| Hi Olivia,
Have you found garlic and onion to be an issue for you?
Well you would not be alone! Around 24% of people with IBS will find fructans (the culprit found in these ingredients) to be an issue.
Now keep in mind that not everyone with IBS will react to these either - we frequently see people on our Take Control Process who don't react to fructans or any FODMAPs at all.
But if you are in the unlucky group that do - I have some great news for you!
You see, the term 'food intolerance' is pretty broad and basically means you can not tolerate a food. Depending on the way that food / ingredient is broken down will provide a different reason as to why you can not tolerate it.
For the vast amount of food intolerances, it is due to an enzyme deficiency - so the pathway to break down that food is not possible. The undigested food then causes you issues. Ths is true in lactose intolerance where someone simply does not produce enough lactase to break down the lactose.
However, enzymes are not the issue when it comes to onion and garlic. Our gut microbes are actually responsible for this break down.
So people who do not tolerate onion and garlic do not have an enzyme issue - they have a microbiota issue. They also likely have an issue with hypersensitivity also (where the brain will read false messages around pain and discomfort even when normal digestion is occurring).
So how do we improve or reverse onion and garlic intolerance?
1/ By targeting the microbiota
2/ By target hypersensitivity
Now lets be clear, this is not an exact science.
We can not say that by doing this 1 thing or taking a specific supplement that you will see a specific improvement but what we are seeing with clients on the Take Control System is that once they follow the foundations of the programme that overtime their tolerance improves.
For some, this means having no reactions during their reintroduction process and for others it means trying to reintroduce onion and garlic again with success a few months later.
And the huge benefit (besides the taste and convenience) of having onion and garlic in your diet is that they are both prebiotics. Which means they will help feed your microbes and improve your gut function further.
I hope that little insight has brought you hope!
If you have any questions then let me know! And of course, if you would like to try the Take Control System then hop on a call with us and we can chat to see if it is suitable for you. You can book here.
Best Wishes,
Kirsten Jackson BSc Hons PGCert RD - The IBS Dietitian Founder |
