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The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet: A Revolutionary Plan For Managing IBS And Other Digestive Disorders (2013)

by Sue Shepherd(Favorite Author)

3.91 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1615190805 (ISBN13: 9781615190805)

languge

English

genre

Food & Cookbooks

publisher

The Experiment

review 1: My doctor first told me about this diet in April when I was having a really bad stress IBS flair up during my college final exam week. The pain was so bad I was miserable. She gave me an article to read about FODMAPs and I still refer to it all these months later. I then saw this book displayed at my local library months after talking to my doctor and I thought that it wouldn't hurt to read it. I'm glad I did cos it has such good info about IBS, even if it is mostly educated consensus about why it happens (cos nobody really knows exactly why it happens.)The sad thing about this diet tho is that the key to FODMAP dieting is to limit fruits such as apples. The reason why it is sad is because apples are my favorite fruit and I sometimes have up to 3 a day. This book is filled... more with very useful information for IBS sufferers and if you aren't a fan of fruit anyway, you won't hate this diet so much. I plan on just reducing my fruit and caffeine intake and seeing if it eases my pains.The thing about IBS is that it is so different for each person and nobody knows the definite reason why it is caused, so that makes it quite hard to treat. The author said it worked for quite a few IBS sufferers, so I say give it a try.
review 2: Firstly a disclaimer: this book claims to present a “revolutionary plan for managing IBS and other digestive disorders” and nothing in this review should be viewed as medical advice or a recommendation!What works for one might not work for another but the book is said to feature the first and only scientifically proven diet of its kind, backed by clinical trials noting that up to three-quarters of affected adults who reduced their intake of FODMAPs — a set of difficult-to-digest carbohydrates found in wheat, milk, beans, soy and certain fruits, vegetables, nuts and sweeteners — also saw improvement in their IBS symptoms. Consult with your healthcare provider if in doubt, but perhaps those who suffer from IBS will know what has (or has not) worked for them to date and will be willing to give it a try. At least you are only modifying your food input, rather than mixing bottles of chemicals together and hoping for success.Right, the boring legals out of the way, what do you get? Before you even can get in the kitchen there is a lot of reading ahead of you – nothing seems to be left to chance. From a look at how food can interact and cause problems with your digestion and common illnesses, one gets introduced to the concept behind a low-FODMAP diet and how you can introduce it to your lifestyle without too much upheaval. Special focus is also given to vegetarians, vegans and those suffering from other illnesses such as diabetes and celiac disease. After a quick look at suggested menu plans and methods for “keeping on track” it is straight down to the recipes. Throughout the book the text seems to be fairly clear, understandable and focussed. Many dietary books could learn from this approach.The recipes themselves are split into typical chapters that you’d find in other recipe books (appetisers and light meals, salads, soups, stews and curries and so on). You are not exactly deluged with each recipe class but there seems to be a sufficiently broad selection to get you going and give some variety within your diet and, of course, as you become more au fait with things and if you find that the dietary programme works for you, you can then tailor make other recipes with the knowledge already gleaned. Mind you, even if you don’t have a specific health problem that this diet can (purportedly) help with, many of the recipes are rather good generally. The first one, “Feta, Pumpkin & Chive Fritters” jumped out of the page for being pleasantly different and when served up with a salad it could be a great lunch in its own right. Excellent food photography helps really draw you in and you if you had just opened this book up in the middle, you would be forgiven for just thinking you’ve a great general recipe book in your hand. It doesn’t feel like it is trying to be “special” or “different”. There are many recipes that this diet-sceptic reviewer is looking forward to try.Individually each recipe is clearly written with a brief explanation or various hints and tips. No jargon or broad assumptions here so both “beginner” and “accomplished cook” alike will find that these recipes just work. It would have been nice to have had an estimation of preparation and cooking times (one of our usual niggles) but maybe you can’t have everything. At least the measures are in dual metric and U.S. imperial, an all-too-common oversight in many books it seems. For those who need to track such stuff, there is also a detailed per serving nutritional information breakdown.So, as explained at the start, no opinion can be given as to the efficacy of the dietary programme, but it certainly is a more approachable, more manageable and relatively “low maintenance” approach. If the “theoretical” side works for you, then you will have no problems with the cooking side. By looking at the list of recipes alone you would not have thought that they were “special dietary dishes” – maybe you can find something that the entire family can enjoy and what your body will allow you to enjoy.In any case, the book is reasonably priced and should you not get on with the diet in any case, you still have a great source of recipes for the rest of your family (and maybe some of the recipes also cooperate with your body too!).The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet, written by Sue Shepherd & Peter Gibson and published by The Experiment. ISBN 9781615190805, 288 pages. Typical price: USD18.95. YYYYY.// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. // less

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