I see many clients with a variety of problems. One issue on the rise is Crohn's and Colitis. If Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are caught before serious damage has been done, both conditions can be treated simply by restricting carbohydrates. An Austrian doctor, Professor Wolfgang Lutz, MD, PhD, has treated Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis successfully for over 40 years. This chart clearly shows that when carbohydrates are limited, both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis respond very quickly. Carbohydrates, sugar and vegetable oils are extremely inflammatory and terrible for our intestinal health. Could the increase in carbohydrates and sugar be the cause of all these problems??? In 1840 the average person consumed 2 tsp of sugar a day and in 2009 a typical person consumed over 63 tsp every day!!!
AVOID:
Long Chained Triglycerides: (Vegetable Oils...this means anything that is pre-packaged). Long-chain triglyceride impairs the healing time in active Crohn's disease. These fatty acids are substrates for inflammatory eicosanoid production.
Polyunsaturated oils: Red meat has long been wrongly blamed for IBS. A study published in December 2009 shows that linoleic acid harms the gut but news reports and health websites mislead by blaming 'red meat' — which contains the least linoleic acid. It's the polyunsaturated fats and oils, derived from seeds such as sunflower, safflower, soy and corn, which are the major dietary sources of linoleic acid; they are the most harmful oils for those with intestinal problems because they increase inflammation.
FOODS TO CONSUME:
1. ORGANIC BONE BROTH: stock is so awesome because it supplies hydrophilic colloids to the diet. The proteinaceous gelatin in meat broths has the helpful property of attracting liquids - it is hydrophilic. The same property by which gelatin attracts water to form desserts, like Jello, allows it to attract digestive juices to the surface of cooked food particles. Gelatin acts first and foremost as an aid to digestion and has been used successfully in the treatment of many intestinal disorders, including hyperacidity, colitis and Crohn’s disease. Although gelatin is by no means a complete protein, containing only the amino acids arginine and glycine in large amounts, it acts as a protein sparer, allowing the body to fully utilize the complete proteins that are taken in. So these gelatin-rich broths are essential for those who can't tolerate or afford large amounts of meat in their diets. Gelatin also seems to be of use in the treatment of many chronic disorders, including anemia and other diseases of the blood, diabetes, muscular dystrophy and even cancer.
2. Coconut Oil: is a medium-chained fatty acid. MCFA are broken down almost immediately by enzymes in the saliva and gastric juices so that pancreatic fat-digesting enzymes are not even essential. Therefore, there is less strain on the pancreas and digestive system. This has important implications for patients who suffer from digestive and metabolic problems. Since it is easily absorbed in the digestive tract it also helps other essential healing nutrients become absorbed as well.
Ulcerative colitis often begins with a virus or a bacterial infection and that the body's immune system malfunctions and stays active after the infection has cleared. Coconut has antimicrobial properties that affects intestinal health by killing troublesome microorganisms that may cause chronic inflammation. Coconut oil resembles breast milk more than any other food...breast milk helps keep babies healthy!
3. Dried Coconut: Is 60-70% fat (coconut oil). Coconut oil is one of nature's richest sources of medium chain triglycerides, or fatty acids (MCTs). These smaller chain fatty acids have been shown to absorb easier and quicker in the digestive tract than longer chain fatty acids found in other fats, like vegetable oils.
If you need more "TLC" with your digestive issues, please contact me for a consult. I have lots of meal plans with specific "healing" foods and suggestions for vitamins and minerals to heal the digestive system.
This bread reminds us of more of a "corn bread," but it tastes great. You could make sandwiches out of it, or enjoy it with a big bowl of organic bone broth.
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
6 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted OR unsweetened almond milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl sift together the dry ingredients. Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until very smooth. Grease a small bread pan and fill about 2/3 of the way full with batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Bread = 82 calories, 1g fat, 1g protein, 21g carbs, trace fiber (21 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Bread (oil) = 132 calories, 11g fat, 3.4g protein, 2.8g carbs, 1.7g fiber (1.1 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Bread (almond milk) = 54 calories, 2.8g fat, 3.5g protein, 2.9g carbs, 1.7g fiber (1.2 effective carbs)
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving) = 144 calories, 4.9 carbs, 2.8g fiber
(Above chart is from: Lutz W. Dismantling a Myth. Selecta-Verlag Dr. Ildar Idris GmbH & Co, KG Planegg Vor München, 1986: 125-180.)
