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Carbs Could Cause Trouble for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  • May 10, 2017

We are only beginning to fully realize the repercussions of high carb diets. The obesity epidemic is widely documented, but Live Science has shed life on another threat posed by poor nutrition. They found that carbs can pose serious health challenges to individuals who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. 

This should not be a surprise to scientists. The bacteria in your gut play crucial roles in your health, and your diet can significantly alter your gut microbiome. Sugar nourishes health-harming bacteria, yeast and fungi in your gut, which may actually harm you more than its impact on insulin resistance.

By eating a healthy diet, you allow beneficial gut bacteria to flourish. They then perform the real "magic" of nourishing your health. You may have noticed that probiotics are now featured in articles relating to all sorts of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, depression and heart disease.

Naturally, imbalances in your gut microbiome are most readily associated with gut problems, ranging from mild discomforts to severe inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These are autoimmune diseases that can have serious consequences if left unaddressed. The symptoms associated with these conditions are caused by inflammation in your intestines, which also increases your risk of intestinal blockages, abscesses, bowel perforation and colon cancer.

Addressing Crohn's disease involves two strategies: avoiding things that disrupt your gut microbiome, and implementing dietary strategies that nourish beneficial microbes. Your gut bacteria are very vulnerable to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as refined sugars, fluoridated water, refined grains, processed foods, pesticides and antibiotics. 

All of these factors throw your gut flora out of balance. While some of these factors are pervasive and can be difficult to avoid, it's not impossible. Simply altering your diet to avoid processed foods and focusing on real foods (ideally locally grown organics) will make a big dent. I recommend my nutrition plan for more information on how to optimize your diet.