Following our recent Reintroduction protocol update, we thought we'd also answer one of the most common questions we receive: "Is there an order I should follow with the FODMAPs I challenge during the reintroduction step?"
To quickly recap, Reintroduction is the second step of the 3-step FODMAP diet, whereby you will remain on a background low FODMAP diet, while reintroducing foods containing a particular FODMAP to determine your tolerance to that type of FODMAP. For example, you will reintroduce wheat pasta into your background diet for 3 days to determine your tolerance to fructans in grains, as it is the primary FODMAP found in wheat pasta.
The good news is that there is no particular rule to the order of FODMAPs to reintroduce! But…what does that mean?
For some people, they may start with a FODMAP they think they will tolerate or feel comfortable with reintroducing first to build confidence and establish reassurance.
On the other hand, some people prefer to first reintroduce FODMAPs that they think are not well tolerated, to get clear results for a potential FODMAP trigger.
Some people may also wish to first reintroduce FODMAPs that is found in their staple food for a clear answer to their daily diet. For example, if you consume wheat pasta frequently, you may wish to reintroduce fructans in grains first and find out whether wheat pasta can be included in your daily diet, once the reintroduction step is complete.
Remember to reintroduce FODMAPs one at a time, so you get clear results on your tolerance to each FODMAP. Work with a FODMAP trained dietitian to ensure your reintroduction protocol is suitable for your needs, and challenge responses are clearly interpreted before the Personalisation step.
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