Signs You Should Try the Low FODMAP Diet

When you start feeling ill after eating, fatigued, have cramps, or digestive issues, it is 
often related to what you eat and your gut health. Whether you have irritable bowel 
syndrome or simply are concerned with how your digestive system is working, the low 
FODMAP diet might be for you. Here are some common signs that it might be time to 
consider this elimination diet or at least talk to your doctor about it.


Most Common Symptoms of Digestive Issues
To start with the low FODMAP diet is great for people with IBS and related conditions, 
but that’s not all. It can also help you with general digestive problems you might be 
experiencing since it temporarily eliminates foods that might be triggers for you. 
Therefore, some common signs that you should try this diet are having any of the typical 
digestive symptoms. This might include:

Nausea or vomiting 
Abdominal cramping 
Diarrhea or constipation 
Bloating 
Incontinence

Food Makes You Bloat

Now for the more specific signs of needing a low FODMAP diet. One of the biggest 
signs that you should at least attempt to eliminate some of the high FODMAP foods is 
having bloat. Bloat is common during certain times of your life, from women having 
extra bloating during their menstrual cycle, to people experiencing it on days when they 
have a lot of water weight. However, if you get bloated every time you eat a meal, it 
might be in what is in your food and you have an aversion to it.

You Don’t Know What Foods Make You Ill

You may also find that you know you are getting stomach upset after eating most foods, 
but can’t actually narrow down what the issue is. This is because most people have 
meals of multiple ingredients or food groups, making it difficult to pinpoint what type of 
food is causing the symptoms. It could be wheat, dairy, gluten, nuts, or any number of 
other things. With FODMAP diets, you are removing a lot of the common food allergens 
so that you can then re-introduce them slowly and figure out which foods were triggering 
for you.

Digestive Issues Keep Worsening

It is possible that you have had some mild digestion or IBS issues for a few years, but 
they have been getting worse lately. This can happen due to age and a gradual 
increase in how your body reacts to certain types of foods. This is yet another reason to 
give the low FODMAP diet a try.


