The Monash University Approach to Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome with a Specialised Diet

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, affecting an estimated 7 to 15% of the global population. It is more prevalent in females and is typically identified before the age of 50. Without a diagnosis, IBS can greatly diminish one’s life quality, leading to anxiety and uncertainty due to unexplained symptoms. The exact causes of IBS remain largely unknown.

Primary Symptoms of IBS

IBS is characterized by several symptoms, including:
• Persistent lower abdominal discomfort
• Changes in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation, or both)
• Abdominal bloating (a sensation of an inflated balloon in the stomach)
• Excessive gas
• Abdominal distention (noticeable increase in abdominal size)

Identifying IBS

There are no specific tests for diagnosing IBS. Diagnosis is primarily based on symptom evaluation. It’s crucial to distinguish IBS symptoms from those of other serious gastrointestinal conditions. Therefore, a medical doctor should confirm IBS before consulting a dietitian.

The Monash University Low FODMAP Diet Overview

Developed by Monash University, the Low FODMAP Diet aims to alleviate IBS symptoms. FODMAPs are a collection of small carbohydrates and sugars that are:
• Small in molecular size
• Poorly or not absorbed in the intestines
• Easily fermented by intestinal bacteria

The FODMAP diet has three stages. The first stage involves a diet limited to low-FODMAP foods. The second stage, the reintroduction phase, includes testing various foods to identify which FODMAPs trigger symptoms. The final stage, personalisation, relaxes dietary restrictions and broadens the diet to ensure nutritional balance.

Consulting a Dietitian for the Low FODMAP Diet

After receiving an IBS diagnosis from a healthcare provider, a dietitian can determine if the Low FODMAP Diet might help alleviate symptoms.
During the initial dietitian appointment, a thorough evaluation is conducted. If suitable, you’ll begin the first stage of the Low FODMAP Diet. Subsequent appointments will assist in navigating the challenge and personalization stages of the diet.

Long-Term Adherence to the Low FODMAP Diet

It’s essential to understand that the Low FODMAP Diet is restrictive and, if followed indefinitely, could result in nutritional deficits. Monash University advises adhering to the diet for a period of 2-6 weeks, followed by completing the reintroduction and personalisation stages to incorporate tolerable foods back into the diet.

What to expect from the 3-Step FODMAP Diet and how to Start the Monash FODMAP Diet. 

Low FODMAP Meal Plan

The Monash University blog on Low FODMAP Meal Planning provides practical advice for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) through diet. It emphasizes the importance of not completely changing one’s diet but adapting familiar meals to low FODMAP alternatives. Key tips include educating oneself on reading food labels, planning weekly meals, and preparing meals in advance. The blog lists essential low FODMAP grocery items across various categories and offers a sample meal plan for a week. It also highlights the importance of consulting a trained dietitian for personalised and nutritionally adequate meal planning. For more detailed information and tips.

Monash University FODMAP Diet App for iPhone / Android

Scientists at Monash University have created a unique dietary approach called the low FODMAP diet, along with an accompanying application, to help manage the gastrointestinal discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This innovative Monash University FODMAP diet involves substituting high FODMAP foods, which are high in fermentable carbohydrates, with those that are low in FODMAPs. Remarkably, about 75% of IBS sufferers report alleviation of symptoms when following this diet.

The application, a product of the Monash research team, offers a range of features:

• Informative overviews about IBS and the FODMAP diet.
• User-friendly tutorials for navigating the app and understanding the three-phase FODMAP diet.
• A comprehensive Food Guide that categorises the FODMAP levels of numerous foods using an intuitive ‘traffic light system’.
• A selection of commercially available products vetted by Monash as low FODMAP.
• Over 70 healthy, low FODMAP recipe options.
• Tools to personalise your grocery list and annotate specific food items.
• A Diary feature for tracking your dietary intake, IBS symptoms, bowel patterns, and stress levels. This feature also aids in the second phase of the diet FODMAP reintroduction.
• Customisable settings to switch between metric and imperial measurements and to enable support for colour vision assistance.

Get the App