Nutrition, Fasting and the Gut

[Berzerker]

I just dropped 10-11 lbs in about a week with intermittent fasting and calorie reduction because of a stomach problem, mostly bloating pain I hope. I think a combination of a high carb diet and inactivity caused the problem. I haven't been taking care of my gut biome forever. I'm eating fermented and probiotic foods like sauerkraut, kefir and yogurt to try and get my biome in better shape but it could take a while. So I viewed youtube videos and followed advice I read about fasting, not a liquid diet but sardines the last few days, a high fat diet. There's a sardine challenge from a doc so I took it, the goal is getting into ketosis - a situation where the body starts consuming body fat instead of sugar. It sure worked, and the weird thing is I'm not hungry. I go 24 hours and have a small high fat meal (a can of sardines in olive oil and a little sauerkraut, gotta avoid high fiber for now) and I feel satiated for up to a day.

The bloating problem resolved for the most part but I think I might have low stomach acid so I started taking HCL+Pepsin and digestive enzymes when I eat. I did the baking soda test and failed badly. Drink 4-6 oz of cold water mixed with a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda on an empty stomach and watch how long it takes to burp. ~3 minutes is good, it took me ~12 minutes. I did the test a few months ago and I was about 3 minutes. One of the side effects of the PPIs I was on is atrophy of the stomach cells producing acid. So I'm looking for less damaging ways to deal with my gerd. Bought some Apple Cider Vinegar pills today, they help in many ways but I cant stand the liquid.The cells can recover but HCL and maybe bile salts and digestive enzymes are needed to help stimulate them. Sucks getting old.

I think fasting is great, we evolved to burn fat. Food was not always available so living off our own fat was a survival tactic but today we eat non stop, 2-3 main meals with snacks in between. That keeps the insulin pumping most of the day, sleep is about the only time the pancreas gets a break and one reason people become insulin resistant is because of the 5-6 sugar spikes over 16-18 hours. So when I do resume eating a more normal diet I'll have at most 2 meals and no snacks, the 2nd one will be high in fat so I dont get hungry and both meals will be eaten in a 4-6 hour window earlier in the day. Many supplements and vitamins are fat soluble so they need to be taken with high fat meals.

I'd like to know how sugar replaced fat in our diets, sugar is cancer food. I do know why our food supply was poisoned with high fructose corn syrup, politicians from corn growing states made deals with politicians from other states to get corn subsidized and it shows up in all sorts of foods. So obesity and cancer go through the roof and Wall Street makes more $$$ off us when we get sick. These people are no different than the oil industry putting lead in gasoline. "Capitalism" at its worst.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

ask your doctor about Dicyclomine. aka bentyl.

[Berzerker]

I'll ask google first

[Berzerker]

Well, thats a possibility. The only reason I dont think I have colon cancer is because I've had this problem for years if not decades. I didn't know irritable bowel syndrome was stomach muscles cramping, its constant but I've noticed it lessens or gets worse while changing positions. I'd be lucky if that was my problem, I've lived so long with the discomfort I'm less inclined to try a drug but it sounds like it works fast and that would tell me if thats my problem. I have Crohns and diverticulitis in the family so I cant say I'm surprised I have trouble. Thx, I'll look into this.

[Berzerker]

Diverticulitis is common with age and it shows up in the lower left stomach and the lower right for Asians. My pain is in the center so I figured it involved the small intestine.

They do recommend probiotics and diet changes for IBS... and a heating pad. If it is muscular heat might tell me, I'll give that a try tonight.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

I've been in special care two times for Diverticulitis. each a little over a weeks time. my doctor had me try benty. only take it when i need it. now i go months without any and have not had issues for 10 years.

[Jon Miller]

I have gotten big into Kombucha. And obviously try to avoid processed foods.

JM

[Berzerker]

thats tea, right? Its on my to-do list along with matcha tea

I'm looking for a supplement called Tudca but haven't found it locally. Its supposed to be good for the gut

Got me a Keurig coffee maker and love it, I think I can use it for tea and cocoa with a reusable K-cup.

[Berzerker]

I've been in special care two times for Diverticulitis. each a little over a weeks time. my doctor had me try benty. only take it when i need it. now i go months without any and have not had issues for 10 years.

Where did you feel the pain from diverticulitis? Apparently it shows up in the last part of the colon on the lower left stomach but Asians get it on the lower right (why the difference is interesting). I've read constipation and exertion during bowel movements can cause weak spots in the intestinal track to bulge outward forming small pockets that can trap bits of food/feces causing irritation. Some studies suggest small hard foods like nuts, seeds, and popcorn (the husks) can become trapped but other studies say no link has been observed.

My dad had it bad back in the late 60s and was in the hospital for an extended stay. I dont know if they had to cut out the infected colon and insert a bag to drain feces until it healed. I do not want to risk a colonoscopy but I see it in my future, I need to find out why I have stomach pain.

I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus about 6-7 years ago, a combination of smoking pot and lying down after eating big late night meals messed me up and the damage was done fast, 3 months after my lifestyle changed for the worse. Before I ate big meals but didn't lie down flat afterward. The pot relaxes the LES (lower esophagal sphincter) allowing stomach acid to seep into the esophagus. I was put on PPIs but only used them for 2-3 months and quit after reading about the long term side effects.

I had 2 endoscopes, one last summer. All the docs told me to stay on the PPIs, I did for ~3 months and quit again. I've been off the meds since December. The main problem with PPI's is they reduce stomach acid and therefore they reduce the acids we need to dissolve fats and proteins for nutrient absorption. I want to try 'natural' remedies this time and work on my biome.

I never drank much coffee but I am now, I'll find out if the caffeine aggravates my condition but it has benefits for the liver and pancreas and a few other things.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

my pain feels like my whole gut is filled with liquid. every movement... every crack in the road while driving i feel. every movement hurts. i have been scoped (colonoscopy) before but nothing showed. i've been in special care because of passing blood. each time diagnosed with diverticulitis. now... i have also had bell's palsy. also avascular necrosis, hips... both sides. but! have recovered for all... so who knows.

[Berzerker]

I've read colon scopes wont show IBS but it can see indirect symptoms. Maybe a Cat scan will show more but I need to get my colon scoped anyways, my diet was heavy in red meat for decades.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

i have not had fast food for 15 years plus. i also drink (other than rum) only water and lemon juice.

[Berzerker]

I wish I liked lemon juice, its very good for the gut etc. Its not nearly as bad as apple cider vinegar. I bought acv in pill form and just opened the bottle and got a whiff of it, my god the stuff is nasty smelling but its good for the body. Maybe I just need to keep at it and get acclimated.

I lost most of my taste buds years ago to a combination of a nasal spray addiction and cigarettes but I can still taste acv. I hated beets as a child but now it aint so bad, good for blood pressure too.

[Berzerker]

Momma was right, thoroughly chew your food. No, not my Momma. Maybe she told me to chew my food but I didn't listen, I've gulped food down since I was old enough to gulp food. Dont dump large chunks of unchewed food in the stomach, it will make everything work harder - wear and tear

Also, chewing stimulates the stomach to produce acid. I'll do the baking soda test in the future to see if my stomach improves. Who would have thought low stomach acid causes reflux, seems counter intuitive. But apparently the low/weak stomach acid does a poor job of digesting food so it sits longer in both the stomach and gut causing gas which can rise up into the esophagus and can back up the juices (bile and enzymes) produced by the liver and pancreas.

Bile lubricates the gut, people who have their gallbladder (the liver's reservoir for bile) removed often run into low bile problems. Talked to an old timer today who just had his gallbladder removed, I mentioned bile salts to him and he seemed oblivious. There are medicines/vitamins/supplements that can improve the flow of bile thru the gut. If it thickens into a sludge it can cause problems, especially in the pancreas as the flow of enzymes exiting to help digestion get backed up.

[Berzerker]

too much bile can cause diarrhea, not enough can result in constipation

[Berzerker]

watching videos on massaging the intestines, supposed to work so I'll give it a try. Clockwise motion using the fingers, but gently. Too much pressure too fast sounds unwise.

[Berzerker]

i have not had fast food for 15 years plus. i also drink (other than rum) only water and lemon juice.

Did you get your problem under control and how long did it take?

[Berzerker]

https://www.glasgowosteopath.com/com...ng%20link,may% 20even%20clear%20up%20completely.

'There is an interesting link between IBS and Trigger Points in the Abdominal Muscles. The same nerves that supply the small and large intestines also supply the abdominal muscles.

When these trigger points are treated, the IBS will often settle down, it may even clear up completely.

When chronic pain effects the abdomen, it's well worth examining your diet.'