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Building a Healthy Gut Microbiome Sep 24, 2023 | By Tara Schmidt (@taraschmidt)Comment receiving replies
Right now I am just trying to get my gut to calm down until I can get in to see a doctor. I don't know yet if I have a long term IBS issues or if this is just a blip, but its scary how severe and out of the blue my symptoms of bloating, gassy, and constipation are. I am about a week into the craziness and have some relief using Miralax and limiting high FODMaps. I don't know what the next step should be. I was thinking about increasing prebiotics but alot of those look like high FODmap foods. I don't think I have symptoms long enough that a doctor will diagnose me with anything like IBS but I feel like THIS is the time to do effective healing or restoring my gut biome, if needed.
My question is FODMAPS need enzyme breakdown to avoid excessive fermentation but Prebiotics/Probiotics are about restoring healthy bacteria to AID in fermentation, right? I want to understand that relationship. Say things about that 🙂
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Hi @lisadi88 , I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. I had one of my colleagues who specializes in gastroenterology read your question. Please see their response below.
FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates that are not absorbed well in the small intestine and act as a source of “food” for the bacteria in your digestive tract. As the bacteria naturally ferment high FODMAP foods it triggers water to be pulled into the small bowel, which causes bloating, gas and in some people diarrhea/constipation.
There is no specific enzyme you can take to help high FODMAP foods breakdown better. As directed by a physician and dietitian there can be specific ways to modify your diet that may reduce your symptoms. Recommend following up with a GI physician and dietitian.
Prebiotic feed the bacteria in your gut, these foods can cause increase gas or bloating for some individuals. Probiotics introduce new bacteria into your gut, these bacteria will “munch/eat” the prebiotic or fibrous food to help maintain your gut integrity.