Is Whole Barley Low FODMAP? The Full Guide

No, Whole barley contains high levels of FODMAPs when consumed in typical serving sizes. Avoid Whole barley to help prevent symptoms. For tailored advice, consider consulting a dietitian specializing in FODMAPs to ensure it suits your dietary needs.

Possible FODMAPs: fructans, gos

Best Low FODMAP alternatives to Whole barley for your diet

You can substitute Whole barley with brown rice, quinoa and buckwheat. These alternatives work well in most recipes and are easier on your stomach if you’re following a low FODMAP diet.

Is whole barley good for people with IBS?

Whole barley can be high or low in FODMAPs depending on the serving size. For those managing IBS or SIBO during the elimination phase, it’s recommended to stick to smaller, safer portions, limit medium portions, and avoid large ones in a single meal. Allow adequate time between meals to support digestive processing and minimize potential IBS symptom triggers.

Pro tip: Ingredients under 2% of a product or used for colouring are typically too minimal to trigger FODMAP reactions.

About Whole barley

Whole barley, a versatile grain used in soups, stews, and as a base for salads, is rich in fibre and essential nutrients, and generally safe for consumption but may cause digestive issues in those with gluten sensitivity.

About Low FODMAP Diet

The Low FODMAP diet is designed to reduce the intake of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, which can cause digestive discomfort. This diet typically follows three stages: elimination, gradual reintroduction of foods, and personalisation to help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Faq

What is “Typical serving size”?

Typical serving size refers to the standard serving size of a food product, determined by factors such as official nutritional guidelines, packaging serving size recommendations, and healthy eating standards. For example, a typical serving size might include two slices of bread or half a cup of cooked vegetables. In the context of FODMAPs, Typical serving size provides a baseline for assessing a food's digestive impact and nutritional characteristics..

Are the weights in the article cooked or raw?

Values are usually given for raw product. Ingredient categories such as meat, cereals, rice, pasta have values in cooked form

How do I use portion sizes during the 3-step FODMAP diet?

During step 1 of the Low FODMAP diet, we recommend that you choose “Low FODMAP serving size” of foods limit“Moderate FODMAP serving size” and avoid “High FODMAP serving size” of foods. “High FODMAP serving size” and“Moderate FODMAP serving size” of foods are then slowly reintroduced, depending on your level of tolerance, in steps 2 (FODMAP reintroduction) and 3 (FODMAP personalisation) of the diet

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About the author

Emily Stewart, MPH, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Therapist licensed to treat clients in PA, NJ, FL, and TX. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master's of Public Health from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. After completing the RD program at Rutgers University, Emily worked as a Clinical Dietitian for both Penn at Princeton and RWJ University hospitals specializing in the treatment of Eating Disorders at the Inpatient, Partial and Intensive Outpatient levels of care.

January 18, 2025