Good Food road-test: the low-FODMAP diet

The premise: Helps sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome.

The results: For most people, eating is a pleasant affair. But for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome … well, there's no polite way to put it. Meal-time triggers digestive problems such as bloating, pain and ''toilet problems''.

The low-FODMAP diet is designed to help us poor souls. Developed by a Melbourne dietitian, Dr Sue Shepherd, and researchers at Monash University, it limits sugars poorly absorbed in the small intestine, such as lactose, fructans and fructose.

FODMAP stands for ''fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols''. This means limiting foods such as milk (lactose), honey (excess fructose), onion (fructans), stone fruit (polyols) and legumes (galacto-oligosaccharides) - though some people may tolerate certain groups better than others. It's also vital to consult a doctor to rule out other health complaints first.

I've followed the diet for a few years and, personally, it's been life-changing. Eating out can be tricky but it's nowhere near the gamble it used to be. (And unlike people with coeliac disease, I can cheat now and then without serious repercussions.)

Shopping for groceries can be a pain, however. Monash University's smartphone app is handy and a few convenience foods now bear the ''FODMAP-friendly'' logo but two of the biggest FODMAP offenders - onion and garlic - are in practically everything else.

Many recipes can be adapted to suit low-FODMAP requirements but the best flavours are often lost along the way.

Still, the health benefits have been worth the hassle for me. The diet now seems like second nature but I do long for a garlicky, gluteny pizza now and then.

The pros: A healthier digestive system.

The cons: Time consuming, boring flavours, expensive.

Dish discovery: Low-FODMAP green curry chicken (no onion or garlic).

Dish disaster: Hard, gluten-free breads.

Top three pantry staples: Rice noodles, passata for gluten-free pastas, onion-free salad.

How hard is it to eat out? Difficult - few menus offer low-FODMAP options though more chefs are catering to food intolerances.

Did it work? Yes - no more upset tummy, pain or fatigue.

What will you keep? The whole diet - unless doctors find a cure for IBS.