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Stanford Health Care

Low FODMAP Diet

Our Approach to the Low FODMAP Diet

Stanford's Digestive Health Center offers experienced dietitians with special expertise in the low FODMAP diet and other medical nutrition therapies for digestive disorders, including IBS. Our dietitians know how challenging it can be to modify your diet. We provide counseling and support to help you implement a low FODMAP diet into your lifestyle.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU FOR THE LOW FODMAP DIET

  • Experience and expertise, as one of the few programs in the country with dedicated nutritionists specializing in digestive disorders.
  • Individualized approach to help address your specific symptoms with a tailored low FODMAP diet for your needs.
  • Counseling to implement the low FODMAP diet in a way that works for you and your lifestyle, whether you are at home, work, traveling, socializing, or dining out.
  • Ongoing support to help you modify the low FODMAP diet, based on your daily and overall lifestyle needs.
Make An Appointment

To request an appointment by phone, call 650-736-5555

What is the Low FODMAP Diet?

About the Low FODMAP Diet

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. In simpler terms, FODMAPs are carbohydrates (sugars) that are found in foods. Not all carbohydrates are considered FODMAPs.

FODMAPs are osmotic, meaning that they pull water into your intestinal tract. When eaten in excess, they may not be digested or absorbed well and could become fermented by bacteria in your intestinal tract.

The FODMAPs in your daily diet can include:

  • Fructose: fruits, honey, and high fructose corn syrup
  • Lactose: dairy
  • Fructans (inulin): wheat, onion, and garlic
  • Galactans: beans, lentils, and legumes like soy                                                                     
  • Polyols: sweeteners containing sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, and stone fruits, such as avocado, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums

How does the low FODMAP diet work?

The low FODMAP diet restricts high FODMAP foods to reduce uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and cramping that may occur if you are sensitive to FODMAPs. 

The diet controls high FODMAPs foods in your daily consumption in two phases:

  • Phase one: you eliminate high FODMAP foods from your diet for four to six weeks. 
  • Phase two: you slowly incorporate these foods back into your diet.

The low FODMAP diet was created by researchers at Monash University in Australia.