<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians who've self-diagnosed a gluten intolerance have been warned that they're likely cutting out the wrong foods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne researchers have identified a group of carbohydrates known as FODMAPs as a more likely cause of the gut symptoms that many believe are caused by coeliac disease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research suggests that a significant portion of the population, approximately 10 per cent, who report adverse reactions to gluten may, in fact, be reacting to FODMAPs, which are found in foods such as onions, garlic, and wheat. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-executives-gone-triple-zero-outage/7e64e8db-87e8-4d61-a8ec-896e95d81d76"><strong><span>Two Optus executives to exit the company after triple-zero disaster</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Gluten has been labelled as a villain, unnecessarily," lead researcher Associate Professor Jess Biesiekierski said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We think that there is social media and lifestyle magazines and celebrities that are influencing this boom," she added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Madi West is one Australian who avoided gluten for years, but experienced a turning point when symptoms such as painful bloating and an upset stomach persisted despite her gluten-free diet.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/gluten-intolerance-research-fodmaps/07681a5e-63b9-4c87-af00-f88ee5b025ec" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Subsequent testing revealed she did not have coeliac disease, prompting her to consider other potential triggers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Maybe FODMAPs or other lifestyle things," West said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/gold-prices-drop-after-australians-line-up-for-hours-to-buy/7daad3f5-7cd7-4585-9d46-34c5267c6709"><strong><span>Aussies queued for hours to buy gold. Now the price has plummeted</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gastroenterologist Associate Professor Jason Tye-Din highlighted the potential benefits of managing FODMAP intake instead of strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not as rigid as a gluten-free diet," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It means that people can have a much more relaxed lifestyle, and it means that they're not at risk of some of these nasty complications of coeliac disease."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The researchers said it's crucial to properly test to accurately identify the cause of gut symptoms. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The very first step is a very simple blood test where they can screen for either the coeliac genes or the coeliac-related antibodies," Biesiekierski said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And getting the balance right can be a game-changer</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Day to day, there's no strict exclusions anymore," West said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>