A new pilot trial from the University of Michigan<\/a> compares that elimination regimen to the heart\u2011healthy Mediterranean diet and finds that both can soothe symptoms, though with different trade\u2011offs. <\/p>\n Prashant Singh, MBBS<\/a>, a gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine, led the study.<\/p>\n Why food choices matter<\/p>\n IBS is considered a disorder of gut-brain interaction, where nerves and microbes inside the intestine over\u2011react to normal digestion. <\/p>\n That hypersensitivity means small tweaks in what you eat can translate into outsized cramps or gurgles. Scientists have long noted that patients prefer diet<\/a> therapy over pills, and guidelines now place food at the center of care.<\/p>\n Yet no single plate helps everyone. Some people flare after wheat, others after garlic, and a few after stress alone. <\/p>\n Targeting patterns rather than individual ingredients has therefore become a pragmatic strategy, giving physicians a framework to test and tweak without endless trial\u2011and\u2011error meals.<\/p>\n A closer look at FODMAP<\/p>\n FOD<\/a>M<\/a>AP<\/a> stands for \u201cfermentable oligo\u2011, di\u2011, and monosaccharides and polyols,\u201d short\u2011chain carbs that gut bacteria quickly digest, producing gas that can stretch sensitive intestines. <\/p>\n A 2022 network meta\u2011analysis ranked the low FODMAP diet first for global IBS symptom relief among 13 controlled trials.<\/p>\n \u201cRestrictive diets, such as low FODMAP, can be difficult for patients to adopt,\u201d said Prashant Singh. <\/p>\n The drawback is complexity. Shoppers must memorize long lists, calculate portion sizes, and reintroduce foods in three labor\u2011intensive phases. <\/p>\n Concerns also linger about nutritional gaps and the potential loss of beneficial gut bugs when fermentable fibers disappear.<\/p>\n Mediterranean diet: flavor without fear<\/p>\n Enter the seafood\u2011and\u2011olive\u2011oil approach celebrated around the world for heart protection. The landmark PREDIMED trial<\/a> cut heart attack and stroke by roughly 30\u202fpercent in high\u2011risk adults who ate extra\u2011virgin olive oil or nuts daily. <\/p>\n Beyond arteries, recent reviews link Mediterranean eating to a bloom of short\u2011chain\u2011fatty\u2011acid\u2011producing bacteria that dampen gut inflammation.<\/p>\n \u201cThis study adds to a growing body of evidence which suggests that a Mediterranean diet might be a useful addition to the menu of evidence\u2011based dietary interventions for patients with IBS,\u201d noted William Chey, MD<\/a>, chief of Gastroenterology at Michigan Medicine. <\/p>\n Researchers have wondered whether that microbiome shift could calm IBS. A 2024 Australian randomized trial found the diet feasible and tied it to lower gastrointestinal distress scores.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike low FODMAP, the Mediterranean template emphasizes inclusion over exclusion, plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, with minimal red meat and sweets. <\/p>\n Meals feel recognizable and communal, an advantage when family dinners or restaurant outings matter to quality of life.<\/p>\n Numbers behind the findings<\/p>\n The Michigan pilot randomized 20 adults with diarrhea\u2011predominant or mixed\u2011type IBS to four weeks of either eating style. <\/p>\n Seventy\u2011three percent of the Mediterranean group and 81.8 percent of the low FODMAP group hit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA<\/a>) yardstick of a 30 percent drop in abdominal pain. <\/p>\n Symptom-severity scores also fell in both cohorts, though the low FODMAP arm logged a steeper average decline.<\/p>\n Importantly, every participant received pre\u2011portioned meals to maximize adherence, and dietitians verified compliance rates above 90 percent. <\/p>\n That control means the relief probably stemmed from the diets themselves, not random chance or inconsistent follow\u2011through. <\/p>\n Still, sample size was small, so the authors call for larger, real\u2011world studies<\/a> before formal guidelines change.<\/p>\n What patients can try now<\/p>\n If meticulous tracking and temporary restriction feel manageable, low FODMAP may offer the fastest path to quieter bowels. <\/p>\n Those who dread counting apple slices or onion fragments can lean into Mediterranean staples<\/a> instead, foods such as oatmeal with berries at breakfast, lentil salad drizzled with olive oil at lunch, and grilled salmon with roasted vegetables for dinner.<\/p>\n Either way, work with a registered dietitian familiar with IBS. Professional guidance prevents nutrient gaps, monitors symptom diaries, and designs a reintroduction schedule if you start with low FODMAP. <\/p>\n It also helps personalize Mediterranean patterns, ensuring adequate calcium, iron, and protein for different life stages.<\/p>\n Remember that stress, sleep, and movement matter too. Pair dietary<\/a> tweaks with a short daily walk or breathing exercise to tap the gut\u2013brain axis from multiple angles. Small, consistent habits often beat drastic overhauls in the long haul.<\/p>\n The study is published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n Check us out on EarthSnap<\/a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls<\/a> and Earth.com.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The daily hassle of abdominal pain, bloating, and unpredictable bathroom trips drives many people with with irritable bowel…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":260236,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4318],"tags":[105,4434,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-260235","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114843030937785286","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n<\/a><\/p>\n