My decades-old diet advice is now “the next big thing”

It never ceases to amaze me just how behind the times conventional medicine is. (And I say this strictly from my point of view, as someone who has spent decades fighting disease with lifestyle, food, and supplementation alone.)

Don’t get me wrong — traditional MDs know plenty. But two things bother me about them:
1.) They don’t know what they don’t know, and
2.) They know absolutely NOTHING about nutrition.

Some recently published commentary I came across proves that point pretty quickly. And the headline should tell you exactly why I say that: “Gluten Sensitivity Aftershock! Is a Low-FODMAP Diet the Next Big Thing?”

Where do I even start with this?

First of all, those of us in the know were recommending low-FODMAP diets for chronic bowel issues BEFORE gluten sensitivity was even a thing. At the very least, the two approaches have been around simultaneously for decades. (Not to mention that a low-FODMAP diet is essentially a low carbohydrate diet, by default.)

So tell me, where exactly is the “new” in this news? Oh, that’s right — it’s all new to my so-called peers who refuse to believe that nutrition serves any purpose whatsoever in maintaining human health.

Again, I must offer up a direct quote from the commentary: “Over the past decade, gluten avoidance has become the most popular dietary trend in the United States, with over 100 million Americans consuming gluten-free products, most of whom do not have celiac disease.”

This completely shows their ignorance. What’s so “trendy” about people feeling better when they eat gluten-free? And let’s not forget that celiac disease is a spectrum — another bit of news, they have yet to catch up with…

Can you see how frustrating it is to be me? I’ve spent my career surrounded by people who think I’m the crazy one. When practically everything I’ve ever talked about eventually becomes medical gospel — often years after I first wrote about these modalities or used them to treat my patients.

But back to the topic at hand…

Celiac disease is hardly the only diet-related trigger for chronic digestive issues. And while non-celiac gluten sensitivity is absolutely a thing — like I said, you don’t need a diagnosis to tell you that taking gluten off the menu improves your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms — it’s not the only explanation for gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, by a long shot.

In fact, my experience often reveals multiple factors behind IBS. Sometimes eliminating all grains — not just wheat — is necessary. And often, FODMAPs — which stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols — have to go too.

That’s a mouthful — hence the handy abbreviation. But have a good look at that list and just guess what these all are. That’s right… sugar!
In a nutshell, a low-FODMAP diet eliminates highly fermentable and poorly absorbed sugars, carbs, fruits, legumes, and artificial sweeteners. Which, not coincidentally, sums up the dietary advice I’ve been doling out for over 25 years. (You mean I’ve been right all along? Imagine that!)

Let’s just call a spade a spade here, because as you know (say it with me one more time), sugar kills. And it does a particular number on your digestion — which is why removing it can have such a positive impact. In fact, research shows that eliminating FODMAPs improves IBS symptoms in up to 80 percent of patients.

Of course, your average know-nothing doctor would probably just mistake it for a map of a foreign country. But if you’re a subscriber to my monthly newsletter Logical Health Alternatives, and have been for a while, you may recall that I discussed the benefits of a low-FODMAP diet several years back in my October 2013 feature on IBS.

You may also recall that not all high-FODMAP foods are unhealthy. In fact, there are a handful of A-List approved foods that anyone struggling with chronic gut trouble may want to experiment with avoiding.

I urge you to go back and revisit that article for a complete list—as always, subscribers can access it in the archives. And if you’re not a subscriber yet, I hope you’ll consider signing up. Because this isn’t the first time I’ve beat the mainstream to the punch… and I guarantee you it won’t be the last, either.

 

 

 

Source:

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/885826