07/08/2022
This is a topic that has been weighing very heavily on my mind lately…and it is that of nutrition…specifically of foods that create inflammation throughout our bodies.
There are a significant number of orthopedic conditions that are aggravated by our diets (i.e., irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, etc.)
There are many elimination diets out there that work to decrease inflammation, and many involve significant elimination in the initial stages so that you can discover your “triggers”. These diets are not meant to be long-term programs, but instead are to be followed for 2-6 week to allow for a decrease in symptoms and a gradual re-exposure to foods that may potentially be triggering.
Many of my clients with irritable bowel syndrome, start with the FODMAP diet. FODMAP, according to John Hopkins Medicine stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that the small intestine absorbs poorly”. These include foods such as garlic, onion, asparagus, watermelon, apples, wheat-based products, dairy products, beans and lentils, etc. Clients would eliminate these foods altogether for around 2 weeks and then every 3 days would reintroduce a food on the list to see if it aggravates symptoms. The bladder has different foods that would be considered aggravating, however there may be overlap between those that aggravate the bowel and the bladder. Each person is so individualized that some foods may be triggering at times, and sometimes won't bother them at all.
If you have more questions reach out to your therapist or speak with a registered dietician/nutritionist to help you safely follow elimination diets. You can also check out these patient resources for interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
http://www.ic-network.com/patient-resources/diet/the-ic-food-lists/
AND
https://aboutibs.org
