Did you know that a very low carb diet can reduce the gut damage in inflammatory bowel disease? Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease, and they are increasing in incidence. These conditions can cause horrible symptoms and possibly serious bowel complications. A keto diet can offer a safe and effective remedy for reducing intestinal inflammation.

Is keto safe for those with fatty liver?

A ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate diet where total daily carb intake is usually at 20 grams or less. It is a diet that excludes sugar, starch, grains, cereals and fruit. Protein and fat-rich foods make up the bulk of the diet. Rather than using glucose for energy, people on a ketogenic diet convert fatty acids into ketones and they provide the body with fuel. Ketones can be produced from body fat stores and from the fat present in a meal.

How can keto help heal the gut?

A ketogenic diet can help in the following ways:

  • Anti inflammatory effects. The name of one ketone body is beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). It is able to provide energy and fuel for the cells that line the gut and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the gut. BHB can help to repair a damaged intestinal lining.
  • Changes to gut microbes: Keto diets can cause a shift in gut microbes, reducing harmful microbes and increasing beneficial ones such as Akkermansia. Because it is a sugar free diet, ketogenic diets lead to a reduction in yeast, Candida and bad gut bugs that thrive on sugar such as clostridia, klebsiella, streptococcus and enterococcus bacteria. People with inflammatory bowel disease have unbalanced gut bugs which is referred to as dysbiosis. A keto diet can help correct that imbalance.
  • It’s a low residue diet: Grains, cereals and legumes are high in fiber. These foods are eliminated on a keto diet, thus it’s usually a low fiber diet. Reducing fiber can be therapeutic for people with very inflamed intestines. Fiber can be irritating and scratchy to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Sugars, starches and fiber may irritate the gut

We are usually told that increasing the amount of plants and increasing the fiber in our diet is the best thing we can do for our health. That’s usually not the case for people with inflammatory bowel disease. Along with reducing carbs, a few recent studies have shown that a low FODMAP diet may offer significant relief of symptoms. FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by many people. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. Some people have a very low tolerance to these foods, and eating them causes a great deal of digestive discomfort. They can cause secretion of fluid into the intestines, thus may trigger a bout of diarrhea. Examples of high FODMAP foods that can aggravate the gut include onion, garlic and cauliflower.

Strategies to help heal your gut

Inflammatory foods need to be avoided

These include gluten, grains, sugar and dairy products. These foods can worsen auto-antibody production in those with autoimmune disease. Sugar causes the proliferation of nasty gut bugs. If present in high quantities, these bugs can inflame the lining of the intestines, creating a leaky gut. An excessively permeable gut lining is the doorway to autoimmune disease. BactoClear capsules contain antimicrobial essential oils of clove, oregano and thyme. They are excellent at killing off bad gut bugs.

 It’s best not to eat all day

Try to just eat 2 or 3 meals a day and minimize snacking. It’s best to give your digestive system a rest between meals. Fill up on protein-rich foods such as seafood, poultry, eggs, and meat. Fat is also satiating, so make sure you have adequate good fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, or animal fats.

Raw foods may aggravate diarrhea

Cooked vegetables are usually better tolerated than raw salads. Try steaming or roasting your vegetables, or eat them in a stew or casserole.

Ensure you produce sufficient digestive secretions

If you have a weak digestive system, take digestive enzymes in the middle of your meal and sip one to two tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar diluted in 3 tablespoons of warm water 5 minutes before the meal.

Heal and soothe the gut lining. Ultimate Gut Health powder is a powerful formulation that can be taken daily to repair, heal and restore the gut lining. The Ultimate Gut Health powder has multiple actions and provides fuel for the cells lining the intestines and protects the lining of the gastrointestinal tract (known as the mucosa).

Re-inoculate your intestines with beneficial microbes.

A good quality probiotic is helpful, as is including fermented foods in your diet, such as sauerkraut, kefir and kimchi.

There is detailed information about how to help inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune conditions in our book called Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

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The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.