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- Home » IBS & FODMAP » Fodmap info & tips » The reintroduction phase
A cutting board with the text: the reintroduction phase of the low FODMAP diet

The reintroduction phase

June 6, 2020 By Karlijn 30 Comments

If you are reading this blog, that probably means you have successfully finished the elimination phase of the low FODMAP diet. Congratulations! Now we are ready to move on to a nicer part of the low FODMAP diet: the FODMAP reintroduction! A lot of people are a bit afraid of the reintroduction phase because they are scared that they will experience a lot of symptoms again. And I fully understand that. But let’s try to look at it from the positive side: this phase is going to help you identify your food triggers and give you more of your freedom back around food. Isn’t that great?

In this article, I will give you all the information you need about the reintroduction phase, so you can do the tests successfully and find out your triggers. 

What is the reintroduction phase? 

The reintroduction phase is the second phase of the low FODMAP diet, also known as the challenge phase. The goal of this phase is to find out which FODMAP groups trigger your IBS symptoms. You do this by testing / challenging the different FODMAP groups through food tests. 

As I have explained in this blog about the low FODMAP diet, there are 6 FODMAP groups: fructose, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, fructans and galactans (GOS). In each test you test one of these groups. Each test consists of 3 testing days and on every testing day you test a larger amount of a test food. During each test, you monitor your symptoms and like this, you will find out how you react to each of the FODMAP groups. I always advise to monitor your symptoms by keeping a food- and symptom diary. 

At the end of the reintroduction phase, you will know which FODMAP groups you don’t tolerate, which you tolerate in small amounts and which groups you can eat freely. After this phase you can start moderating the FODMAP diet to create your own personalised FODMAP diet with more food freedom. 

When are you ready to start reintroducing? 

You are ready to start the reintroduction phase if you have followed the elimination phase of the diet for 2 to 6 weeks and your symptoms are under control. This means that your IBS symptoms have been reduced to a minimum. 

Did you follow the elimination phase for 2 to 6 weeks, but do you still feel like you have too many symptoms to be able to start reintroducing? Then I advice to visit your dietician and look at how to proceed. It is important that your symptoms have significantly decreased and that you have a mostly calm gut when you start the reintroduction phase. Otherwise, it will be very hard to say whether the symptoms that you are experiencing come from the test food or from something else. 

There are several reasons why you still experience too many symptoms, even though you have been following the elimination phase. In this blog, I explain 5 reasons why the FODMAP diet might not be working for you yet. One of the reasons can be that you still make some mistakes in following the FODMAP diet and eat higher amounts of FODMAPs than you think, which can cause symptoms or you might have another food intolerance beyond FODMAPs that causes symptoms.

The best way to find out why you still have symptoms is to consult with your dietician, eat strictly low FODMAP for a few more weeks and keep a food- and symptom diary, so you can work out with your dietician what the reason for your issues is. If your gut has calmed down enough, you can proceed to the reintroduction phase.  

Is it necessary to reintroduce? 

A question I sometimes get is: “is it really necessary to do the reintroduction phase? I feel so good now that I have done the elimination phase and I have my symptoms under control. I don’t want to mess that up by doing the reintroduction”. I understand very well that you feel this way, it is so much more comfortable to stay in the safety of the elimination phase. But there are a few reasons why it is highly recommended to move through the challenges: 

  • You will have more freedom: when you find out what your triggers are, you will have a lot more freedom in what to eat. Most people find out that they can tolerate several FODMAP groups and being able to add those back into your diet gives you a lot more food freedom. It will be easier to eat out, easier to enjoy meals at your friend’s and family’s houses. You will feel a lot less restricted and isolated. 
  • It increases the variety of your diet: the low FODMAP diet is a very restrictive diet. If you stay in the elimination phase, you might be unnecessarily restricting yourself and keeping important nutrients from your body. 
  • FODMAP-rich foods are important for your gut bacteria: some foods that are high in FODMAPs help the growth of good bacteria in your gut. These bacteria act like probiotics. Restricting FODMAP foods for too long can harm the variety of good gut bacteria in your gut, the health of your gut and your overall health. Therefore it is important to bring some high FODMAP foods back into your diet. 

Source: Monash FODMAP

How long does the reintroduction phase take?

Monash says the reintroduction phase is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks. I personally find that quite short. They recommend 9 different tests, more about that below and I think for most people each test will take about a week. If you don’t get symptoms you can move on to the next test quicker. Sometimes the tests can take a bit longer, for example when you go through a stressful period and experience increased symptoms. In such periods, it is better to pause testing because you cannot be sure that the symptoms you have are because of the stress that you are in or because of the food that you tested. 

How to do FODMAP reintroduction?

There are two ways to do the FODMAP reintroduction: 

Three testing days in a row

  • Day 1: test day – small amount
  • Day 2: test day – moderate amount
  • Day 3: test day – large amount
  • Day 4-6: rest day 

With this testing method, you do three testing days in a row. On the first day, you start with a small amount and you build this up to a large testing amount on day 3. This is the testing method that Monash University advises because this will help you to move through the tests as quick as possible. The advise is to always take 2-3 rest days after the 3 test days . If you have symptoms, wait until your stomach is calm again before you proceed to the next test, also if this takes more than 3 days. 

Source: Monash FODMAP

Three testing days with a rest day between each test

  • Day 1: test day – small amount
  • Day 2: rest day
  • Day 3: test day – moderate amount
  • Day 4: rest day 
  • Day 5: test day – large amount
  • Day 6-8: rest day

With the second method, you do one testing day and then a rest day. Another testing day and a rest day again etc. This way of testing takes a little longer, but there are reasons why you would prefer to test with method two:

  • If you have constipation it can take longer for your symptoms to show. So in that situation, it can be better to have rest day between each test. 
  • If it makes you feel more secure to have a rest day between each test
  • If your dietician recommends this schedule or another testing schedule that he or she thinks better fits

Which foods to use for the tests? 

When picking testing foods it is important that these foods only contain one of the FODMAP groups. Some foods contain a high amount of more than one FODMAP group and if you use one of those foods, you won’t know to which FODMAP group you react. Therefore, pick foods that contain only one FODMAP. After you finish the reintroduction phase, you can start testing foods that contain more than one FODMAP. 

Be aware that the recommendations for which foods to use for each test have changed over the years. There are still lists around on the internet that are old and the foods that are recommended there might not always be the best foods for testing  a group. For example because the food has quite a high low FODMAP serving size or because the food contains more than one FODMAP. I recommend using the amounts stated in the Monash University FODMAP app. Because the app is always up-to-date and the app is made by the creators of the FODMAP diet.  

You can find the recommended challenge foods by opening the app, click on diary, click the plus on the upper right side and then click the symbol with the apple and the arrow. There you can select the FODMAP group and see which foods they recommend. Below I have listed a few options for each FODMAP group: 

Fructose

Pick one of the foods below to test. Test the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Honey: 1 1/2 tsp (10 g), 2 tsp (14 g) and 1 tbsp (28 g)
  • Mango: 1/4 mango (52 g), 1/2 mango (104 g) and 1 mango (208 g)
  • Orange juice: 2/3 cup (140 g), 3/4 cup (157 g) and 1 cup (201 g)

a glass of orange juice

Lactose

Pick one of the foods below to test. Test the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Yoghurt: 1/2 tub (85 g),  1 tub (170 g) and 1 cup (200 g)
  • Milk: 1/4 cup (60 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml) and 1 cup (250 ml)

Mannitol

Pick one of the foods below to test. Test the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Cauliflower: 2 small florets (17 g), 4 small florets (33 g) and 8 small florets (66 g)
  • Sweet potato: 3/4 cup (105 g), 1 cup (140 g) and 1 1/2 cup (210 g)

Sorbitol

Pick one of the foods below to test. Test the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Avocado: 1/4 small avocado (40 g), 1/2 avocado (80 g) and 3/4 avocado (120 g)
  • Blackberries: 2-3 berries (13 g), 5 berries (25 g) and 10 berries (50 g)

Fructan – garlic

Garlic is tested separately in the fructans test. Test garlic in the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Garlic: 1/4 clove, 1/2 clove, 1 whole clove

Fructan – onion

Onion is tested separately in the fructans test. Test one of these options on day 1, 2 and 3:

  • Onion (red or white): 1/8 onion (11 g), 1/4 onion (22 g) and 1/2 onion (44 g)

Fructan – grain

Grains are tested separately in the fructans test. Test one of these options on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Wholegrain wheat bread: 1 slice (26 g), 1 1/2 slices (39 g) and 2 slices (52 g)
  • Wheat pasta: 2/3 cup (100 g), 1 cup (150 g), 1 1/2 cup (220 g)(cooked weight)

Fructan – vegetable and fruits

Monash also recommends to test a fructan vegetable or fruit. Test one of these options on day 1, 2 and 3:

  • Raisins: 1 1/2 tbsp (19 g), 2 tbsp (26 g) and 3 tbsp (39 g)
  • Grapefruit: 1/2 medium (104 g), 1 medium (207 g) and 1 large (280 g)
  • Brussels sprouts: 3 sprouts (57 g), 4 sprouts (76 g) and 5 sprouts (95 g)

Galactans (GOS)

Pick one of the foods below to test. Test the following amounts on day 1, 2 and 3: 

  • Almonds: 15 nuts, 20 nuts and 30 nuts
  • Canned chick peas, rinsed: 1/2 cup (84 g), 2/3 cup (112 g) and 1 cup (168 g)

Which group should I test first? 

It doesn’t matter which group you test first. Most people start with the group that they are most curious about because they want to know if they can or cannot add that group back into their diet. But there is no fixed order that you have to follow. 

How to make your reintroduction a success

Some tips that can help you move through the reintroduction phase smoothly:

  • Make sure that you continue to eat strictly low FODMAP through the entire reintroduction phase. If you don’t do this, you can get symptoms and this might interfere with your test results. 
  • Don’t add the FODMAP groups that you didn’t react to back into your diet until you have finished the reintroduction phase. 
  • Keep a food- and symptom diary to track how you are reacting to the different tests and to know when you are ready for the next one. 
  • Do the reintroduction phase under the guidance of a FODMAP-certified dietician, so you have somebody to help you interpret test results and symptoms. 
  • Wait until your symptoms have settled before you start a new test. 

Frequently asked questions about the reintroduction phase

There are several questions that I often get asked about the reintroduction phase. I have bundled all of those questions and in this blog, FODMAP-certified dietician Manon te Linde answers all frequently asked questions about the reintroduction phase. So head over to that blog to get your questions answered. 

I hope this blog has helped you to navigate the reintroduction phase. Do you have more questions? Feel free to ask them below or to ask them in the Karlijn’s Kitchen Facebook community. A closed Facebook group where you can ask questions and share your experiences with other fodmappers. 

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Filed Under: Fodmap info & tips, IBS & FODMAP

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steven

    May 25, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    Thanks for this info! I’m struggling to add bread as I feel this gives me a flare-up, But don’t many people say the same thing if they haven’t had bread for a long time?

    Reply
  2. Andrew

    July 19, 2021 at 2:01 am

    The way you present information is really easy to follow. I’m about a week away from starting the tests, so I’m looking at a bunch of advice and yours is the clearest. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      July 23, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      I am happy to hear that, Andrew. You are welcome :)

      Reply
  3. PAT

    October 1, 2021 at 8:00 am

    I am testing bread today and so far I am not suffering any pain but I am a little bloated. I am nervous about testing the garlic and onions, but will try in very small amounts first. Will post my results.

    Reply
  4. Sara

    October 8, 2021 at 12:41 am

    Two weeks left of testing. Reaction to fructan and lactose with severe reactions to fructose (does it make anyone else itchy?). Just onions and GOS to go. Takes a long time, but worth it.

    Reply
  5. PAT

    October 9, 2021 at 10:57 pm

    I am starting to reintroduce garlic and onion to test them. I am nervous about it because I have been feeling better than I have in years. I have successfully tested the fruit and the bread. I found that I really like the taste of Gluten free pasta even if I can tolerate regular pasta. I will post the results later.

    Reply
  6. Christina

    October 25, 2021 at 11:50 pm

    Hi there, have you found that most people respond the same to onion and garlic? I did garlic reintroduction but had enough by day two. I really don’t want to go through the same again with onion. Also I do fine with sourdough AP flour bread and some spelt, so I don’t have a desire to specifically test wheat. I’m very sad that I did not pass the apple test. It’s one of the foods I miss the most.

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      November 8, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      I have heard different reactions. Monash states them as two separate groups to test, so therefore it would be best to test them both, just to be sure. It is possible that you reacted to garlic, but that you won’t react to onion.

      Reply
  7. PAT

    November 4, 2021 at 12:13 am

    I reintroduced onions in a small amount and had a severe reaction. Three days of constant diarrea. I will wait awhile before trying anything else.

    Reply
  8. Monika

    November 12, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    Does onion and/or garlic need to be raw or can it be cooked/fried? Does it make a difference?

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      November 22, 2021 at 8:42 am

      I always advise to prepare the test foods how you would normally eat them. So if you would most often eat raw onion, also test it raw. If you always fry/cook it, then also cook it now.

      Reply
      • Rhys

        March 12, 2022 at 1:44 am

        Thank you for putting together this article! It has been super helpful. I was wondering are the measurements for raw garlic and onion or cooked?

        I weighed the raw ingredients and had them cooked. If I didn’t react to the largest amount in the reintroduction phase is it safe to say I may be ok with larger amounts of garlic/onion? A lot of dishes I used to eat had a lot of garlic (5+) and onion.

        Also, do you (or anyone) recommend which brand of bread to test? I’m having the hardest time figuring out which one to buy. What should be the main ingredient? Most of them have tons of ingredients. Thank you!

        Reply
        • Karlijn

          March 28, 2022 at 7:16 pm

          I am not sure to be honest, Monash doesn’t say whether they mean raw or cooked onion and garlic. I would assume raw.

          I would do the same as you did: measure them raw, eat them cooked.
          I would always test how you react to larger amounts first. The only thing you know for sure now is that you don’t react to the largest amount you tested. So your tolerance for garlic / onion is probably quite high. But if you want to add a lot more garlic and onion to your meals I would test how you react to that as well.

          For bread, it is hard to give you advice because I am in the Netherlands and we have very different brands here. I would suggest to test with a bread that you would like to continue eating after the reintroduction phase. So bread that you used to eat before you started the FODMAP diet.

          Reply
    • Christine Davas

      February 21, 2022 at 3:06 am

      Thanks for asking that question I was wondering that as well.

      Reply
  9. Susan

    November 20, 2021 at 6:24 am

    Thank you for the clear presentation of the reintroduction phase. Well done. Easy to understand!

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      November 22, 2021 at 8:37 am

      Happy to hear that! You’re welcome :)

      Reply
  10. Diane Potter

    December 9, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing, this article has help me to understand the next step before speaking with my dietitian next week.

    Reply
  11. Angeline

    December 23, 2021 at 9:51 am

    Thankyou for your information and peoples comments. I will be reintroducing after Xmas. I feel more hopeful now!

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      December 24, 2021 at 4:01 pm

      Good luck!

      Reply
  12. Julie

    February 16, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    Thanks, this is a fantastic roadmap for the reintroduction phase! I’m really grateful that you took the trouble to post it, and have replied to most people in the comments! I’ll be back for more info and guidance!! 😊👍🤩

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      February 18, 2022 at 11:17 am

      You’re welcome :) I am happy you find it useful!

      Reply
  13. Linda

    February 19, 2022 at 6:01 am

    Do have to use white or red onions. Isyellow ok

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      February 19, 2022 at 10:16 am

      I think any of those are fine

      Reply
  14. Irene

    February 21, 2022 at 4:42 am

    Thanks for all the clear information. I want to make sure I understand; when you reintroduce like for lactose – we should do the yogurt AND milk or one or the other?

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      February 21, 2022 at 8:07 pm

      For lactose testing one food is sufficient, so yoghurt OR milk is ok

      Reply
  15. chantelle

    March 2, 2022 at 2:19 am

    I am allergic to a variety of berries and HATE avocado. Is there a recommendation on what else I can try for sorbitol?

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      March 3, 2022 at 8:12 am

      The Monash app also gives apricot and peach as options for testing sorbitol. Maybe that’s an option?

      Reply
  16. Crystal

    March 5, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    I think I am only going to test hard cheeses, as I do not normally consume milk and yogurt from dairy. I know I am lactose intolerant, so that is all I eat for dairy products. I will not test fructans from wheat since I am gluten-free. But I am only going on week 2 of elimination right now, so I have 5 more weeks to go. Today is the last day of week 1.

    Reply
  17. Victoria

    April 13, 2022 at 1:00 am

    Hi there! I’m starting the reintroduction phase right now and am almost done with testing lactose. Assuming I have no issues with lactose, when I move on to test other groups, is it okay to consume foods with lactose at the same time? Or must we avoid all other high FODMAP foods even if they are considered safe for us after reintroducing it when testing a new group? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karlijn

      April 22, 2022 at 9:54 am

      Usually it is advised to wait with adding groups back into your diet until you have finished the reintroduction phase.

      Reply

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