Updated on October 10, 2023.
My name is Emmanuel. I am 37 years old and I am the creator of Fodmapedia.
I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at the end of 2017. For six years before my diagnosis, I had been having intestinal problems. I could finally put a name to what was causing my digestive problems.
The gastroenterologist told me this was a condition I’d be dealing with for life, and that apart from a course of probiotics (which, for me, only made things worse), there was nothing we could do about it. Just before leaving, he quickly mentioned the “FODMAP diet,” but didn’t go into great length.
While reading up on IBS, I once again came across the low-FODMAP diet and decided to test it out a few months later. Although my IBS symptoms are relatively mild compared to others (it feels more like a big permanent discomfort), there was no doubt that the diet was effective in helping me manage my symptoms. It was a revelation.
In 6 months, I went from feeling like there was nothing I could do, to discovering a diet that, albeit restrictive, really worked. It was a huge relief.
Following this diet is difficult and limits your choices — I can’t deny it. On top of that, the medical profession is not always up to date with scientific advances on this subject (the FODMAP diet is just over 10 years old). The media and the general public know little about the disease or the diet, and although awareness is growing, online resources are often contradictory. For such a complex subject, we could do better.
Given the current state of available resources, it was and still is a real struggle to get started on the diet. I found myself looking for more articles and pre-approved low-FODMAP recipes that used classic, easy to find ingredients. (I’m not the type of person who already had chia seeds or millet flour in my pantry.)
As a result, I launched Fodmapedia in early 2019, with the hope of becoming a reference for the low-FODMAP diet, creating dedicated tools to manage the diet, and inspiring a community of mutual aid. I’m trying to create the type of resource I would have liked to have at the beginning of my journey. Even today I still have a lot to learn and I hope we can support one another in our progress.
The feedback I received on my FODMAP database has been very encouraging and makes me motivated to continue. It’s so much more pleasant not to be alone in this process!
Emmanuel