Digestive Disorders And Incomplete Digestion

The lining of the digestive tract can be damaged by overuse of antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chemotherapy, alcohol consumption, antacids, too much sugar, stress, bacteria, toxic chemicals, parasites, fungal infection, some foods and various other means. A leaky gut allows food particles to enter the blood stream undigested, thus leading to food intolerances.

Leaky gut and incomplete digestion go hand in hand. Leaky gut allows not only oversized undigested particles to enter the blood stream but also bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. When this happens there is an alarm that goes off in the immune system. The immune system builds antibodies against these foreign molecules. This leads to a vicious cycle of allergic and autoimmune responses. Every time we eat something there is a lot of stress for the body that has a leaky gut. The longer this leaky gut and incomplete digestion exists, the less able the body systems are able to function correctly.

A leaky gut can result in many different types of illnesses such as:

• Autistic behavior
• Food allergies/intolerances
• Inhalant allergy
• Chemical sensitivities
• Cancer
• Alcohol consumption intolerance
• Weak immunity(recurrent infections)
• Celiac disease
• Chronic candidiasis (yeast infections)
• Asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections
• Shortness of breath
• Skin rashes, hives, eczema
• Allergic sinusitis, nasal congestion
• Nasal polyps and sinus infections
• Chronic tonsillitis, and otitis media
• Arthritis and chronic joint pain
• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Constipation/and or diarrhea
• Indigestion or flatulence
• Mucus or blood in stool
• Fatigue, chronic tiredness
• Confusion, poor memory
• Fuzzy thinking
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Poor exercise tolerance

Healing the Intestinal Wall & Leaky Gut

Note: This information is for illustration purposes only and should not be implemented without consulting a health professional well-versed in nutrition and digestive disorders.

The intestinal wall is highly regenerative. If given total rest from all irritants, it will repair itself in four to five days. If damage is extensive, healing needs considerably more time. Healing needs to be total in order for the body’s over all health to be restored.

A leaky gut cannot process large protein molecules, so these should be avoided. Starches and disaccharide sugars (sucrose, lactose) are also to be avoided because a damaged intestinal wall is unable to produce the final enzymes needed to break them down. Incompletely digested starches and sugars remain in the gut, fermenting and feeding pathogenic bacteria Candida and other microbes that continue to attack the intestinal wall. It is also necessary to avoid any foods to which a person has unique sensitivities. To continue eating these is to keep stressing the intestinal lining.

There is only one form of sugar that is most compatible with healing leaky gut. It is fructose (fruit sugar). Fructose is a monosaccharide, a simple sugar that is ready to be absorbed through the intestinal wall without requiring any action by digestive enzymes. Fructose has the same chemical formula as glucose, but its molecule twists in the opposite direction. Before the body can use fructose, the liver has to change it into glucose, a conversion that takes about 22 minutes or so. Thus fructose is not released into the bloodstream quite as quickly as glucose.

Foods to Avoid
In order to heal the leaky gut and indigestion it is necessary to eliminate ALL of the following:

Grains:
amaranth, barley, buckwheat, bulgar, corn, cous-cous, kamut, millet, oats, quinoa, white rice, brown rice, wild rice, semolina, spelt, triticale, wheat, flax seeds

Milk products:
cows milk, goats milk, rice milk, soy milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream., ice milk, kefir, quark, yogurt, chocolate

Legumes:
peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy, tofu, etc.

Starchy vegetables:
beets, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, turnip, yams

High glycemic fruits:
bananas, dried fruits, fruit juices

Sugars:
brown sugar, white sugar, cane sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, Demerara sugar, dextri-maltose, dextrose, glucose, icing sugar, malto-dextrin, maltose, maple sugar, molasses, raw sugar, rice syrup, sucrose, table sugar, turbinado sugar

Artificial sweeteners:
splenda, NutraSweet, equal, sweet-n- low, etc.

Food dyes:
all artificial dyes, all colors that have a number after their name – example – red 10, yellow 3, etc.

Alcoholic beverages:
no exceptions

Red Meat:
no red meat regardless of source

The Kotsanis Institute Recommended Leaky Gut/Digestion Program

Note: This program should not be implemented without consulting a health professional well-versed in nutrition and digestive disorders.

Summary of Treatment

• The intestinal healing program consists of 2 Parts
• Each Part last for 3 weeks
• Program duration is 6 months

Part 1:

• Only foods on the “acceptable” list.
• Homeopathic remedies may be taken
• No vitamins, mineral, glandular or herbal supplements of any kind
• No spices
• No herbal teas

Part 2:

• Same as shown in Part 1
• Approved Proteins May Be Added:

• Eggs
• Fish - only wild, not farmed, from deep northern seas, with scales but no tuna.
• Poultry – only organic
• Soy (fermented) – miso, tempeh, or tofu only, preferably organic

Every time protein is eaten, an appropriate number of tablets of the Digestive Enzyme Formula should be taken.

• Protein may be combined with non-starchy vegetables and olive oil
• Protein may not be combined with fruits
• Protein may not be combined with elemental meal replacement formula
• Vitamin, Mineral, Herbal, & Glandular Supplements appropriate to the individual’s needs may be added.

Program Schedule

• Part 1: Weeks 1, 2,  and 3
• Part 2: Weeks 4, 5, and 6
• Part 1: Weeks 7,8, and 9
• Part 2: Weeks 10, 11, and 12
• Continue 3 week rotations for 6 months

This is a very strict and challenging program to follow.  This is what the small intestine needs in order to do it’s own healing in the shortest possible time.  It could easily take 6 months to heal stubborn cases.

Modifications are not recommended but can be made.   Our nutrition team would be more than happy to assist.  At times, we have recommended adding particular supplements to Part 1 or shortening the duration and extending the duration of Part 2.

It must be reiterated that dairy products, grains, legumes, starches and disaccharide sugars are the enemies of intestinal healing.   If you decide to consume them, do so infrequently.  Your body can better  handle infrequent consumption than consistant small amounts daily.

About Supplements:
The leaky gut absorbs what it should not & does not absorb what it should.

The ability to absorb essential fatty acids, certain vitamins (e.g., A, D, E, B-12, folic acid) and certain minerals (e.g., copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc) is greatly impaired. Thus, a person with this syndrome may have significant deficiencies of several key nutrients in spite of an adequate intake of them. Supplements with generous amounts of these factors can both compensate for their poor absorption and speed the healing process.

The Kotsanis Institute Recommended Diet

Part 1 
Weeks 1, 2 and 3 

• Only foods on the “acceptable” list.
• Homeopathic remedies may be taken
• No vitamins, mineral, glandular or herbal supplements of any kind
• No spices
• No herbal teas

Acceptable List

• “The Elemental Nutrient Formula”
  This is a powdered protein-fiber formula developed to help heal the leaky gut. It consists of a) hydrolyzed lactalbumin 40%, b) vegetable fiber 40%,c) fructose 20%. Blend with spring or filtered water and add fresh whole organic fruits (no fruit juice) to make a smoothie.

• Fresh Fruit
  Eat all the organic whole fresh fruit you want to satisfy hunger from the following choices: apples, apricots, berries(all kinds),cantaloupe, cherries, crabapples, currants, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papaya, passion fruit, peaches, pears, persimmon, pineapple, plums, pomegranate, star fruit, tangerine, watermelon

• Fresh Non-Starch Vegetables
  Eat all the organic fresh non-starchy vegetables you want to satisfy hunger from the following choices: alfalfa sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, beet greens, bell peppers, bok choi, broccoli, Brussels spouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chicory greens, chives, cilantro, clove sprouts, collard greens, crookneck squash, cucumber, daikon, dandelion greens, eggplant, endive, escarole, fennel, garlic, ginger, green beans, horseradish, iceberg lettuce, jicima, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, onions , radish, romaine lettuce, mustard greens, parsley, pickles, sauerkraut, scallions, snap peas, snow peas, spaghetti squash, wax beans, squash , spinach, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatillo, tomatoes, turnip greens, watercress, wax beans, yellow beans, zucchini

• Organic Olive Oil
  2 to 3 tablespoonfuls per day, taken at the same time as the non-starchy vegetables (e.g., as a salad dressing)

• Cod Liver Oil
  Take one teaspoon of cod liver oil twice a day

• Honey
  A a source of fructose – one tablespoon per day, between meals or with fruits

• Beverages
  purified water, herbal teas, decaffeinated teas, decaffeinated coffee

• Condiments
  lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar

All of the above are to be consumed according to the following guidelines:

• Have the largest meal of the day at noon.
• Wait three hours after any meal that contains olive oil before consuming the next meal or snack.
• Wait 30 minutes after fruit or “the elemental protein-fiber formula” before consuming a meal that contains olive oil
• As long the above timing guidelines are followed, fresh fruit or veggies (without oil) may be consumed as a separate snack as often as desired throughout the day.
• Drink all the spring water you want ideally half an hour before taking a major meal, and wait two hours after you finish the major meal before drinking again. Drink water, at least 30% of your body wait in fluid ounces per day.
• Take two capsules of probiotics twice a day at the beginning of a major meal.
• Add one table spoon finely ground psyllium hulls to each protein-fiber mixture.

Part 2 
Weeks 2, 3 and 4

• Same Dietary Guidelines as Part 1 with the addition of protein foods.

Approved proteins may be added

• Eggs – only organic
• Fish - only wild, not farmed, from deep northern seas, with scales but no tuna.
• Poultry  - only organic
• Soy (fermented) –  miso, tempeh, or tofu only, preferably organic

Every time protein is eaten, an appropriate number of tablets of the Digestive Enzyme Formula should be taken.

• Protein may be combined with non-starchy vegetables and olive oil
• Protein may not be combined with fruits
• Protein may not be combined with elemental meal replacement formula
• Vitamin, Mineral, Herbal, & Glandular Supplements appropriate to the individual’s needs may be added.
• Nuts may be introduced at this time

Resources:

Book: Breaking the Vicious Cycle:  Intestinal Health Through Diet, by Elaine Gloria Gottschall
Website:  Breaking The Vicious Cycle 

Footnotes:

• This diet is modified from “David W. Rowland , 2001″ – with many thanks.
• Consult with your doctor before getting off any medications.
• Some disease states require further dietary modifications and or restrictions, consult with a trained health professional for such modifications.
• For autistic children or anyone on chelation, it is OK to include glutathione, chelating agents, and B12