Skip to content

IBS & Low FODMAP Glossary

IBS & Low FODMAP Glossary

If you have been suffering with IBS, or looked at the Low FODMAP Diet, the chances are you have comeacross lots of medical and techincal jargon that probably makes very little sense! So we have put together this IBS & Low FODMAP Glossary, to make sense of all these crazy words and acronyms! Hopefully we cover most of them, but please email us if there’s others you are confused about!

                                                                      

Bowel

The bowel is a part of the digestive system or gut, made up of the small bowel (small intestine) and the large bowel (colon and rectum).

CBT

CBT = Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. A talking therapy that has been shown to have a positive effect on IBS symptoms.

Chronic

Occurring over a long period of time

Constipation

Fewer than three bowel movements (poos) in a week. Stools are hard, dry, and small and can be painful and difficult to pass.

Diarrhoea

Unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements (poos). 

Fermentable

The process through which sugars are broken down by gut bacteria to produce gas.

FODMAP

FODMAP = Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides & Polyols (these are explained under Oligosaccharides).

Functional Bowel Disorder

Another way of describing IBS.  It describes gut symptoms which result from a change in the way the gut functions.

Gut

The long muscular tube which stretches from mouth to bottom, which food and fluid move through. Your gut is responsible for digesting and absorbing food and drink.

Gut Motility

The movement of the gut. About one third of people with IBS have altered gut motility – either faster or slower than normal. 

IBS

IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome – a common gut condition which affects how the gut moves and functions causing symptoms.

Intestines

The long muscular tubes through which food travels after it leaves the stomach allowing it to be absorbed.

Oligosaccharides / Disaccharides/ Monosaccharides & Polyols

Scientific names for groups of short-chain sugars found in a wide variety of foods.

Syndrome

A group of symptoms.

Written by Registered Dietician Laura Tilt @nutritilty, on behalf of Bay’s Kitchen.

Copyright Bay’s Kitchen. Please do not reprint without permission.

Related Articles

Introducing Uniquely Created U

Dr Nicholas Peat and Vanessa Peat are husband and wife and the co-founding directors of Uniquely Created Nutrition and Health (UCU). UCU was founded to educate, support, and drive sustained lifestyle change, transforming mindset and shaping a healthy lifetime behavioural change.

Relaxation Techniques

For National Relaxation Day (15th August) we want to share the best ways to relax when struggling with IBS. Why is this so important? Well, stress can be a massive IBS trigger, causing symptoms to worsen and sometimes causing a flare-up on its own.

Feeling your best in 2023

Hi lovely people! It’s Emma from @shecanteatwhat here. Now I don’t get that back to school buzz that some people do in January. It takes me a few weeks to get out of my post-Christmas daze, to wean-off the chocolate coins and brussel sprouts that I have eaten daily as a side at breakfast and to get back in the I’m-excited-for-work-zone. This blog includes my tips to feel your best in 2023.
Close (esc)

Popup

Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page.

Age verification

By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol.

Search

Shopping Basket

Your basket is currently empty.
Shop now