk products

There are some foods allowed on the elimination phase of a FODMAPS elimination diet that do contain small amounts of FODMAPS. For these foods, portion size does matter. Examples include:

• allowed fruits
• sour cream or half-n-half or whipped cream
• sugar-sweetened foods

In my book, IBS--Free at Last! you can recognize these foods because they are in bold-face type. I recommend limiting these foods to one serving per sitting. The servings are small. For example, blueberries are allowed, and the portion is 3/4 cup (corrected 4/22/10).

What would be the harm in having a whole cup of blueberries in one meal? Or adding a serving of whipped cream to the blueberries? Simply, you might not be able to absorb that much fructose fast enough to avoid "overflowing"--some fructose might end up unabsorbed, and might continue on to the large intestine where it could cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

For fruits and milk products, see the portion sizes listed in the book for a guideline. For sugar-sweetened foods, the rule of thumb is that your portion should contain less than 40 grams of sugar according to the Nutrition Facts on the food label.

My Guest Post on Kitchen Therapy

My friend, Linda, invited me to write an article for her KitchenTherapy blog, and it was published today! The article is entitled "Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free, FODMAPS-Free" and explores the FODMAPS concept from the point of view of those who have a gluten-free lifestyle. Kitchen Therapy is one of my favorite blogs, with inspiring posts about gluten-free cooking, recipes, gardening, and more. Pop on over there, visit, and be sure to comment on my article for a chance to win one of my books, IBS--Free at Last!

CDA, Thanks for Your Interest!

It was a pleasure speaking to you today, Connecticut Dietetic Association. You were a great audience, and I enjoyed meeting many of you before and after my talk. Although I sold out of books (IBS--Free at Last!) and reproducible patient handouts, you can email me at patsycatsos@gmail.com to arrange an order. Books are $14.95 each; set of book plus set of reproducible handouts (4) is $24.95; bulk book orders are available. I would be happy to send them to you with no charge for shipping if I receive your order by December 31, 2009.

I hope you will keep in touch regarding your successes and challenges using the FODMAPS elimination diet with your clients!

R.Ds, please reply to this post if you are looking for referrals. I often get emails from readers asking me to recommend a FODMAPS-knowledgeable dietitian in his/her area.

If you'd like to recieve FODMAPS-friendly tips on a regular basis via Twitter, sign up to follow me.

Welcome New and Old FNCE Friends

It was wonderful to meet so many of you--my dietitian colleagues and friends--at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Denver this past week!  I hope you will keep in touch regarding your successes and challenges using the FODMAPS elimination diet with your clients.

Please reply to this post if you are looking for referrals. I often get emails from readers asking me to recommend a FODMAPS-knowledgeable dietitian in his/her area.

If you'd like to receive FODMAPS-friendly tips on a regular basis via Twitter, sign up to follow me.