We’re living in the age of technology, and now it’s easier than ever to monitor your health with apps tailored to diet and exercise.
Monash University in Melbourne has created a new app that may help people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
‘The Monash University Low FODMAP Diet’ app provides information on FODMAPs, a food guide, a recipe book, shopping list, food journal, and more.
FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharides, And Polyols. It’s a fancy term for short-chain carbohydrates and related alcohols that the small intestine has a difficulty absorbing. These foods can cause bloating, and are often trigger foods for people with IBS.
The app is designed to make it easy for people to follow a low FODMAP diet to alleviate the symptoms of IBS.
The Daily Mail reported on this new app and the research behind the diet:
In a landmark study published two years ago, the Australian researchers asked patients with IBS to remove FODMAPs from their diet.
They found 74 per cent reported that their symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal pain, gas, excessive burping, diarrhoea and constipation, had improved dramatically.
This isn’t a new diet but more and more studies are concluding that cutting out high FODMAP foods successfully relieves the symptoms of IBS in most patients.
However, the diet isn’t right (or necessary) for everyone. While helping patients with IBS, it hasn’t shown to improve other bowel conditions like Chronic Bowel Disease.
There are also many high FODMAP foods (cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, onions, leeks, garlic, beetroot, mushrooms, etc.) that are packed with health benefits, and the majority of the population won’t benefit from cutting them out of their diet. While it is true that these foods can cause excess gas and bloating, they shouldn’t cause excessive digestive issues.
The idea behind apps like this one is great, and it could be very helpful for people recently diagnosed with IBS. However, early reviews say the app is still very basic for the $10.99 price tag.
Hopefully, with time the app will be built out and offer more resources and recipes.
What do you think? Are you excited about the growing health app industry? Let us know in the comments below.
