The Best Diet For Ulcerative Colitis - Colonoscopy Proof

Steven Root - IBD Coach
21 Sept 202309:31

Summary

TLDRIn this informative video, IBD coach Steve shares his personal experience and professional insights on managing ulcerative colitis through diet. Having been drug-free and symptom-free for years, he emphasizes the importance of starting with a diet high in animal foods to allow the colon to rest and recover. He advises a gradual reintroduction of plant foods and stresses the need for a strategic approach to avoid reigniting symptoms. Steve also touches on the distinction between being symptom-free and having healed gut wounds, urging viewers to be patient and considerate with their dietary choices.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Steve, an IBD coach, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 20 years ago and has been drug-free and symptom-free for a long time.
  • 🔍 He provides evidence of his health status through colonoscopy results and blood work showing normal colonic mucosa and low inflammation markers.
  • 👨‍🏫 Steve's advice is based on his own experience and feedback from a large number of clients, emphasizing that it's not medical advice but his opinion.
  • 🌱 Initially, Steve recommended a vegan diet for healing ulcerative colitis, but his approach has evolved over time.
  • 🍖 Nowadays, he starts clients on a diet high in animal foods, as they allow the colon to rest and recover more effectively.
  • 🧬 A diet high in animal foods can help reduce the number of bad bacteria in the gut, which is often imbalanced in IBD patients.
  • 🥦 After establishing a foundation with animal foods, Steve suggests gradually reintroducing plant foods like fruits and vegetables to build a healthful microbiome.
  • 🚫 He warns against adding high FODMAP foods or nuts too early in the process, as they can exacerbate symptoms if the gut is not yet healed.
  • ⏱ The order and timing of reintroducing foods are crucial for maintaining symptom-free status and allowing the gut to heal properly.
  • 🛑 There's a difference between being injury-free (symptom-free) and being wound-free (fully healed), and it's important to avoid dietary mistakes that can reopen wounds.
  • 🔗 For those interested in implementing an elimination diet and other healing strategies, Steve offers help and can be contacted through links provided in the video.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the video?

    -The main focus of the video is to discuss the best diet for individuals diagnosed with colitis, specifically ulcerative colitis, and to share the speaker's personal experience and professional advice on managing the condition through dietary changes.

  • Who is the speaker in the video?

    -The speaker is Steve, an IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) coach, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis almost 20 years ago and has been drug-free and symptom-free for many years.

  • What does Steve suggest as the initial diet for healing ulcerative colitis?

    -Steve suggests starting with a diet high in animal foods, such as chicken, beef, fish, and eggs, as they allow the colon to rest and recover more effectively than plant-based diets.

  • Why does Steve recommend a diet high in animal foods initially?

    -Animal foods, which consist mainly of fats and proteins, do not require action in the colon for digestion and absorption, thus providing rest for the colon, which is essential for recovery and repair.

  • What is the role of the colon in the healing process according to the video?

    -The colon needs to rest as much as possible during the healing process. By focusing on a diet of animal foods, the colon is less active, allowing for better recovery from ulcerative colitis.

  • What is the issue with starting a healing diet with a vegan or high-plant food approach?

    -Plant foods require more action in the colon for digestion, which does not allow the colon to rest as much as needed for healing. Additionally, plant foods can feed gut bacteria, potentially exacerbating an already imbalanced microbiome.

  • How does Steve approach reintroducing plant foods into the diet after starting with animal foods?

    -Steve advises a gradual reintroduction of plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables, after the colon has had time to rest and begin the healing process. This approach helps to rebuild a healthful microbiome from the ground up.

  • What does Steve mean by 'injury-free' versus 'wound-free'?

    -Being 'injury-free' means that symptoms have subsided, but 'wound-free' refers to the actual healing of the gut tissue. It's important to continue with a healing diet even after symptoms have disappeared to ensure the gut is fully healed.

  • What are some additional factors Steve considers important for healing from ulcerative colitis?

    -Steve mentions self-care, supplements, lifestyle, and mindset and belief systems as key areas of healing that should be considered alongside dietary changes.

  • How does Steve validate his advice on diet for ulcerative colitis?

    -Steve validates his advice through his own experience of being symptom-free for years, his professional experience working with a large number of clients, and by providing evidence from his colonoscopy results and blood work showing a normal colonic mucosa and low inflammatory markers.

  • What is the importance of consulting a doctor before implementing dietary changes suggested in the video?

    -It is important to consult a doctor before making any dietary changes to ensure that the changes are appropriate for the individual's specific health condition and to avoid any potential complications.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Diet Strategies for Ulcerative Colitis Management

Steve, an IBD coach and a former ulcerative colitis patient, shares his personal experience and professional insights on managing the condition through diet. He emphasizes the importance of a diet primarily based on animal foods to allow the colon to rest and recover, which is crucial for healing. He also mentions his initial recommendation of starting with a vegan diet and gradually introducing animal foods, but now he suggests the opposite approach based on client feedback and his own experience. Steve provides evidence of his own healing through colonoscopy results and blood work, showing normal colonic mucosa and low inflammatory markers. He advises viewers to consult with their doctors before implementing any dietary changes found online and offers his assistance for those interested in an elimination diet and other healing strategies.

05:02

🌱 The Role of Diet in Microbiome Balance and Healing

In this paragraph, Steve discusses the impact of diet on the gut microbiome, particularly in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). He explains that a diet high in plant foods can exacerbate an already imbalanced microbiome, leading to more inflammation. By focusing on animal-based foods, one can reduce the bacterial load in the gut, allowing for a healthier microbiome to be built gradually as plant foods are reintroduced. He warns against reintroducing foods too quickly, as this can reopen wounds in the gut and reignite symptoms. Steve also touches on the distinction between being symptom-free (injury-free) and having fully healed (wound-free), stressing the importance of a cautious approach to dietary changes to maintain long-term remission from IBD symptoms.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the colon and rectum, causing inflammation and ulcers. In the video, the speaker, Steve, mentions being diagnosed with pan colitis, a form of ulcerative colitis that affects the entire colon. The video's theme revolves around managing this condition through diet, and Steve shares his personal experience and coaching insights.

💡Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a collective term for conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The video focuses on ulcerative colitis as a specific type of IBD. The speaker discusses his role as an IBD coach and his approach to helping others manage their symptoms through diet.

💡Drug-free and Symptom-free

The terms 'drug-free' and 'symptom-free' refer to a state where an individual is not using medication to manage their condition and is not experiencing any symptoms. Steve claims to have been in this state for years, indicating his success in managing his IBD naturally, which is a central message of the video.

💡Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. In the script, Steve mentions his colonoscopy experience and the results, which showed 'normal colonic mucosa,' indicating the absence of IBD symptoms, serving as evidence of his healing approach.

💡C-reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein is a blood test used to measure inflammation in the body. Steve mentions his CRP levels were not detectable, suggesting a low level of inflammation, which is a positive outcome for someone with IBD and is used in the video to support his dietary recommendations.

💡Vegan Diet

A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that excludes all animal products. The video discusses the potential of a vegan diet to help heal ulcerative colitis, provided it is well-planned to avoid inflammatory plant proteins. This is part of the diverse dietary approaches Steve has explored with his clients.

💡Omnivorous Diet

An omnivorous diet includes both plant and animal-based foods. Steve initially recommended a vegan diet and then gradually introduced animal foods, leading to an omnivorous diet. This approach is contrasted with his current recommendation, which starts with animal-centric diets.

💡Bowel Rest

Bowel rest refers to reducing the workload on the intestines to promote healing. In the context of the video, Steve suggests that a diet high in animal foods can provide bowel rest by minimizing the need for the colon to process food, which is crucial for healing ulcerative colitis.

💡Microbiome

The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms living in the body, particularly in the gut. Steve discusses the imbalanced microbiome often found in IBD patients and how a diet primarily based on animal foods can help reduce bad bacteria, contributing to the healing process.

💡FODMAPs

Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides, and Polyols (FODMAPs) are types of carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest and may exacerbate IBS symptoms. Steve cautions against introducing high FODMAP foods too early in the healing process, indicating the need for a strategic reintroduction of foods.

💡Elimination Diet

An elimination diet involves removing certain foods from one's diet to identify and eliminate those that may be causing adverse reactions. Steve typically uses this approach with his clients to help them become symptom-free, which is a key strategy discussed in the video.

💡Injury-free vs. Wound-free

Steve introduces the concept of being 'injury-free' versus 'wound-free' to illustrate the difference between symptom management and actual healing. Even after symptoms are gone, the gut may still be healing, and improper diet choices can reopen wounds, a critical concept for understanding the recovery process.

Highlights

Steve, an IBD coach, shares his experience with ulcerative colitis and his drug-free, symptom-free lifestyle.

Provides evidence of his colonoscopy results and blood work showing normal colonic mucosa and low inflammatory markers.

Advises viewers to consult with their doctor before implementing any dietary changes found on the internet.

Discusses the effectiveness of a vegan diet for healing ulcerative colitis, with strategic food choices to avoid inflammation.

Initially recommended a vegan diet for clients, but has since shifted to starting with animal-based foods for healing.

Animal-based diets allow the colon to rest and recover, as fats and proteins are digested higher in the digestive tract.

A high-animal food diet can help reduce the number of bad bacteria in the gut, which is often imbalanced in IBD patients.

Plant foods, especially easily digestible sugars, can exacerbate inflammation and should be introduced cautiously.

The importance of reintroducing foods in a strategic order to maintain symptom-free status.

The distinction between being symptom-free (injury-free) and having healed the gut (wound-free).

The risk of reigniting symptoms by reintroducing foods too quickly before the gut has fully healed.

The potential for a broad diet including animal foods, fruits, veggies, caffeine, and alcohol once the gut has healed.

The necessity of being sensible about the timing and pace of reintroducing various foods.

Steve offers help in implementing an elimination diet and gradually introducing new foods to stay symptom-free.

Emphasizes the importance of considering self-care, supplements, lifestyle, and mindset in the healing process.

Provides a link to contact him for further assistance in healing from ulcerative colitis.

Transcripts

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can be much more effective much faster

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to uh focus on a diet primarily based

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all right guys so this is a video to

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talk about what are the best diet is if

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you've been diagnosed with all sorts of

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colitis for those of you who don't know

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who I am my name's Steve I'm an IBD

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coach I was diagnosed myself with

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ulcerative colitis almost 20 years ago

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pan colitis specifically and I've been

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drug free and symptom-free for a very

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long time now for years and years and I

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help other people to achieve that same

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thing I'll leave links to two videos

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below this video and you'll see one of

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them is my colonoscopy experience where

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you see my colonoscopy results and the

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other is some blood work and fecal

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testing that I had done where you see my

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color protecting skull and also my CRP

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so you'll see my inflammatory status and

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you'll also see my colonoscopy results

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in the two videos below this

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spoiler alert my colon was completely

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clear in fact I think the exact words

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were normal colonic mucosa was noted

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throughout the colon as in no evidence

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of current or previous IBD and my cow

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protecting I believe was nine and my CRP

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was not detectable it was below the

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limit of what the the test could detect

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um

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that being said I've also worked with a

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very large number of people who've been

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diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and it

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is using the feedback from clients and

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what I've experienced in my own body

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over the past 20 years that I'm going to

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give the following advice of course

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don't just go and follow anything you

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find on the internet you need to decide

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whether or not it's right for you you're

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the boss and of course I would also

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recommend that you speak with your

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doctor before implementing anything that

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you find on the internet so this is not

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medical advice it is my opinion

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um that being said I've worked with

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clients across a broad array of diets as

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a means of helping them to heal their UC

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and these diets everything from a vegan

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diet because I work with clients who are

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morally vegan I work with clients who

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are culturally vegan I've got clients in

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India and all over the world and a vegan

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diet is a diet that I have used to help

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people to heal from ulcerative colitis

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it can work of course you need to be

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strategic around which foods you are

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including it is very very possible to

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create a vegan diet that will not work

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because there are tons of inflammatory

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proteins in certain plant foods that you

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do need to avoid but it is possible to

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get symptom-free and stay symptom-free

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using a vegan diet

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however and in fact I'll say that when I

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first started coaching about five years

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ago now that is actually the diet that I

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initially recommended I would start

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people off on a vegan diet and then

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gradually introduce animal foods and

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they would end up as a highly omnivorous

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people with lots of different fruits and

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veggies and animal foods and snacks Etc

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that they could eat but the diet did

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start off

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um with a vegan approach and then I'll

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gradually phase in animal Foods now

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these days based on a lot of client

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experience based on a lot of experience

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with my own body it is exactly the

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opposite of that right so I start people

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off on a diet that is if they are okay

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to eat animal foods not everyone is but

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if they are okay with things like

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chicken beef fish eggs I don't know some

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of those things will sound scary

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um people will often think they're gonna

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react badly to fish or eggs or they or

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red meat

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and it's surprising how many people uh

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think they're going to react badly to

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these things who actually don't perhaps

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it was something else in the diet that

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they were reacting to again now I'm not

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saying to go and just eat these things

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that I'm talking about because I said it

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and I'm saying you're not going to react

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to it you may well react to it right but

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I'm telling you that there are a lot of

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people who thought that things like beef

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fish and eggs were the issue when it was

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actually something else in the diet

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anyway these days I do start people off

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on a diet that is high in animal Foods

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the reason for that is people can get a

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lot of bowel rest when you have uh

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ulcerative colitis and you want to heal

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your colon you don't want a lot of stuff

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to get to your colon right you want you

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want your colon to rest as much as

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possible and fats and protein which are

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the two constituents in animal foods do

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not require action in your colon okay

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fat and protein are digested broken down

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absorbed very high up in your digestive

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tract you know partially in your stomach

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and then the absorption happens in your

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small bowel and it's pretty much

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completed in your small bowel right so

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your your colon gets a lot of rest

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so and if there's one thing that we've

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known for Millennia as human beings it's

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that rest equals recovery and repair so

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by focusing on a diet that is Centric on

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animal foods you can allow your colons

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to rest and recover

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um also what that does is it allows you

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to drive down the number of bad bacteria

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in your gut

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um in almost all cases with IBD people

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have an imbalanced microbiome I hate

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using that word but people have an

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imbalanced microbiome and it is

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primarily plant Foods a lot of the time

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junk plant foods but still primarily

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plant foods

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that will feed your gut bacteria animal

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foods do feed gut bacteria to some

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extent but not nearly to the extent that

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plant foods do and therefore by focusing

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on a diet that is primarily animal Foods

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you will drive down the total number of

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bacteria including bad bacteria and then

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you can build from ground up as you then

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start to

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reintroduce some plant foods like fruits

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and vegetables and things you can build

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from ground up and build up a healthful

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microbiome the issue one of the issues

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with starting with a diet that is vegan

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or high in high in plant Foods is that

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number one your colon is not going to

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get as much rest because that stuff all

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requires a lot of action in your colon

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in fact primarily in your colon

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and also it is either already a very

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sort of easily digestible sugar or it is

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broken down into a very easily

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digestible sugar and when you have an

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imbalance to gut flora and you and you

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are inflamed if you pour a lot of sugar

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on top of that sometimes it is like

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adding fuel to a fire so it is not

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always a good idea to have a ton of

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sugar as you often would in a vegan diet

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or a diet that is high in plant foods

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that is just generally not a

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particularly good idea sometimes if you

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are already inflamed and having since it

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can be much more effective much faster

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to uh

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focus on a diet primarily based in

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animal foods and then gradually

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introduce Foods as you get better of

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course the order that you add Foods back

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in really really does matter you can't

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for example be eating beef bags and

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chicken and then add in nuts or beef

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eggs and chicken and add in some crazy

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high FODMAP foods and you know that

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there are

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um certain things or you need to be very

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strategic in the order in which you add

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in these fruits and vegetables however I

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have seen that with a lot of clients it

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is very very possible to get back to

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having a very broad diet that is a diet

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full of animal foods that diet full of

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lots of different foods full of lots of

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different veggies snacks even things

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like caffeine and alcohol these things

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can all find their way back in there

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however you do need to be very very

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sensible about when you start adding

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things in and how quickly you start

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adding things in right you need to be

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very sensible because there is a

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oh cancel that call

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there is a distinction between being uh

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in I made another video on this recently

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but there's a distinction between being

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injury-free and being wound free right

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so let's say you follow an Elimination

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Diet like I would typically help my

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clients out with and you get rid of your

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symptoms you you may be symptom-free but

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in those first few weeks you are not

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wound free right so there is still

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damage in your gut you you are still

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being your body is still repairing

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itself so if you suddenly did something

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stupid diet-wise you can very easily

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open up a wound you can very easily

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exacerbate or reignite your symptoms

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because the wound is still there right

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if you give yourself a good amount of

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time and I help my clients to work out

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what that is but if you give yourself a

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good amount of time before you start

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adding stuff back in there's a very high

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chance that you're going to be able to

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keep symptoms away because when you do

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add in something per that is potentially

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troublesome

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and it goes past the site of that injury

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um it's not going to affect you because

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the injury is no longer there okay

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that's the very very basic uh concept of

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being injury-free versus being wound

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free and you want to be both okay

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course I keep getting calls while I'm

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doing this

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so if you want help implementing an

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Elimination Diet to get you symptom free

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gradually introducing new foods to stay

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symptom-free as well as looking at some

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of the other key areas of healing such

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as self-care such as supplements such as

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lifestyle such as mindset and belief

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system there's a link to contact me

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either above or below this video thank

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you guys very much much for watching

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please like the video please subscribe

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and I'll talk to you soon

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Related Tags
Ulcerative ColitisDiet AdviceIBD CoachVegan DietAnimal FoodsGut HealthInflammatory DiseasesHealing DietMicrobiome BalanceHealth Recovery