People with IBS [Irritable Bowel Syndrome] with diarrhea and pain experience relief when following a diet invented in Australia, according to a study reported in a recent issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.  A diet low in Fermentable Oligo-, Di and Mono-saccharides, and Polyols [FODMAPs] limits foods containing certain carbohydrates that ferment in the intestines due to poor absorption, feed intestinal bacteria, and cause gas, bloating and diarrhea.  Eliminating foods high in FODMAPs and, over time, gradually adding back foods one by one, can reveal the offending foods and offer a tremendous sense of control and comfort.

Googling Stanford University’s low FODMAP information and “handout” lists of foods will provide sufferers with a trustworthy and useful resource.  Once one identifies the offending foods, one can eat more freely without fear of dealing with overwhelming symptoms.