The dark side of the Low FODMAP Diet – and the digestive enzyme solution

Have you tried a low-FODMAP diet and found it helped your IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth), or digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or pain?

If you’re one of the millions of people who the low-FODMAP approach has worked for – I am so happy for you.
For me personally, becoming aware of FODMAPs was life-changing.
But there is a “dark side” to the low-FODMAP diet, and that’s what I want to talk about today.
But don’t worry – if you’re wondering what the heck a low-FODMAP diet even is, I’ll explain all that too!

What Is The Low-FODMAP Diet

To oversimplify it, the Low-FODMAP diet was created by Dr. Sue Shepherd and Dr. Gibson from Monash University in Australia as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It works by restricting certain types of carbohydrates: Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols (FODMAPs). These carbohydrates are difficult to digest and can lead to symptoms like gas, pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

Common high-FODMAP foods include things like cow’s milk, asparagus, broccoli, apples, wheat, garlic, onions, avocados, and beans. You can find lots of lists of high and low-FODMAP foods online or use apps like the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet app. On the low-FODMAP diet, you restrict high-FODMAP foods and replace them with low-FODMAP alternatives.

If you’re sensitive to FODMAPs, cutting them out can provide immediate relief from gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and pain. It’s pretty amazing!

The Problem With The Low-FODMAP Diet

While the Low-FODMAP diet is undeniably amazing for controlling digestive symptoms, there are a couple (big) downsides:

#1 It’s very restrictive

There are many, many foods high in FODMAPs – especially many healthy foods like most fruits and veggies. Cutting out all high-FODMAP foods is challenging both physically and mentally. You might come to dread eating, or even develop negative coping behaviors like binge eating from all the restriction. It’s a serious problem.

#2 It’s NOT a long-term solution

Ask any expert and they’ll tell you the same thing: the Low-FODMAP Diet is meant to be a short-term intervention, not a long-term lifestyle.

Here’s what leading SIBO and IBS expert Dr. Mark Pimentel told me about the low-FODMAP diet: 

“The low FODMAP diet is unhealthy. Now, some people may not like me saying that. But even those who discovered the low FODMAP diet recognize that you have to have a reintroduction phase because it’s going to hurt people over time potentially.

This was presented at the American College of Gastroenterology, where they showed the people who were sustained on a low FODMAP diet for more than three months started to have measurable nutritional deficiencies. You can’t stay on low FODMAP forever, period.”

Why You Can’t Stay Low-FODMAP Long-Term 

The reason the low-FODMAP diet becomes dangerous long-term is that the foods that are restricted are some of the most nutritious foods on earth! Fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans… you can potentially miss out on a lot of nutrients by skipping these foods long-term.

And not only are you missing out on the nutrients these foods contain, you’re also potentially starving your microbiome. That’s because the same things that make high-FODMAP foods difficult to digest is what makes them so healthy – they are high in fiber, the food for the bacteria in your gut. A healthy microbiome requires plenty of fiber-rich(and therefore high-FODMAP) food to survive.

All together, this means that while a Low-FODMAP diet might make you feel better right now, long-term it could be worsening your gut health! 

Try This If You’re Stuck on a Low-FODMAP Diet

Now you can understand why the low-FODMAP diet can be problematic: cutting out these foods makes you feel better now, but can harm your health long-term.

So, if you’re considering trying a low-FODMAP diet, keep this in mind.

But what if you’re already “stuck” on a low-FODMAP diet, unable to reintroduce higher-FODMAP foods without painful symptoms?

You might want to try FODMATE. 

(And even if you aren’t following low-FODMAP, but you feel like EVERYTHING you eat gives you symptoms, this could be a huge help for you!)

FODMATE is a new specially-designed digestive enzyme from Microbiome Labs, the makers of MegaSporeBiotic – one of the most beloved and effective probiotics ever created. This supplement specifically helps cut down on digestive symptoms when foods high in FODMAPs are eaten. 

Unlike other digestive enzymes, FODMATE is made specifically for high-FODMAP foods like garlic, onions, and apples. It can help you reintroduce these incredibly healthy foods, without digestive symptoms. Hallelujah!

This is a brand-new supplement with nothing else like it available – if you haven’t tried it yet, consider this your sign from the universe.

How To Try FODMATE for 15% Off

Normally, a practitioner is required to order directly from Microbiome Labs, but not for our community! All you need to do is first register as a patient with patient direct code: SIBOSOS at this link: Microbiome Labs (This is the first step – you can’t order directly from Microbiome Labs unless you do this).

Then, add FODMATE to your cart and enter code DIGESTIONSOS at checkout.

>>> Click here to try FODMATE and use code DIGESTIONSOS for 15% Off

I hope this helps you reintroduce FODMAPS without symptoms.