If you are one of the many patients who struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the symptoms of IBS, you might know a bit about the FODMAP diet, elimination, reintroduction, and the beloved food journal. Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we talk about IBS with our patients often, including our thoughts on what to put in a food journal, how to set up a FODMAP diet journal, calming IBS flare-ups, and answering this common question: what can I eat with IBS? Let’s explore these common topics, keeping in mind that you should always discuss changes to your diet with your doctor if you are struggling with IBS.
What Can I Eat With IBS?
Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we recommend that our IBS patients follow a low FODMAP diet. This consists of reducing or eliminating “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols” from the diet. However, the FODMAP diet is more than just a list of what to eat and what not to eat. It often includes elimination, reintroduction, and keeping a FODMAP diet journal.
What Is a Low FODMAP Diet?
Also known as the IBS diet, the low FODMAP diet is often considered one of the “cures” for IBS, mainly because it is so effective in reducing the symptoms of IBS. If you struggle with IBS, you probably already know that there is no true cure for IBS; however, patients can sometimes see remission if they follow the low FODMAP diet very closely. Check out the link above for a more detailed view of this diet, but the basics are as follows:
Begin your diet by consuming only a short list of foods during the elimination period.
When you are feeling better, start the reintroduction period.
In general:
Avoid “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols” like apples, berries, peaches, sweeteners, milk products, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, mushrooms, legumes, wheat, barley, rye, and more.
For a full list of dos and don’ts, talk to your colorectal specialist.
How Do I Create a Low FODMAP Diet Journal?
If you’re wondering what to put in a food journal, it’s actually quite simple and can vary greatly for each patient. At the end of the day, you need to include the information that will help you determine your triggers; however you choose to organize your journal is fine. There is no wrong way to do this, but the team at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay recommends that you include the following for each day (one day per page) that you make an entry:
How you woke up feeling in the morning.
What you had for breakfast.
How you felt directly after breakfast.
What you had for a snack - if anything.
How you felt, overall, in the time before lunch.
What you had for lunch.
How you felt directly after lunch.
What you had for a snack - if anything.
How you felt, overall, in the time before dinner.
What you had for dinner.
How you felt directly after dinner.
How you felt in the time before bed.
This list might seem a bit daunting, but if you make it part of your routine, it won’t be troublesome at all. In fact, all of this information is incredibly important, especially if your doctor has requested that you keep track of your symptoms and food intake.
Keep track of your bowel movements and whether they are loose or painful, too - this information can be very helpful for you and your doctor. Furthermore, whenever you introduce or eliminate a food from your diet, highlight it in your FODMAP diet journal. This will help you pick up on triggers as you flip through your journal.
Where Can I Visit a Colorectal Specialist in Tampa Bay?
We hope that this blog helped you figure out what to put in a food journal; if you need help starting the FODMAP diet or setting up your FODMAP diet journal, we highly recommend that you schedule a visit with your colorectal specialist. If you have not yet been officially diagnosed with IBS or you have not yet been referred to a colorectal specialist, don’t wait; contact the team of colorectal specialists here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay today. We can help you get on the right track and on the road to reducing your symptoms.