The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet (A Revolutionary Plan for Managing IBS and Other Digestive Disorders) Paperback – August 13, 2013

I've been eagerly anticipating the release of this book, and it was worth the wait. This tome is hefty -- both literally and figuratively. It provides all the fundamentals for understanding why a low-FODMAPs diet is so helpful to IBS sufferers, and the detailed list of foods, menu ideas, and meal suggestions make the plan relatively easy to implement and follow. The recipes are intriguing, and the photos are downright luscious-looking.For people concerned about how to apply the low-FODMAPs approach to a vegan or vegetarian diet, the authors have you covered. While it's much harder to adhere to a low-FODMAPs diet if you're vegan or vegetarian, if you suffer from IBS, your motivation will be high. The authors provide lots of tips and food options, so it's definitely doable. Unfortunately, the majority of the recipes aren't veg-friendly, but they do provide some valuable seasoning ideas, and with a little ingenuity (substituting plant-based items for the animal-based ones), they could work. However, it would be great if the authors would write a book specifically for this audience, since being veg makes following a low-FODMAPs plan extremely challenging.I've found myself referring to this book on a regular basis, and I've learned quite a bit from it (for example, why straight gluten, in the form of seitan, is well tolerated, but other wheat products and gluten-containing grains aren't). If you have IBS and have been desperately seeking some relief, following a low-FODMAPs diet may help. If that's the case, this book will be the ideal guide for your journey.

I love this book. I've had IBS related issues and I haven't been able to find relief for over 8 years. Finally I was recommended the fodmap diet and this book really helped me get started! It has some really tasty recipes but note that the author LOVES LEMON. Any recipe that calls for lemon juice, half it. Maybe even half it a second time. Unless you also want everything in a dish to taste like you're eating straight lemon. Lol.

Firstly, a low FODMAP diet is not a fad health diet. Those that claim that this book is meant to be a health food book should take note.Regardless of my opinion on low sugar/carb vs low fat, it's a book with recipes aimed at helping those who follow this diet transition from a normal/unrestricted diet to eating low FODMAP, not cut out sugars etc. You can use dextrose as a fructose free sugar in most recipes, or use a combination of dextrose and stevia, which is fructose friendly.I was diagnosed via breath test with fructose malabsorption back in 2006 and used one of Sue Shepherd's earlier books as well as a dietitian to ensure I was eating a balanced diet but since I had never heard of polyols or galactans, I bought this to read up on them and redid that part of a food trial - luckily I have no issues with either, I found out my problem was separate to FM - low stomach acid, which can be brought about by vitamin B and zinc deficiencies due to FM.So even though this didn't end up solving my new issues, I'm giving it 4 stars for easy to understand, quality information and a good layout. I removed 1 star because I find a lot of the recipes - while tasty - focus on replacements, rather than just a new way of eating but I get that some people need that step before they can begin to make up or adjust their own recipes to be low FODMAP. This diet takes a LOT of getting used to and I wish that I'd had this particular book back in 2006, rather than a very incomplete list that was available then.

As a person who is struggling to get a diagnosis from the medical field, I have been researching the Low-Fodmap diet to see if there are things I am eating that is causing my stomach pain and nausea. This book is absolutely amazing book. Before you even get to the recipe section, there are 8 very informative chapters on how foods can cause gut symptoms to how to implement the diet. I cannot stop reading this information, and, as I'm reading, I cannot stop wondering how to go about getting this book into the hands of all that are struggling with IBS. I will definitely be telling my digestive doctor about this book, especially since she has yet to be of any help and did not have any information to give me on the low-fodmad diet. In addition to the book, I highly recommend using the Monash University Fodmap Diet app in conjunction with the information in this book in case any of the foods permitted/not permitted on the diet has changed since the book was published. Just be aware that as you study up on this diet, you will find conflicting information on what is allowed/not allowed on the diet. But don't let that stop you from taking control of your health and pursuing relief from your IBS symptoms. I cannot give a review on the recipes as I haven't finished reading the first 8 chapters yet. I did, however, see recipes that call for celery. I guess it is acceptable in small amounts, but I'm trying to avoid any food item that is only acceptable in small amounts (red light on Monash App) because I don't want to take any chances during this first phase of the diet and would rather eat those items in the reintroduction phase. I hope you find the book helpful. Best of health to you.