Diet Guide to Combat Digestive Problems

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Diet Guide to Combat Digestive Problems

One of the strategies for dealing with digestive problems such as bloating, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is to go on a low reactive diet together with a bowel reseeding program.

This program will take several weeks and is likely to significantly alleviate your digestive conditions.

Phase 1 - Weed

This involves weeding out any bad bugs in your digestive system and helping your body to cleanse and rebuild the gut. You will be given herbal medicines to clean out the bad bugs and rebuild the gut. You will also need to keep to the low reactive diet for 14 days. No cheating! You must stay on this diet and avoid certain foods otherwise this program may not work properly.

Phase 2 - Seed

This involves populating your gut with plenty of good bacteria. You should take good quality probiotics to populate your gut as well as other supplements to help the probiotics to flourish. You will need to keep to the low reactive diet but may gradually reintroduce certain foods.

Phase 3 - Refeed

At this point you can start to reintroduce foods, one food at a time. You would eat the food for one day then return to the low reactive diet. If you do not experience any digestive problems, this food may be returned to your diet.

Food Group	Foods you should eat	Foods to Avoid
Meat, Fish, Poultry, Legumes	Chicken (free range), lamb, turkey, cold-water fish salmon, halibut, cod, tuna, mackerel, trout etc.) Some people may be allowed legumes however if they cause bloating, wind or discomfort please avoid them.	Red meats-beef-pork-veal, eggs, processed meats: cold cuts, bacon, ham, sausage, frankfurters etc. Processed soya products, soya sausage, soya burger, soya sauce, tempeh, tofu, tamari etc
Dairy products	Milk substitutes such as rice milk, nut milks, soya beverages - in moderation due to their high carbohydrate content.	ALL DAIRY PRODUCTS including milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, cream, non-dairy creamers. Dairy alternatives: soya yoghurt, soya cheese. Coconut milk or cream.
Grains, starches, breads and cereals	Rice (brown preferably), buckwheat, millet, soya, amaranth, quinoa, tapioca, arrowroot, their flours and pastas. Potato flour and gluten-free products.	All gluten containing products: wheat, rye, oats, barley, malt.Breads biscuits, crackers, pasta, cereals, etc, including gluten-containing pasta.
Soups	Clear, vegetable-based broth, Homemade vegetarian soups.	Canned or creamed soups.
Vegetables	All vegetables, preferably fresh, frozen or freshly juiced.	Canned, creamed or in casseroles. Pumpkin, squashes, baby marrow, sweet potato, corn, mushrooms
Beverages	Pure water, freshly prepared fruit or vegetable juices (not orange). Herbal teas (excluding citrus and strawberry).	Chilled drinks, milk, coffee, tea, cocoa, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, sweetened beverages, citrus drinks, and strawberry drinks.
Fruits	Unsweetened fresh, frozen, or water-packed canned fruits (excluding citrus and strawberry).	Commercial fruit packed in syrups, citrus fruits, strawberries, bananas, avocados and all dried fruit.
Sweeteners	Commercial fruit packed in syrups, citrus fruits, strawberries, bananas, avocados and all dried fruit.	Honey, raw/brown-white sugar, artificial sweeteners.
Fats, Oils and Nuts	Cold/expeller pressed, unrefined, light-shielded flax, canola and walnut oil. Cook with sesame or olive oil.Seeds: sesame, sunflower, or flaxseed.Nuts: walnuts, pecans, and almonds	Margarine, shortening, unclarified butter, refined oils, coconut, peanuts, salad dressing and spreads
Yeast and Moulds	AVOID ALL YEAST PRODUCTS	All packaged and processed foods, refined sugars, all foods from a box, bottle or can, any foods containing yeast (Vegemite, Soy Sauce), cheeses, commercially prepared condiments, peanuts, vinegar, alcoholic beverages, olives, ketchup, fermented vinegars (Balsamic, wine)

By adhering to the above diet guidelines, you will be in with a good chance of helping to reduce some common digestive problems associated with poor eating habits. It is important that you stick to the diet and use the associated herbal medicines that may be recommended by your naturopath.

Author: David Neiger is a Melbourne based naturopath, remedial masseur and kinesiologist with a successful weight management practice. He can be visited at www.pathforhealth.com