Breaking the cycle

[Stuart24]

I have been meaning to share with you that over the summer I got to a bad state where even all of my previous controls and theories on IBS just could not get me back in control.

The only way I broke the cycle was by applying some basic principles of the Hay diet; and for me this was only carbohydrates and fats for breakfast, only proteins for lunch, only carbohydrates and fats for tea. Fruits only before a meal, not after.

Not mixing carbohydrates and proteins was the key. The reason for this is that the pancreas apparently releases enzymes sequentially depending on the food detected, and does not cope well with mixed foods. If you eat these food types separately, your pancreas can focus on the food type and digest it more effectively, so preventing partially undigested food arriving at your colon. The fats slow down the whole process even further and give the digestion more time, again promoting completeness. Just eating a single food for lunch (e.g. fish or meat) is quite refreshing, it feels lighter and more natural in some way.

[loveyourbunny]

Well done Stuart. My Mother told me that 65 yrs ago. I always eat a fruit desserts before my meal, and don't drink too soon before, or during meals, and at least 1 hr after. Dilutes digestive juices. Kay

[OSCARBOSCAR]

Glad you got sorted Stuart24. You're Thesis is my go to when I have a flare up, which fortunately, due to you, I only have if I stray from the fasting between meals. I find I still require the digestive enzymes to help me along. I've been taking them for approx 6 months but had a small break to see if I did still require them & i did!! Do you think I will always require them? Many thanks. 😊

[Stuart24 in reply to OSCARBOSCAR]

Hi Oscarboscar, I am glad that my words help you. I need to update them soon with the Hay diet findings. I think the thing is to try to work out for which food types are you needing the enzymes. For me it's predominantly carbohydrates, for bread in particular. You can do things like eat more slowly, chew more etc to produce more saliva but ultimately some people are weak in amylase and so are helped by the enzymes. It's hard to stick to any diet program in the long term and I unusually end up failing and bouncing around the limits of what I should ideally do. You can only know by trial and error with your own limits. I think the Hay diet definitely has its merits and is something that you can just adopt facets of rather than the whole thing. They make a fuss about acid foods and pH etc which I think is doubtful, but the simplest ideas of separating proteins and carbohydrates is a good one. Best wishes, Stuart

[OSCARBOSCAR in reply to Stuart24]

Thank you Stuart24 - I'll just have to suss out carbs from the other now then!!👍😊. Definately cannot tolerate milk, chocolate, cream cheese, ice cream & highly sugared goods but am ok with small amounts of cheese?? 😂