What happens when we eat FODMAPs?

Considering the pain and discomfort experienced it's natural to worry about what happens when we eat FODMAPs. Without going into great detail about the digestion process let's try to break it down, pun intended!

When we eat FODMAPs the normal act of digestion begins. One thing all FODMAPs have in common is that they are partially digested and not well absorbed by the body, by anybody.

This starts a process where these short-chain carbohydrates move slowly through the small intestine, encouraging water to be pulled in. This can cause diarrhoea. These undigested carbohydrates then continue into the large intestine. Here they are rapidly fed upon (fermented) by our gut bacteria which causes excess gas to be produced. This gas results in farting, bloating, and pain due to the build-up of pressure. The combination of water retention and excess gas causes distention of the gut. This sends signals to the nerves in the gut and brain that register this as pain. 

This process naturally occurs in most people when FODMAPs are eaten. However, in people with IBS, the movement through the gut may be much faster or slower. This means they are also much more likely to experience extremes of these natural fluctuations. IBS sufferers are generally more sensitive to registering these natural nerve signals as pain. [1, 2]

Does eating FODMAPs damage your gut?

The most important thing to remember in cases of IBS alone is that you're not causing structural damage to your body. Although the symptoms of an IBS attack are experienced physically, there's currently no reliable evidence to suggest that any permanent damage to your body occurs when you eat FODMAPs.

IBS as a stand-alone condition does not cause;

• allergies
• scarring
• lesions
• ulcers
• polyps
• tumours
• immune responses
• inflammation 

However, some people with IBS may suffer from additional health issues which can include these or other, detectable, structural damage or physical side effects. These are separate conditions that may come with their own specific dietary restrictions, beyond the use of a low FODMAP diet for IBS.

Ready to tackle the low FODMAP basics? Check out the other posts in this series.

What happens when you eat FODMAP's? Share how it feels to you in the comments below.