If you’ve been following my health journey for a while, you know that in addition to my IBD, I’ve also been dealing with severe IBS and SIBO. That is why I was originally told to go on the Low FODMAP diet. 

ModifyHealth helps to explain FODMAPs as a collection of short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that aren’t absorbed properly in the gut, which can trigger symptoms in people with IBS.  

Here’s a little breakdown of what the acronym actually stands for:

F: Fermentable (gut bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates to produce gases)

O: Oligosaccharides (fructans and GOS foods such as wheat, rye, onions and garlic)

D: Disaccharides (lactose foods such as milk, soft cheeses and yogurt)

M: Monosaccharides (fructose foods such as honey, apples, high fructose corn syrup)

A: and

P: Polyols (mannitol and sorbitol foods such as some fruits, vegetables, artificial sweeteners)

FODMAPs are naturally found in many common foods and additives like wheat, apples, pears, onion, garlic, and honey, to name a few. Research has shown that a Low-FODMAP program can improve gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (gas, bloating, pain, change in bowel habits) related to IBS. 

Here’s the thing, though. As ModifyHealth notes, most patients aren’t sensitive to ALL categories of FODMAPs, which is why it’s so critical to identify your OWN specific FODMAP trigger foods. Everyone’s body is different, and when it comes to the food that you put into your body, that is something that HAS to be individualized. There is no one size fits all when it comes to food or honestly anything in life, and anyone who tells otherwise is just plain wrong. Sorry. That is where the different phases of a low FODMAP-based program come in: elimination (when you replace High FODMAP foods with Low FODMAP alternative) reintroduction (when you systematically re-introduce higher FODMAP foods to learn and understand which specifics FODMAPs are your triggers and which you can tolerate) and personalization (a way to move forward with freedom, without restriction, and with knowing what works best for you and your symptoms). And that is exactly where I messed up a year ago or two when trying to do it all on my own.

I was simply just told to go on the Low FODMAP diet. I was handed a pamphlet with what really contained minimal to no information and told “good luck.” Ever been there before? I wasn’t guided through the process by a GI-trained dietician and I didn’t know how to assess and flow through each phase of the program as one should. 

Truly, I was terrified and confused when I first started Low FODMAP. I had no idea where to begin, what to eat, what not to eat. I didn’t have the right resources, which created uncertainty and fear around food. That’s not how it should be, and ModifyHealth is making it so that you don’t have to struggle like I did. Even if you’re not following Low FODMAP, their meal delivery service is simply just so helpful for anyone looking for gut-friendly options. 

Founded by GI professionals who are patients themselves, ModifyHealth is the first and only Low FODMAP certified, nationwide meal delivery service that brings together expert, GI trained dietitians and award-winning chefs who work WITH YOU (and any patient knows that is the ultimate key right there) to create fresh, Low-FODMAP meals that are specifically designed to help you feel better both emotionally and physically and help you navigate your own food triggers. They are the only meal delivery company that is Monash University Low FODMAP certified; Monash is where Low FODMAP started and they are the gold standard in the Low FODMAP world. 

ModifyHealth offers two different plans. 

Option #1 simply allows you to place an a la carte order for their meals, whether you want breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three. You get to choose how many and which ones you want, with a minimum of 5 meals per order. All of their meals are Low-FODMAP, organic, non-GMO and gluten-free. They also accommodate any additional requests and dietary needs, whether you’re vegetarian, have additional food allergies, or need certain foods removed from the meals due to conditions like GERD or Gastroparesis. 

Option #2 is their more formalized, Low FODMAP program. It includes 2-3 meals per day as well as an option to select Dietician support, a one-time fee that includes up to 3 consultations. This option is ideal if you’re doing elimination or reintroduction. 

When I first started the Low FODMAP diet, I so badly wish that I had ModifyHealth to help me through it. That is why I’m honored and excited to be partnering with them. When you use the code THENOGLUTENGIRL you get a huge discount on your meals!

Honestly, ModifyHealth is changing the game by helping patients like you and I navigate a medically-recommended diet that can initially feel so overwhelming yet have such empowering, life-changing results. Like I said, Low-FODMAP is not meant to be a long-term solution. The goal is to learn about your specific trigger foods so that you can confidently take back your life and take control of your symptoms and digestive health. It’s about learning what does and doesn’t work for you and your body, and that’s something that is different for everyone. It is also something that can often be difficult, and scary, to navigate. Now, with the help of ModifyHealth, it doesn’t have to be. 

This post is sponsored by ModifyHealth but all thoughts and opinions are authentic and my own.