The low fodmap diet has really helped my IBS symptoms, and I know fermented foods make me much worse so I totally avoid them, particularly as I’ve been treated for SIBO in the past, but I find they crop up everywhere without you realising it. Often it can be very difficult trying to sort out which ingredient of what you’re eating is making you feel bad. I’ve just found out that rice noodles, which I’ve been eating because the ingredients on the packet just say “rice”, are actually made with fermented rice - that’s how they get the rice to stick together to make the noodles. I’ve suddenly started feeling much better by cutting them out of my diet. Have actually slept through the night twice this week. Delighted, but also annoyed that food labelling isn’t more accurate for those of us whose guts are challenged.
Rice noodles: The low fodmap diet has really... - IBS Network
Rice noodles
Interesting. My pet peeve is menus. I can pretty much count on onions to give me an attack of IBS. You'd think they'd list them on their menus. But no ...
If they're big enough and obvious enough, I can just avoid them (say, in a salad). If they're small and cooked into the dish, though, it's super-easy to eat some unwittingly. And if they list them, I can also ask the kitchen to leave them out.
Yes onions and garlic are in many dishes. It's a bit sad because I like both very much. I even dream about eating garlic ! 
In September last year I was doing quite well and had been for a few weeks. A friend of a friend who had come to stay who used to cook for the RAF and is a REALLY good cook, made this gorgeous vegetarian dish which she had worked so hard on. Yes, I ate some. Yes, it tasted lovely and how could I say no? And guess what? Back to square one next morning with IBS !! grrr
Interestingly, my problems are with raw garlic. The stuff that comes in a jar with water is just fine. I read once that the water leaches the bad stuff out (probably sulfur compounds in my case, not fructans).
As for onions, I can eat leaks and scallions without any issues. Go figure.
I am envious! I even struggle with chives. And I love leeks and scallions. (sigh) I might try that idea of soaking garlic in water. It may draw out the Fodmaps perhaps? I dreamed I was eating roasted garlic last night.....😆
How very timely: huffpost.com/entry/onion-fo...
Yes, eating in a restaurant with IBS is a bit like playing Russian roulette. I’m getting good at picking onions out of salads though!
Yes, I agree. It should say "fermented rice" on the label. In the early days of my IBS I found out quickly that olives didn't suit me, and I had to stop eating them. The only other fermented foods I have tried are Sauerkraut (big fail !) miso, and sourdough bread (not a terrible effect but an effect nevertheless I noticed.) None of those suited me, and I can happily live without them.
The sauerkraut I found out was pasteurised, so wouldn't have had probiotics, but the cabbage itself was too harsh for my tummy. I have to stay away from cabbage, but can eat kale in moderation (low Fodmap)
It's a shame. I miss olives. Not sure if it's the fibre or the "fermented" thing that gets to me. Knowing me it will be the fibre, because I bet olives on general supermarket shelves also don't contain probiotics. Like a dose of salts !! TMI lol
I don’t miss sauerkraut at all, but I do miss the odd glass of wine! Actually, I don’t care what I don’t eat, as long as I can get a good night’s sleep. I find that disturbed sleep is my worst symptom.
Yes, I miss wine too, and beer. It would be nice to be more flexible when going to a party or friendly gathering. I can drink vodka only (boring) It's the only alcoholic drink that doesn't upset my gut.
I used to love a glass of Port too. Sad that seems gone for ever. Especially at Christmas.
You've got a great attitude, no food or drink is worth it if it just brings days of suffering from a few minutes pleasure.I'm pretty sure that 100% buckwheat noodles are not made from ferments , but you could check on the online details of different brands as they usually give more details. I've been using buckwheat products for some time and they seem to digest well , contain protein and soluble fibre , which lets me have noodles , pasta , cereal and crackers again.
Thanks for the suggestion. I could give buckwheat another try. When you’ve discovered that one of your mainstays is a culprit, it involves re-trying a lot of the other food you excluded from your diet, as they could have been innocent after all, and only changing one thing at a time. A lengthy process.
You peaked my interest , although I do wish it hadn't been caused by your discomfort and loss if a staple food.However , I decided to see whether all rice noodles are fermented , or if there was a difference between brown and white.
I put ' Are Brown Rice Noodles Fermented ' into Google.
Ending up finding a study and an extract in Science Direct about a study that compared the differences in composition of noodles that compared both white and brown unfermented noodles with white and brown fermented ones.
This was a study which was comparing the differences for the US Department of Agriculture.
Unfortunately, the extracts did not specify the makes of the unfermented ones , but a little extra research via Google , the researchers in the link via Research gate , or asking the noodle manufacturers themselves, could mean you could find a few unfermented options ( probably online ) and still have one of your favourite food cupboard essentials. Just a thought , just sorry I couldn't find the brands for you.
It particularly interested me because it just shows how wide the differences are between IBS patients , and how finding out the different health issues or intolerance causes which cause the IBS are so important too.
Depending on the different gastric or neurological factors or chronic issues that underlie our IBS many IBS sufferers find fermented foods are the key to improving symptoms , while for others , ferments are a big trigger.
This fact in itself should be alerting our GP to send us back to the Specialists for the appropriate testing based on our food diary results.
Those whom can't stomach ferments regularly have issues with too much stomach acid , imbalanced gut flora , diverticulitis, fragile gut walls , chronic H.pylori bacter , food intolerances including yeast/ fungi intolerance as well as neuro deficiency or Fibromyalgia.
Those whom find ferments ease the situation often have B 12 and Folate Deficiency, SIBO , too little acid , imbalanced bacteria , H.pylori bact for other causes , functional absorption problems , gut dysmotility, neuro or Fibromyalgia issues for a different cause.
And that is without even dipping a toe into the complex , multisystemic chronic health causes , autoimmune, hepatic, enzyme , hormone or neurological issues , that IBS can be an early warning sign of in combination with other symptoms that the Doctors just brush off because of their lack of knowledge on these signals.
It proves how medical care is often letting us down when they just dismiss it with comments like , "it's IBS , you might never know the cause", after doing the most basic of health tests .
It is wrong that they think that it is fine to do that , discharging and leaving patients without even the most basic information to help finding out their own triggers with less pain.
And then worse , usually , ignoring us when we come in and say we have found one of those triggers , not bothering to write it down or suggest options for further testing.
There should at least be access to Nutritionists to help guide and monitor our results , and when they see the common pattern sending us down the right Medical care route if it is required.
It is no wonder that it can take a decades for many chronically ill people , like myself , to get a diagnosis of their conditions when our early symptoms of IBS , Migraines , Neuro Pain or reactions to certain things were brushed off or ignored just because it didn't show up in common blood work or on a scan. Lost decades when we could be doing more correct preventative care to prevent worse symptoms later on.
Good luck with your search , Bee
Thank you for the advice. Yes, I’ll look into whether there are some noodle’s available that aren’t made with fermented rice. Agreed, the medics don’t seem to know much about or be that interested in what triggers IBS. Aside from antibiotic treatment for SIBO, the low fodmap diet has been the most helpful thing for me, but I only had 3 brief appointments with 3 different NHS nutritionists. The last one discharged me with a leaflet on how to re-introduce foods, and I found I couldn’t re-introduce any of them!
Thank you SOOOOO much for this information! I had no idea that they use fermented rice for rice noodles. This is the reason this forum is so important. Have a great day. 😊
Glad you found it helpful. I haven’t seen rice noodles listed in low fodmap lists of fermented foods to avoid. Perhaps they don’t know either!
Hi have just looked rice noodles up on the Monash fodmap website and it says they are low fodmap at any quantity, just shows you you don't know what to believe. Glad your feeling better though
That’s interesting. I don’t think they should be low fodmap. Maybe I’ll be proactive and email them.
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