Fresh tomatoes are in the low FODMAP category, so can be eaten freely and according to appetite.
When you have IBS, tomatoes are a great food to include in your diet for a couple of reasons. They are: low-FODMAP and tend to be well-tolerated. versatile and can be eaten in so many different ways, i.e. fresh, canned, as a sauce, in a soup, etc.
You can enjoy ½ of a small common tomato while on the low FODMAP diet (1). Avoid larger serves until you are ready to test your tolerance to fructose. Canned tomatoes can be a bit sneaky, as they become high FODMAP if you go over the recommended serve! The low FODMAP serve is 100g (½ cup) (1).
Since most tomatoes and tomato-based products have equal glucose to fructose ratios, they are well tolerated on a LOW FODMAP diet, even cooked.
For many IBS community members, favorite trigger foods include red sauces, such as tomato and marinara sauces. Fact: Red sauces often contain garlic, onions, and sugar, making it a high-FODMAP food that is difficult to digest.
“Egg is on the list of foods you're allowed to have on the low-FODMAP diet. Eggs help because they're rich in proteins and nutrients and very low in fermentable carbohydrates. This means they are less likely to cause symptoms,” Dr. Lee explains.
Greek yoghurt is higher in fat and protein than natural yoghurt as much of the lactose has been strained out of it, which is why it is low FODMAP. So when choosing yoghurt, make sure to opt for Greek, or lactose-free options to ensure that you are sticking to low FODMAP options.
Broccoli can be low FODMAP, depending on the part and serving size. Florets (or the darker green heads) are lower in FODMAPs than the stalks (the lighter green part). Broccoli florets are low FODMAP in servings of ¾ cup or 75 grams. Broccoli stalks have a smaller low FODMAP serving of ⅓ cup or 45 grams.
Coffee is low FODMAP, but caffeine can be an irritant for many people, those with IBS and even those without, hence the confusion. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a gut irritant,so although it may be low FODMAP, there are still other issues to address.
Traditional sourdough breads made from wheat, wholemeal wheat, and spelt flours are low FODMAP because they contain reduced levels of fructans (2). This means they can make a great low FODMAP bread option.
Certain vegetables cause gas and abnormal bowel habits. Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, coleslaw and sauerkraut. Also, limit artichoke, brussels sprouts, onions, shallots, leeks and asparagus.
Due to their indigestible skin and seeds, tomatoes can trigger irritable bowel movements that often lead to bloating. One of the most widely accepted reasons for intestinal problems are tomatoes and it would be best to avoid consuming them in larger quantities.
Aged cheeses include Cheddar, Camembert, Cheshire, Pecorino Style, Swiss, Brie, Blue Cheese, Havarti, or Parmesan. These are low FODMAP cheese options and they are normally well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance.
Milk and other foods that contain lactose, like cheese and ice cream, can cause gas and bloating in people who are lactose intolerant. About 70% of adults worldwide do not produce large amounts of lactase, an intestinal enzyme that helps break down the sugar in milk.
You may also be eating more starches and sugars from hyper-processed gluten free, low FODMAP packaged foods than usual, which may overwhelm the absorption capacity of a sensitive, hyper-active gut. If you suspect this, try eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and see how you feel.
Since tuna is a protein, it doesn't have any FODMAPs. That means you can eat as much as you'd like without adding to your FODMAP load.
Peanut Butter in the United States is considered low FODMAP in servings of 2 tablespoons or 32 grams. Double-check labels and avoid products containing higher FODMAP ingredients like molasses or high fructose corn syrup.