Have you been diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorption?

When diagnosed with fructose malabsorption and or irritable bowel disease, the first goal of management is to restrict as many foods as possible to make you symptom free. As a general statement, during this initial phase it is best to reduce the fructose, major sources of wheat, fructans, oligossacharides, resistant starch plus other items. Practically this means, Helen needs to show you which fruit, vegetables to eat and how much wheat to reduce in your diet. Finally there are particular ingredients you need to avoid when reading the ingredient list from processed foods.

Step (1) Reduce as many offending foods a possible simultaneously for a 6 week period (can take longer in some cases). The recipes provided within the website are related to step one. Step

(2) Once symptom free, re-introduce foods via a challenged process to determine your individual tolerance

So what is the difference between Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Fructose Malabsorption? Not much. Fructose malabsorption forms an element of IBS. So to manage IBS it often also requires a low FODMAP diet.

It may seem strange, but "healthy food" can often make you feel unwell with various IBS symptoms.  This is where you may feel worse by improving the quality of your food from processed and take away to a healthier approach.  Helen really encourages that you don't be put off by this experience, but keep going to find your answers.

 It is crucial to find your answers to solve your discomforts.  If you have not done so, it is important to talk to your Doctor and verify if a colonoscopy is required to ensure that there are no underling medical conditions contributing to your discomforts.

The fundamental steps to help you move forward would include the following:

1. if you have commenced a low Fodmap Diet and you are still experiencing symptoms, Helen recommends that you download the IBS booklet that she has put together and verify if your diet is strict enough to alleviate the symptoms
2. If you are unsure how to read the ingredient list to verify if your packaged foods are actually low fodmap, the IBS booklet would direct you accordingly.  
3. If you are unfamiliar with what is involved to follow a Low Fodmap diet, the IBS booklet will guide you with Step 1, to eat the correct food to become symptom free. 

So what is included in the Digestive Problems E-Booklet?

produced by Helen Bauzon

•  A list of low Fodmap Foods to eat from all food categories of fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein rich foods.
• Images of commercially available food from Coles and Woolworths
• Main meal ideas
• Snack Ideas
• Eating out suggestions
• 2 week meal plan also relating to weight management