FODMAP Intolerance-- an IBS culprit

"Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food." - Hippocrates

People who have struggled with digestive issues have often been labeled with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) if no other specific cause for their ongoing pain and discomfort was found after a variety of tests. A research group at Monash University began studying the possible digestive issues that trigger IBS in some people. They found that small chain carbohydrates, which pass through the digestive tract of the average person without complication, are not properly absorbed by the digestive tract of people with IBS. This leads to the fermenting in the gut, needing a lot of the body's water to eliminate, and creating gas and other digestive issues. This malabsorption leads to IBS with a number of symptoms, and secondary reactions, such as:

Overgrowth of bacteria
Excessive gas buildup
Chronic fatigue
Headaches
Bloating
Bowel distention
Memory problems
Sleep disturbances
Muscle & joint pain
Diarrhea
Constipation
The primary culprits of FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, And Polyols) are:

Fructose, a very simple sugar (monosaccharide) found in most fruits and vegetables that digests alright in the presence of other sugars like glucose, but when is in excess, is not absorbed correctly.
Oligosaccharides, both fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides are longer chain carbs that the human body can not break down. Some people are much more sensitive to these than others, leading to greater digestive symptoms.
Lactose, a small disaccharide from dairy products, rely on an enzyme in the intestines to be broken down. Some people lack this enzyme resulting in malabsorption.
Polyols, often found in artificial sweeteners as well as some fruits and vegetables, are not well absorbed in the gut, leading to the issues above.