Fodmaps...does Anyone Follow This Eating Plan.

[icelandgirl]

I'm beginning to suspect that I may have an issue with high FODMAPS foods after a run in I had with Brussel sprouts this weekend. It caused tremendous gas, bloating, some pain and of course D...my favorite(not). I had the same type of reaction when I tried broccoli, cauliflower and watermelon. All are also high FODMAPS. I realize it could be something else, but I feel like it's worth investigating. I've already given up soy, dairy and legumes...so if I have to give up some fruits and veggies next I will.

I'm wondering if anyone out there follows this and if so what your experience has been.

Thanks!

[cristiana]

Oddly enough someone I know was only telling me the other day how it has absolutely changed her life.  She isn't a celiac but she says that, for example, a ripe banana and an unripened banana (not sure which is high or low fodmap) will literally mean the difference between having D ten minutes later and not having D at all.  So she said that it works. 

[icelandgirl]

Wow...thanks Cristiana! That's good to hear. Looking at the list I've largely been eating low FODMAPS...but when I look over the weekend I had a few other things that were on the high side and then I think the Brussels sprouts took me over the edge.

Thanks so much for sharing that!

[boron]

FODMAPs can cause bloating and diarrhea in active celiac disease, because of malabsorption, but less likely when your intestinal lining is normal.

 

FODMAPs can also cause problems in lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome.

 

Problematic nutrients:

• Lactose - in milk or products with added lactose, for example, protein powders. Hard cheese should not be problematic.
• Fructose, when present in food in greater amounts than glucose (in apples, pears, mango and fructose or HFCS sweetened beverages)
• Polyols or sugar alcohols. sorbitol, xylitol and others, mainly in "low-calorie foods" or "no-sugar chewing gum"
• Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin in onions and wheat and as "added fiber" in certain commercial foods.

To check, if a low-FODMAP diet will be of any help, you can do 2 things.

1. identify common foods high in FODMAPs; various list are available, for example, Open Original Shared Link

2. Exclude ALL foods high in FODMAPs for 4 days - if you experience less bloating or diarrhea, it means FODMAPs may very well be a problem. Then you try to further narrow down is it lactose or other FODMAPs (as a group) or both that are a problem.

[knitty kitty]

What is the difference between the Fodmaps diet and a low histamine diet?

Are they mutually exclusive? Seems what is allowed on one isn't allowed on the other.

I'm hungry and my pantry of "safe" foods is shrinking.

[icelandgirl]

I don't know what the difference is, but I do see a lot of similarities. Do you follow either?

[knitty kitty]

I am finding that the low histamine diet is helping reduce how inflamed and puffy I feel, especially when glutened. I have avoided all cruciferous vegetables (and legumes) for a very long time because they make me feel like I have balloon animals forming in my abdomen. But some cruciferous veggies are allowed on the fodmaps diet. And some of the fruits allowed on the fodmap diet, like strawberries and pineapple, are very acidic and possibly irritating, making things worse.

Understanding that everyone is different, I prefer the low histamine diet. My whole body feels better and if I do get contaminated, the consequences don't seem to take as long to resolve. It has really improved my DH!

[icelandgirl]

I'm so glad it's helping kitty!

Last year I really felt I was having issues with histamine tolerance. I already have horrible seasonal allergies. ..February - October being my sèason. Lol! I'm on an antihistamine year round and am getting allergy shots. Then things calmed down and I was sure I was wrong. I've been having those same issues again. I think things calmed down when my allergy season stopped. This all started again in February. Sigh...

What made me think it might be histamine related is the a lot of times after I eat, especially later in the day, my face gets hot and my ears feel stuffy or pressured. Sometimes I start sneezing. Really annoying.

[knitty kitty]

I understand. My ears will feel full and squishy if I start having a reaction, too. Things bloom here all year round, so it can be trying. But I have found that on the low histamine diet, I don't have as severe a reaction.

The analogy of a cup running over when having a reaction is a good one. The lower I can keep the histamine in my cup, when I do have a reaction, maybe my cup won't become full and spill over causing a horrible reaction.

I try to avoid antihistamines if at all possible. I had an allergic reaction last year that was really terrifying. The medications I was given to make me better caused a different type of reaction that was worse. It was an anticholinergic reaction. I thought I was losing my mind. Never want to go through anything as scary as that again, so i buckled down to do the low histamine diet and am feeling much better.

I am so motivated to stay well now, I have to explore all the options. But in this case, the grass isn't greener on the roadmaps diet side. It's greener here on the low histamine diet...with my half empty cup.

[julissa]

I started this a few weeks ago after my doctor suggested it. I know a while back i posted here that even with being gluten dairy and soy free for 2 years I was still puffy and bloated, and it was recommended I try this. at the time I guess I wasn't ready as I felt there were so few things I enjoyed, and eliminating more food just seemed so unfair. but the bloating and puffiness, and gas continued and I did try this.. anyway, all I can say is WOW.. it really is amazing how great I feel. there are a bunch of things I miss, like fruits and some veggies, but it's worth it a million times over. 

[icelandgirl]

I understand. My ears will feel full and squishy if I start having a reaction, too. Things bloom here all year round, so it can be trying. But I have found that on the low histamine diet, I don't have as severe a reaction.

The analogy of a cup running over when having a reaction is a good one. The lower I can keep the histamine in my cup, when I do have a reaction, maybe my cup won't become full and spill over causing a horrible reaction.

I try to avoid antihistamines if at all possible. I had an allergic reaction last year that was really terrifying. The medications I was given to make me better caused a different type of reaction that was worse. It was an anticholinergic reaction. I thought I was losing my mind. Never want to go through anything as scary as that again, so i buckled down to do the low histamine diet and am feeling much better.

I am so motivated to stay well now, I have to explore all the options. But in this case, the grass isn't greener on the roadmaps diet side. It's greener here on the low histamine diet...with my half empty cup.

Wow kitty.. what a scary reaction!

When your cup gets too full...what happens? Late last summer into early fall I was doing low histamine...but I wasn't sure if it was making a difference or not. When I added the higher histamine foods back in the pollen was no longer an issue here so I guess I thought I was all good.

Did you do a trial diet and then add things back in or are you just doing low histamine? I was so glad to get avocados, nuts and chocolate back because I was continuing to lose weight without them. I have a hard time getting enough calories on just meat, fruits and veggies.

[icelandgirl]

I started this a few weeks ago after my doctor suggested it. I know a while back i posted here that even with being gluten dairy and soy free for 2 years I was still puffy and bloated, and it was recommended I try this. at the time I guess I wasn't ready as I felt there were so few things I enjoyed, and eliminating more food just seemed so unfair. but the bloating and puffiness, and gas continued and I did try this.. anyway, all I can say is WOW.. it really is amazing how great I feel. there are a bunch of things I miss, like fruits and some veggies, but it's worth it a million times over.

Hi Julissa...I remember you having continuing issues. My bloating and tummy issues improved so much when I cut out dairy, soy and carrageenan. But when I eat any brocoli, cauliflower, cabbage or Brussels sprouts I will be in pain for days.

I'm just not sure if I've got a fodmaps issue, a histamine issue or both?

What's been the hardest to not have to eat?

Sooooo glad you are feeling better!

[julissa]

the hardest to give up has been apples, pears, avocados, mango, and veggies like onion, garlic, sugar snap peas, beans, hummus.. but it's worth it for a flat non gassy tummy 

[knitty kitty]

Hi, Icelandgirl. You asked about what happens when my cup runs over. If I get more histamine in my cup than my body can cope with, I get allergy symptoms. Everything swells up like a sponge, sinuses, ears, intestines, skin. If my cup runs over because of a high histamine food, I know it will resolve within a few hours or days. But if gluten is the allergen, the reaction is a million times worse and takes much longer to resolve. Gluten brings its own bag of tricks to the party, arthritis, migraines, neuropathy, brain fog, etc.

Yes, I'm glad that on the low histamine diet we can have chocolate, avocados and nuts. I have trouble keeping weight on, too. I felt better when I went gluten free, but my body sighed a sigh of relief when I started the low histamine diet. Lol

[icelandgirl]

Hi, Icelandgirl. You asked about what happens when my cup runs over. If I get more histamine in my cup than my body can cope with, I get allergy symptoms. Everything swells up like a sponge, sinuses, ears, intestines, skin. If my cup runs over because of a high histamine food, I know it will resolve within a few hours or days. But if gluten is the allergen, the reaction is a million times worse and takes much longer to resolve. Gluten brings its own bag of tricks to the party, arthritis, migraines, neuropathy, brain fog, etc.

Yes, I'm glad that on the low histamine diet we can have chocolate, avocados and nuts. I have trouble keeping weight on, too. I felt better when I went gluten free, but my body sighed a sigh of relief when I started the low histamine diet. Lol

That's great! What list of foods do you use? If you don't mind sharing. Thanks!

[knitty kitty]

I follow a low histamine diet. No particular list, they're all similar. I do a trial if I'm not sure about a certain food. I'm my own guinea pig. Lol

[icelandgirl]

I follow a low histamine diet. No particular list, they're all similar. I do a trial if I'm not sure about a certain food. I'm my own guinea pig. Lol

Ok...I'm confused. I'm seeing avocado and chocolate as no on a low histamine diet...but you say you eat them. Am I looking at the wrong thing?

[knitty kitty]

Iceland girl, you're absolutely right! Those aren't on the low histamine diet! I think you've found my problem! Thank you!

I feel silly now. I've got my Specific Carbohydrate Diet mixed in with the Low Histamine Diet. I'm double checking my low histamine foods lists right now! I loathe gluten brain fog! The Low Histamine Diet is the one that has been helping. Thanks!