Occasionally I get an email from a reader with extreme sensitivities, allergies, or intolerances who would like to know HOW to customize an elemental shake for bowel rest.
For example, this one:
“Is there a way to make a gluten “Cross reactant” free version of Absorb Plus? I seem to have severe neurological side effects to carob and tapioca and vanilla…Flavors I seem okay with are mango, blackberry, and apple. I also have MCAD, and Histamine intolerance. I know you can’t change everything for everyone, that would be ridiculous. I’m just hoping there is a solution. Thank you for your time. (I can’t tolerate banana either or I’d have tried the DIY elemental in the blog). Thank you for all of the resources you provide, you’ve helped me feel not as alone. All the best!”
Okay, so first of all the “DIY elemental” shake made with banana she’s referring to is not elemental. It is a very easily tolerated shake and makes digestion/absorption much easier on the gut (that recipe and more are here) but it is not completely pre-digested. Here again are the ONLY parameters of an elemental shake – according to the clinical trials that established the efficacy of elemental diets to induce remission for Crohn’s disease:
Protein as free form amino acids and/or di-peptide bond proteins only
Fats as MCT, cold-pressed flax, Udo’s, coconut etc. (but MUST be cold-pressed)
Carbohydrates as monosaccharide sugars only (glucose, natural fructose, dextrose). The only exception to this rule is maltodextrin (a glucose polymer)
So as you can see, you cannot add ANY normal/regular foods to your shakes and still have them classed as “elemental” or polymeric.
What you can do, is to purchase an unflavored whey isolate (must be isolate, not a whey concentrate) or unflavored rice protein isolate and mix that with whichever maltodextrin you can tolerate. Tapioca maltodextrin is a good option, or you could also use corn maltodextrin. However, it is very hard to find non-GMO corn maltodextrin in North America – and corn is a common allergen. If you ordered from a European supplier, you could probably find an organic, non-GMO version there.
Rice maltodextrin is another option and likely well tolerated. Do a web search for “buy rice maltodextrin” and it will let you know of suppliers in your area, like this one.
Once you have your protein and your maltodextrin, you can use this guide to mix your shakes in the proper proportions. Of course, you can always use less maltodextrin if you are not malnourished and if you don’t need to gain any healthy weight.
If you wish to add flavors to your DIY elemental shakes, then use these organic flavor concentrates from Nature’s Flavors – they are compatible with an elemental diet and instructions for using/mixing the flavors into your shakes are here.
And if you want to know which other supplements we add to the shakes during The IBD Remission Diet, then check out the one week supply kit we carry (original and vegan versions of Absorb Plus available).
Hope that helps, and if you have any questions just leave them below!
Most recently updated November 2020.
What if you react poorly to maltodextrin. I bought the unsweetened vanilla and had a lot of bloating. I have a really good quality whey isolate that I use with almond milkwith no problems, but i had major bloating with the absorb plus unsweetend vanilla. Does maltodextrin cause problems if you have yeast or fungal issues? I think I have sibo and a fungal problem as well. I don’t really have major issues except bloating. I can eat some foods without problems. Sometimes i have a flare up because of something I ate or die off from a treatment protocol and want to rest my digestive system or have something quick and easy so I can rest. I am not underweight or malnourished is there a way to make some kind of semi-ememental without maltodextrin at all and use more fat. I do not find that I need a lot of carbohydrates in general. Any suggestions you could give would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for contacting us here. This could be intolerance but may also be just the normal effect of consuming an elemental food supply formula like Absorb Plus. When Jini was on the elemental diet for 7 weeks, her belly was so bloated she looked 4 months pregnant. But that quickly disappeared when she transitioned onto normal foods. Also, try to drink the shake at room temperature. If they are cold, it can increase the amount of bloating. Your other option if you really cannot tolerate Absorb Plus is Jini’s Vegan Elemental shake kits. These vegan elemental shake kits are ideal for people who need to break down the formula and delete ingredients they may be sensitive to.
Kind Regards,
Cris B
Customer Care
Can’t access your basic supplement list or premium list
Hi Janice – thanks for the heads up! I’ve updated the post with the correct link. You can find the one week supply kit we carry here: https://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/shop-by-absorb-plus-elemental/
Both original (whey) and vegan versions of Absorb Plus are available at that link. In good health!
Help? I’m pre-diabetic on keto diet for two years. I’m gluten and dairy-free (bad reactions, inflammation, etc.) I have divorticulitas–just had a flare-up. What do you suggest for an elemental diet for me?
Not sure I was clear.. I meant an elemental diet for low-carb people on keto (GF and Dairy Free). 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Sarah! Thanks for reaching out. We are currently working on a free-form amino acid version of Absorb Plus which will have about half of the carbohydrate content as the original Absorb Plus. 🙂
Great! Seed oils are also very bad for health. Please research this?
Hi Sarah – these are the healthy fats Jini usually recommends: https://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/shop-by-flax-oil/
Is there a flavorless (or at least minimal flavor) multivitamin that would not taste horrible in a shake? Or for the added enzymes and bioflavonoids recommended in the books? I can’t figure out how opened capsules are tolerable, even in the sweetened AP shakes. Been resorting to taking supplement “shots” separately and then chasing with the shakes! 🙂
It seems TrueNutrition has a “multivitamin booster” to their maltodextrin, which would be very convenient if it is actually complete and high enough quality…?
Appreciate all the generously helpful information regarding a DIY elemental diet for those of us who need it.
Hi Jon – happy you reached out. 🙂 Jini has actually just formulated a daily multinutrient for Imix – it will be called MultiAbsorb! She’s formulated it as a powder with a scoop. No fillers, flow agents and no capsules! So keep an eye out for that in the coming future.
Otherwise, it’s perfectly fine to take your multivitamin separately from the shake (if you prefer)!
That’s cool news, thank you!
I’m still wondering about the other supplements recommended to be added to AP shakes in the IBD Remission Diet (CoEnzyme, Pycnogenol, Bioflavonoids) because the brands I got also taste bad. Do the products in the shop work better in shakes? I realize not everything can be tastefully “powderized” but just curious how Jini managed it.
Hi Jon, Yes, the products that I used and recommend taste just fine! You can swallow the capsules if you prefer, BUT if you’re having more than 3 bowel movements per day, then your GI transit time is going to be too fast and you won’t get the full benefit. The other option is to mix them in a separate bit of water and shoot it – drinking it fast in one go helps minimize yucky taste. Oh wait, I see from an earlier convo you’re already doing that! Well, either that, or put the yuck-taste ones in the fridge to keep them fresh until you can swallow capsules, and get the brands I recommend to add to your shakes.
Thanks so much for confirming that, Jini!
Thank you for your information
So happy this was helpful to you! 🙂 Here is the section of the LTYG blog with all our info on an elemental diet: https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/category/elemental-diet/
I Jini I buy this two items Absorb plus unsweetened and Absurb plus , but a have a intolerance to sodium nitrate ,e lysozyme , dipotassium guanylate this is food additives plus I have intolerance to salt onion milet rice milk and rice almond cabbage can you give me advice please
Hi Agostinho – are you looking to do a full elemental diet (shakes and broth only), or are you looking to combine your shakes with well-tolerated foods? If you are planning to do the full elemental diet, you will only be drinking the shakes and broths in between shakes. Here is a broth recipe ebook for you with great recipes: https://listentoyourgut.com/broth
If you are looking to do a half-elemental diet, which combines low residue foods and shakes/broth, here is an example from one of our readers that contains good food options: https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/reader-story-my-success-using-a-half-elemental-diet/
Can I make an elemental shake using pea protein isolate? I don’t tolerate whey or rice protein. Could I do hydrolyzed pea protein isolate, flax seed oil and stevia?
Yes, you can create an elemental shake using hydrolyzed pea protein isolate. You can also add flax seed oil and stevia as long as you can tolerate them.