If you take a look through medical journals, you will not find a lot of information or data about the use of elemental diets with ulcerative colitis (or any form of colitis).
In fact, the data you find will likely say that elemental diets are not effective for colitis. Now whilst I cannot confirm or deny that, I do know that the IBD Remission Diet can result in very positive results for colitis sufferers. I have thousands of testimonial letters from people who have used the IBD Remission Diet (which is an elemental diet combined with healing supplements) to manage or completely heal their colitis and here are two recent ones I wanted to share with you:
Jini,
I am absolutely thrilled with everything I learned from your book! From battling a hard case of Ulcerative Colitis, I was at my ropes end and needed to find a new approach! I managed to maintain a Elemental Diet for 5 and a half weeks and introduced Wild Oregano Oil, as well as flax oil into my lifestyle. I have adopted a much healthier lifestyle since taking an interest in everything you have had to say. Clean eating is a part of my daily life. Gluten/Dairy free has always been a part of my regular regime but now I have fully cut out processed junk!!
I cannot thank you enough for opening up my eyes to the fact that mainstream medicine is not the only way to approach health conditions!! I absolutely love when people refer to me as a hippie when I suggest Wild Oregano Oil or some other tricks I’ve learned from you!!
I have only had one flare up in the last few months. I am completely off prednisone. And hoping to come off Asacol soon!! I do regular healing enemas and am thrilled!!!
Credit to you and all your hard work and determination!!
Cheers,
– A.A.
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I used the IBD Remission Diet book, reading parts of it more than once, some parts several times and have found it very helpful. Loved your detailed information about each item I ingested so that I knew why it was important.
I followed the diet on page 166 having four shakes per day for six weeks, gradually adding food the next few weeks. I still have at least one shake per day. In fact, I look forward to one every morning for breakfast. And it is so easy to make.
What I found helpful in preparing the shakes was to scoop the flavors into one dozen 1/2 pint jars, then empty the capsules, CoQ10 etc. into each jar (only the dry ingredients), put the lids on, ready for emptying into a larger container when mixing with water and Udo oil. That way I didn’t have to measure everything each time I wanted a shake. I had three days of 4 shakes each day mostly ready. Just needed to add oil and water!
After eight weeks of mostly the shakes, I was afraid to introduce much food for fear I would regress.
The MetaCleanse I used to recommend was great in stabilizing bowel movements. But the manufacturer has stopped producing it so, in its place, you can use 1 tbsp. sprouted flax and chia powder (available locally and online at various sites; you may have to purchase the two powders separately) along with 1/2 tsp. bentonite clay. NOTE: You cannot use these remedies if you are on an exclusively elemental diet – only if you are combining Absorb Plus with regular foods.
I am now back on a very healthy diet. I have gained the weight back (had gone down to 97 pounds) and I feel terrific. Thanks so much Jini for your Listen to Your Gut program! The Gastroenterologist had told me I would be on drugs for the Lymphocytic Colitis the rest of my life. I have heard that the body is created to heal and I did not give up. Thank you Jini!
– E.B.
I also urge you to consider using Jini’s Probiotic Retention Enema sooner, rather than later in the Diet. This email from a reader shows the value of this protocol:
“The second positive impact was the implementation of Jini’s probiotic retention enema protocol. I first tried it after completing a 9 week stint on the absorb plus elemental diet. Despite the diet and the use of other supplements suggested in the LTYG book, I was still having some persistent physical symptoms (loose stool, blood, urgency) so I decided to give the probiotic enema a try. This protocol provided me very fast improvement of physical symptoms. Within a week my stool quality improved demonstrably and within a month my stool was fully formed and solid and there was almost no blood! I should also mention that the die-off symptoms lasted for an entire week after doing the enema so my gut must have been really toxic. I hope this feedback will be helpful. Thanks to you, Jini, and the entire LTYG team!”
– G.Z.
Can I do an elemental diet using vegetable juice, protein powder and flax oil? Also is the coconut water-avocado-protein powder-oil shake I saw in another post elemental? I wasn’t clear if they were just shake options or truly elemental. How can I get elemental carbs on veggie juice?
I have lots of gas!. I have ibs with spasming intestines so I cannot poop due to intestinal and rectum spasms and trapped gas. Also I have severe gastroparesis which makes me feel full all the time and sick when I drink or eat. I trained at Hippocrates health institute and believe the fresh juice will heal me. Any tips for coping with the nausea post drinking?
Hi Michele,
It wouldn’t be elemental, strictly speaking, but you can certainly do that if you are able to tolerate it. However, the lack of carbs will make it difficult to gain weight. Jini recommends using tapioca maltodextrin to bump up the calories if you’re going for a vegetarian or vegan option. We carry vegan elemental kits at the shoppe as well just in case you are looking for more ideas:
https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/how-to-make-a-vegan-elemental-shake/
Regarding the nausea, you may want to try out ginger powder or fresh ginger.
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care
Hello,
I have had ulcerative colitis for 2 years and get some bad flares which are hard to control I’ve just ordered a few things from absorb and fingers crossed they will help me out it’s been very difficult as I work with children and my energy levels are soo slow! Not eating much as I get diaareah so it’s been hard going to have the normal life.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! We would love to hear how the products work out for you and if you have any questions about any of them (or Jini’s protocols) please don’t hesitate to ask. You can comment here, e-mail us at service@listentoyourgut.com, chat with us in the little blue box below, or call us at 888-866-7745.
Have a great day,
Justin
Hi there,
I’m 32 and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 3 years ago now, and Crohns just recently. I’m currently on prednisone, and very soon to be on humera to control the symptoms. I have purchased the ‘Listen To Your Gut’ book and am making my way through that – loving it! I’ve realised that I may need to start further back using the elemental diet to get me right back on track.
How long should (or is normal) I go on the elemental diet (shakes) for? I live in Australia and would like to avoid paying for expensive postage twice. I appears that some people take 4 shakes a day for 8 weeks or so, the program suggests 7 a day for a week, so I’m not sure without having the book what is suggested.
If I need more than one weeks supply at 7 shakes per day, do I need to buy 2 packs of the ‘Elemental Diet Kit Absorb Plus – One Week Supply’, or will that be unnecessarily doubling up on some products. To clarify, should I just be buying one Elemental Diet Kit, then also adding extra absorb plus to the order?
Thanks.
Hi Micah,
If you purchase the kit, you’ll likely need to just add more Absorb Plus on in order to have enough for the time period you intend to cover. However, you’ll definitely want to check each supplement in the kit to ensure that the bottles contain enough to last for that same time period. Most of our Australian customers purchase Absorb Plus 7 tubs at a time to take advantage of the 7plus loyalty program (simply buy 6 tubs on an order, get the 7th free). Another way to mitigate the cost is to join the LTYG Wellness Circle which, for only $9.95/month, brings a 10% discount on all orders. Since you bought Listen to Your Gut, you are entitled to a free 30 day trial period so make sure to activate that from the bonus email before you place your next order and you’ll be able to take advantage of the discount.
Regarding duration of the elemental diet, that all depends on you. The diet is designed for bowel rest and some people need to be on it for longer than others. For more details about the diet, you may want to take a look Jini’s other book, The IBD Remission Diet at the link below:
http://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/the-ibd-remission-diet-achieving-long-term-health-with-an-elemental-diet-natural-supplementation-plan-ebook-by-jini-patel-thompson/
If you have any additional questions about any of Jini’s products or protocols, you can reply here or e-mail me at service@listentoyourgut.com.
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care
Hi
In July 2013 against my better judgment I had a, fistulotomy, which didn’t resolve the infection as I had arthritic problems a few weeks after. I was placed on prednisone to resolve the arthritic issue, and that delayed the healing process. After getting off the prednisone I began to experience tremendous pain in the sphincter muscle area, along with bleeding, with every bowel movement. I ordered the healing enema and the suppositories could you please advise which will be more effective and use first?
Hi Mark,
We aren’t able to speculate on which might be more effective but you can certainly use both the suppositories and the enema on the same day. One possible way to go would be to start with the enema in the evening and then use the suppository before bed so it can work overnight. Jini would love to hear how it works out for you and we wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care
I’ve had UC for 8 years now and have been off meds for at least 4 years because I don’t believe they did anything for me, most likely just caused more harm. I’ve bled pretty much the entire 8 years with every bowel movement, sometimes worse than others and am currently in the worst flare that I can remember with lots of urgency, blood and mucus. I’m VERY interested in trying the elemental diet and have already bought the books and some of the vegan powder to try. I am gluten/dairy free for years and even was vegan for a year before I became too anemic and had to eat some meat, but I felt best being vegan. Anyway, I am a nursing mother of a 15 month old so I wanted to ask Jini her thoughts on doing the elemental diet while nursing. Also, the flare up started when I became pregnant a couple months ago, then I miscarried and it got much worse. Don’t know if it’s bc of all the hormones being off balance? She also talks about fully resting while doing the diet, but how do you do that when you have to take care of a baby with no relatives near by? Will the diet still help if I am just resting as much as is possible? Thank you so much, sorry for the super long comment!
Hi Suzanne,
I’m afraid we can’t comment on what would be appropriate to take while you’re nursing as we’re not qualified to do so (Jini included) but, theoretically, Absorb Plus should be fine to use as a supplement. As always, it’s best to check with your doctor if you’re unsure. If you decide to go on a partial or fully elemental diet, you’ll want to get as much rest as possible. For more information about Jini’s thoughts on supplements to take while pregnant or nursing, check out chapter 9 of her Listen to Your Gut book.
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care
Hi Suzanne,
I also have UC, was diagnosed in 2017 but have had some symptoms for upto seven years..would love to get in contact with you and discuss UC.. Im trying to reach out to anyone who has it and maintains it or tolerates it off drugs/meds ..would love to hear from you.
Thanks so much,
Fliss
My husband has been diagnosed with stage IV appendiceal cancer and has had a right hemicolectomy done (with a few mistakes by a rookie surgeon). As a result, he has some blockage in his small intestines and constipation for the little that does pass through.
He was on a pea protein powder drink by his naturopathic doctor but it was a very sticky sludge-y formula, and so we are now trying Absorb Plus. I got the unsweetened vanilla – which he dislikes, but he is taking it, very moderately.
He asked me to find out if Absorb Plus causes constipation. Can you please answer that for us?
Mahalo in advance,
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
A small number of people experience constipation using Absorb Plus because the carb component (tapioca maltodextrin) absorbs a lot of water. So if you are not drinking a full glass of water between shakes, or your body just naturally tends towards constipation, firmer, less frequent stools can also be the result.
In general, though, most people don’t experience constipation as long as enough water is consumed throughout the day (especially on a fully elemental diet).
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care
Hello Jini and Justin, I’m trying to help my father who finally is letting me after spending 2 yrs going to traditional Drs who don’t even try to find out what was really wrong. Anyway we have a session of colonics booked for him and I want him to have your Probiotic Retention Enema, but where can I find the ingredients for your Probiotic retention enema?
Hi Annette,
You can find the instructions for Jini’s Probiotic Retention Enema protocol in her Listen to Your Gut book (or eBook) or in her Jini’s Healing Guide: Natural Treatments for Gut Infection softcover (or eBook). All of these are available at the link below:
http://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/books-and-ebooks/
Kind regards,
Justin
Good morning, I have a 12 yrs old son diagnose with Ulcerative Colitis about one year ago. He has been on 5ASA, Prednisone ( became dependent), and we are now on the way to Humira in a few weeks. I have heard about your work and expertise, and would like to try these protocol with my son. I have heard that because of his age, diets would not be the best option because it would affect his growth and weight, however, I consider health is more important than your weight. Are the supplements listed suitable for pediatric patients? What would you suggest?
Thanks
Hopeful Mom
Hi Ana Paula,
I’m afraid that we aren’t qualified to advise you but we’ve had a number of customers use Jini’s protocols with their children and Jini actually talks about using the protocols with children in her Listen to Your Gut and IBD Remission diet books. A good place to start for more information is at our ulcerative colitis symptom page here:
http://www.listentoyourgut.com/symptoms/13/ulcerative-colitis.html
If you decide to purchase any of our books or eBooks and you find that you aren’t able to use them after consulting with your doctor, we would be happy to refund you for them. If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to reply here, email us at service@listentoyourgut.com, call 888-866-7745, or visit our live chat during normal business hours in the little blue box on the bottom right of your screen.
Kind regards,
Justin
Customer Care