Low-FODMAP diet
A low-FODMAP diet is a temporary elimination-and-reintroduction approach that a clinician may suggest for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. FODMAPs are carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest.
Different changes help different people. NIDDK recommends working with a doctor or dietitian rather than treating a generic food list as a permanent prescription.
- Foods already established as personally tolerated
- Nutritionally varied substitutes chosen with a dietitian
- Reintroduced foods and portions that do not trigger symptoms
- ×During a supervised trial, selected high-FODMAP fruits or vegetables
- ×Selected milk products when lactose is a trigger
- ×Wheat or rye products when fructans are a trigger
- ×Sweeteners ending in “-ol,” when identified as a trigger
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What it is
NIDDK describes trying a low-FODMAP diet for a few weeks and then slowly adding foods containing FODMAPs back if symptoms improve. The reintroduction step helps identify foods and amounts a person can tolerate.
Pros
- Uses a structured trial to identify individual triggers
- Includes a reintroduction phase rather than permanent blanket restriction
- Can be adjusted to personal symptom response
Cons
- !Generic food lists do not capture portion size or individual tolerance
- !Long-term restriction without reintroduction can be unnecessarily limiting
- !Professional support helps preserve nutritional variety
Best for
People whose doctor or dietitian recommends a low-FODMAP trial for IBS symptoms. It is not a self-diagnosis tool or a permanent universal diet.
Research
NIDDK lists low-FODMAP as one dietary approach a doctor may recommend for IBS and emphasizes that different dietary changes help different people.
Primary sources
Reviewed 2026-08-13.