Here's How a Low-FODMAP Diet Could Help Solve Digestion Issues Isadora Baum Replay Video UP NEXT Chances are, you've heard of FODMAPs or a low-FODMAP diet. The diet isn't intended for long-term use—it's a type of elimination diet to try to figure out what may be causing stomach issues, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. So what are FODMAPs anyway? The acronym stands for, wait for it, fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Yep, that's a mouthful and doesn't explain much unless you're familiar with chemistry. In layman's speak, FODMAPs are types of sugars, and your small intestine can have a hard time digesting them.