Hi everyone, I had been suffering from IBS for over two years and I finally discovered something that has worked miraculously.
I decided to fast for seven (7) days straight without any food whatsoever. All I had throughout each day was green tea and organic honey and lemon three times a day.
It was not easy but it was also not as difficult as I thought it would be. It has been almost two weeks since I completed the fast and I've been eating all types of foods without any of the effects I previously had: bloating, pain in the lower abdomen all across, constipation, irritation, etc. All gone!
I think my intestinal tract was "rebooted" somehow and it worked. I also prayed a lot during the fasting period so I'm confident that also helped.
If you are suffering from IBS or diverticulitis, give fasting a try. I feel so great now and will continue to fast periodically just to maintain my gut health from now on.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Wish you all healing and peace.
Written by
Guttrouble777
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29 Replies
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Hi,
I absolutely agree that fasting can work wonders.
If things start to go wrong, I fast for 48 hours and also take a laxative night and morning during that time to be sure of clearing everything out - as you say, a complete reboot of the system.
Yes. I had tried fasting for a couple of days only in the past and got some relief. So I knew I was onto something. That is why I decided to do a full fledged 7 days to see what would happen and it was the right call for me. Now I'm encouraging everyone to try it. It is more of a mind challenge than a body one. I'm going to do it every year. So far I still feel great. Thanks for the input!
That's great. Food intolerances have been the source of my gut trouble - cutting out these allergens have helped greatly.
I don't know the answer to that. I would presume that the frequent bathroom trips probably dehydrate you so if you are going to fast, make sure to stay hydrated. As I wrote in my comment, tea with organic honey and lemon worked very well for me. Maybe start with one day and see how you feel.
Think many people will be able to fast but if you have a metabolic problem such as diabetes 2,. Your might find a fast after your normal sleep fast is not 7 hours but 14 hours which soukd be hard to sustain. People need energy, and unless the IBS is causing the runs, it might not be wise. If you have multi food intolerances, the fasting may not help at all. Guess it depends on the cause of your IBS as many people have stress related problems. Medication might help the colon cramp, and pain, and resolve the problem of water trapped in the lower colon, so it is not absorbed and results in waterfalls! People who have this sort of IBS have to go to bed and may be fast as they are so exhausted.
yes, good point. I am diabetic and have IBS . I might atempt this in my younger day s, but at this time in life, could be dangerous. You also have to think about becoming malnourished, anemic , complications like that.
Well done to you. I found it difficult to fast one day for my colonoscopy let alone a week!!!!
I can’t do green tea or lemons I am allergic to caffeine and I have a nervous stomach so I can’t do the lemons intolerant to them. Plus a lot of other foods as well but so glad it worked for you I’ll try some what fasting and see if there is a difference with me I was basically born IBS from about 5 yrs on up I would get sick. I am 62 and still getting sick from IBS and nervous stomach. I take niacin B12 and that helps with the nervous stomach so fasting I’ll try.
Hi - I have food intolerances too, I had a screen for 64 foods which really helped as many tests only do a few foods. It was private. After over fifty years of IBS the change in diet has helped me. May be you should have another range of foods done as NHS tests do not do multi grain. and many other foods other than wheat gluten egg and dairy. I have one fruit allergy - banana so can eat most fruit and nuts. I find nerves can trigger off a bout but if I have a bad bout take a couple of co codomol. Most people are not told what sort of IBS they have. You can look up IBS types on the NHS website guide to diagnosis and treatment of IBS. It cost me 70 pounds through Alphega chemist chain - I am 71, so this was a good Christmas present. you can locate the pharmacies on their website, icon numbered map. You have to check each number pharmacy details for allergy services. Fasting might not be right for you if it is more than 7 hours like an overnight fast, if you have a tendency to constipation. Expect you are happy as you are and do not want to change but when you find the symptoms have not resolved may be it is worth having a wider food intolerance test, - a finger prick test - takes a couple of minutes and results fed into computer, interpreted by pharmacist ready in an hour.
I’d made it from one night to another with fasting and it made me dizzy and sick feeling so I ate something. Hard boiled egg which helped. The. Some oatmeal small amount with cinnamon no sugar. I have food allergies as well as many intolerances. I can’t do Soy at all, citrus fruits of any kind ( I have a nervous stomach). I can’t do hydrogenated oils( clogs my liver and makes me lethargic) beef doesn’t agree any more. I can’t have turmeric my tongue and throat swell up. I can’t have chocolate or caffeine or coffee I can keep going. Some spices I can’t do especially ones with perfum type smells. So yes I have had some testing on foods but would love more. I live in the USA and it is expensive to get tested but mostly for the foods I already know. Thanks for the kind words and understanding means a lot. So sorry you have it too hate seeing people suffer like me. I take it one day at a time and I take pro and pre , sea aloe ( whole food liquid vitiamin). Digestive enzymes, immune boosters and glutamine. For the morning then at night I take added C, D,’s folic acid, chezyn ( for macular degeneration), Thymex ( limmune support) and beta TCP for liver support. All natural products it helps. I have IBS C and D depends on the stress and foods I eat.
Hi Kimmiejo - so sorry you have all those allergens. That's the trouble you have been on a trial and error diet finding those intolerances over a period of time.
That's why the wide range of tests have helped - as it covers most of the daily foods
you might eat and those you don't. I have improved since my intolerance test - I was in and out of loo frequently and was so tired. I am better but a cold or infection can bring on vestibular ear trouble and I get vertigo. When I cut down the dairy it helps the over mucous production clogging up my sinuses. Gluten is main allergen present in grains, especially wheat - it can take the form of celiac disease, and also hypothyroid/hyperthyroid problems. I am not gluten intolerant but intolerant to most grains including barley which is added to malt products marmite vinegar mayonnaise- and maize in corn syrup which is sold as sugar free substance under the name of sorbitol in diet sweets jam chocolates and cakes. It's these hidden food intolerances which you have to check in foods and processed foods especially.
If you don't already belong to thyroid unlocked and have not had a test, it might be worth having it done as, your stomach and gastrointestinal tract can be affected with certain thyroid problems. Hope you find other tests which might link up your digestive problems so you know the full picture.
Thanks for that tip...my doctor recommended fasting but struggle after one day..... will try the tea and the laxative as the constipation becomes unbearable during fasting....I do feel better even after that one day though....well done you...🙌🏼
I’m glad this works for you but please be careful...fasting (although yes it helps massively I agree) can be very dangerous if you’re not extremely careful, and I would recommend anyone who tries it to not try 7 days in a row first, but instead maybe only go 1 day and see how you do before increasing the fasting time. This is because your blood sugar levels will drop dramatically when you go without food, meaning that you can become very weak and can lead you to fainting and worse. Also please don’t try it if you have any disordered eating issues (I have this and fasting can become addictive). Also be aware that theres a big change in what goes on inside your body when you fast, your body goes into survival mode and will use up all of your other energy stores including muscle. I am so glad you found a solution, this is more a comment for others who are considering it. An alternative is still eating but eating extremely plain food such as plain chicken and a small amount of rice/any carb that doesn’t give you a reaction
I agree. Everyone needs to assess their health individually and determine what they can handle. I theorized that whatever I had in my intestines needed go be "starved out" so I chose a longer period of fasting. You're right on the sugar levels. That is why I drank tea with organic honey and lemon at least 3 times per day. That helped me quite a bit and kept my sugar levels above 80. I checked. It wasn't easy but it's not impossible.
It sounds like you know what you were doing which is a big relief! I found fasting amazing for my tummy, however it simply wasn’t sustainable with a very active job. So glad you’ve found a solution that works for you👍🏼
The guts are so bloody annoying aren’t they? I can’t actually remember when I first started having problems but I’ve definitely got worse with age. You’d think that yours guts would evolve with you really wouldn’t you?? X
Be careful. It’s only temporary usually. You have to regularly reboot your gut. I’ve been just eating some veggies and shrimp for 4 days and no pain but as soon as I eat regular (always healthy) again- slowly it comes back. I’ve started pre and probiotics with am and pm pills and they’ve helped also. Having a ton of blood tests next week. Have had this over 25 years with crappy drs who won’t test for reasons for IBS. Just tell me i have IBS 😐. Horrible, painful, don’t know why or when it’s coming. Runs your life.
I don’t accept IBS as an answer. There’s a reason and finally found a dr who is willing to test everything. I hope this is your final answer for your sake. Good luck!
I agree. Everyone is different. I am extremely healthy other than this condition and I have strong mental control to withstand the desire to eat. But consulting a doctor is important if you have never fasted before. Start slow is the key.
This is great. I have found the same effect. Watch the sugar intake. Mine eventually returned, but i fasted again and same great results. The second time i almost eliminated sugar entirely and still feel so much better now for months.
Are you eating sugar still?and green tea is so good due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Congratulations are feeling better!
I try to eliminate sugars altogether but it's not easy. A lot of fruits have sugar but they're also good for you. I'm going to fast periodically as well. I have a theory that IBS is partially due to microscopic tears in the gut lining. By giving your gut a rest, it helps the healing process, which appears to be extremely long. Glad to hear it's working for you as well. I'll try to keep everyone updated on my progress.
Well here goes my fasting I hope it works I have IBS most of my life with a nervous stomach I am on day one. I can’t do green tea or lemons but I am on peppermint tea with honey in it and so far so good slightly hungry so we will see how long I last. I also take a whole liquid food vitiamin in the morning with Inulation powder and elderberry juice extract , probiotics and digestive enzymes plus other things. So I’ll keep you posted on how I do. Your logic made perfect sense to me. Thanks for sharing!
Best wishes to you. Remember, when you feel hungry, drink some tea. If you can, use organic honey. All others usually have some form of corn syrup - not good for you. If you still feel hungry after the tea, just push through for another 15 minutes. Don't overexert yourself with exercise either during the period of fasting. If you feel weak, take a short nap if you can. If you feel really weak after taking a nap, your sugar levels are probably too low, so eat something. Don't risk your life. Blessings to you. Hope it works for you as well.
Yes its great, I practice Intermittent fasting daily and then a few times a year I liquid fast for a reboot. following a great idea afterwards is very important to replace and rebalance nutrients. Here is lots of free healthy recipes if you are interested. coconutandwhat.com
Yes and know the gut is meant to work 24 7 but sometimes 12 to 24 hours off is good. Cleansing de toxing etc seems to be what we are told to sell us products when the body does this itself.
UPDATE: Hello everyone, Guttrouble777 here. In an effort to keep you updated on my progress since my seven (7) day fast, I wanted to let you know that I had a minor flare up a few days ago which lasted only a couple of days following a massive binge on all types of foods including pizza and hot sauce. However, after another 1/2 day fast the pain went away and I have been feeling really good for a couple of weeks. In addition, I went to see a gastroenterologist and had him do a CT scan with contrast to confirm my theory that I've had diverticulosis and I was right. However, there is no infection present and I believe it is because the fasting for 7 days cleared out any food residue I may have had in the diverticula mini pouches. I believe it is possible that some of you are suffering from a similar condition so I encourage you to explore fasting as a solution. I will certainly continue to practice it on a more regular basis. For your reference, below is the summary of my CT scan results. As always, I wish you much blessings and healing from all your gut woes.
CT ABDOMEN PELVIS W/ (ORAL/IV) CONTRAST
CLINICAL HISTORY: Left lower quadrant abdominal pain.
TECHNIQUE: CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed after the administration of intravenous contrast and oral contrast. Coronal images were reconstructed.
COMPARISON: None available.
FINDINGS: There is no focal infiltrate or effusion at the lung bases. Focal area of hypoattenuation in the medial left lobe of the liver at the falciform ligament is likely focal fatty infiltration. No calcified gallstones are present. The pancreas, spleen, and adrenal glands appear normal. There is a nonobstructing 7 mm right intrarenal calculus. There are small renal hypodensities that are likely cysts. The aortoiliac vessels are normal in caliber. There is no para-aortic retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. There are colonic diverticula but there is no evidence of acute diverticulitis. There is no bowel obstruction, ascites or loculated fluid. There is a normal appendix. Prostate gland is not enlarged. Seminal vesicles are symmetric and the urinary bladder has a normal CT appearance. Osseous structures appear normal.
IMPRESSION: Colonic diverticula but no acute diverticulitis seen. Nonobstructing right intrarenal calculus with small renal hypodensities that are likely cysts.
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