What is a FODMAP diet, anyway? You've probably heard a lot about the FODMAP diet. Let's break it down for you, FODMAP stands for: Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides Monosaccharides And Polyols Those are pretty big words. Essentially, FODMAPs are short chain carbohydrates (sugars like fructose, sorbitol, mannitol, fructans and lactose) that aren't absorbed properly in the small intestine, leading to bloating, constipation and irregular bowel movements.