> Health and Disease > Gastrointestinal

It’s no fun when you get that bloated, gassy feeling after eating–so often considered a "normal" post-meal symptom in our society.

But what about if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers or even life-threatening inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis? The fact is, digestive problems run the gamut and affect nearly everyone at one time or another.

As a naturopathic physician and a former sufferer of Crohn’s disease (now completely healed), it is my life’s passion to discover and implement effective programs for the treatment of digestive disorders. My program for optimal intestinal health encompasses three major categories: diet, supplementation and lifestyle therapies.

Dietary Recommendations

After trying virtually every dietary approach to conquer my own digestive problems as well as those of my clients, I have come to what I believe are the foundational dietary truths for reversing chronic and acute health conditions.

To maintain good health in general, avoid foods that contain additives, preservatives, sugar, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, and white or unbleached flours. Most people suffering from digestive problems also have an impaired ability to digest and utilize carbohydrates that contain disaccharides, the double-bonded sugars found in all grain-based foods (pasta, bread, cereals), dairy products (milk, ice cream, most yogurts), sucrose (table sugar), most beans (including soy), as well as potatoes and corn. Disaccharides consumed by people with impaired digestive function tend to enter the colon undigested and feed the “bad” bacteria, yeasts and parasites.

Healthier carbohydrates are largely composed of monosaccharides (single sugars) found in fruits, most vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, honey and fermented yogurt. When grains, which are high in disaccharides, are soaked and fermented as in traditional “yeast-free” sourdough bread, or sprouted as in Ezekiel or Manna bread, many of the disaccharides are converted to monosaccharides. Therefore, someone suffering from digestive problems should choose only grains that have been sprouted or fermented (sour leavened).

When it comes to proteins, there are some animal foods I absolutely refuse to touch. Pork, shellfish, catfish and other so-called “unclean” foods, even if organically produced, are from the “garbage eaters” of the planet. They contain toxins and may harbour deadly diseases. Healthy protein choices include wild (not farmed) salmon, snapper, cod, sardines and other fish with scales. Whenever possible, choose free-range, organic and grass-fed beef, buffalo, venison, lamb and chicken. Eggs from chickens fed a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids are an excellent source of protein and essential fats.

For dairy foods, I recommend unpasteurized cheeses and yogurt from goat or sheep’s milk when available. Properly prepared goat’s milk yogurt is a rich source of highly absorbable protein in a predigested form containing generous amounts of probiotics (friendly bacteria) and enzymes. People with severe inflammatory bowel diseases should consume as much as four cups (one litre) of goat’s milk yogurt per day. It is a cornerstone of my program, and a complete resource section listing of suppliers can be found in my book, Patient Heal Thyself.

The fats we consume can make a huge difference in our digestive and overall health. I recommend one to three teaspoons (five to 15 millilitres) of cod liver oil daily in addition to regular fish consumption. Cod liver oil contains the often elusive fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Unrefined flax, hemp and extra-virgin olive oils are other healthy fats.

Butter from organically raised animals is excellent for cooking, but I especially like and recommend extra-virgin coconut oil, a saturated fat that has shown tremendous benefits in digestive and immune health. Extra-virgin coconut oil is more easily utilized than other fats and is extremely stable. It can withstand high cooking temperatures without oxidation and has a long shelf life. I tell my clients to consume between two to four tablespoons (30 to 60 ml) per day.

Jordan S. Rubin is a doctor of naturopathic medicine, certified nutritional consultant, member of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and certified fitness specialist. A regular television and radio guest, he is the author of Patient Heal Thyself, and the soon-to-be-released Restoring Your Digestive Health: How the guts and glory program can transform your life. Dr. Rubin’s health programs are explained in his new book Patient Heal Thyself, available by calling 1-800-797-9026 or visiting gardenoflifeusa.com.

Source: alive #246, April 2003