Eventually, this page will be an in-depth look at what “brain retraining” is, why people with IBD probably need it, the science behind how it works, and the various programs and modalities available.
For now, it’s a landing page where I can collect the names of “brain retraining” programs as I become aware of them.
[Read more…] about Brain Retraining for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseSummary: The Dynamic Neural Retraining System was created by Annie Hopper to heal herself from severe multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), and since 2008 has been widely used by others with MCS and other “mysterious” chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even long-COVID, with seemingly miraculous results. The program is built upon the premise that at the root of all these illnesses is a maladaptive brain response to environmental stimuli, causing the body to react as if harmless stimuli are life-threatening. Although DNRS is not widely used or marketed for IBD, evidence indicates that maladaptive nervous system responses are likely a component of the disease, and at least one IBD patient has reported success using DNRS. Although DNRS is not designed with IBD patients in mind, the principles it teaches may very well be the missing piece for many people who have tried just about everything else.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on May 5, 2022.
The Dynamic Neural Retraining System, or DNRS, is one of those programs that appears to toe the line between “this is totally miraculous” and “this is total bullshit.” How could someone possibly go from, say, being wheelchair- and house-bound, and only able to eat a few foods, to being totally and completely healthy, just by doing some mental exercises?
It sounds like magic, but this is the promise of neuroplasticity. It’s not easy, but it’s powerful. And for many with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, it could be the missing piece – the reason that all of the drugs and diets and supplements haven’t worked, despite great effort and dedication.
Table of Contents:
What is DNRS?
How does DNRS work?
Do people with IBD have limbic system impairment?
Can DNRS work for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease?
How much does DNRS cost? Is it worth it?
Helpful resources
Summary: There are a few mechanisms by which having elevated blood ketones could be therapeutic for IBD, and one case report demonstrated benefit of ketone salts in the context of a low-carb (but not ketogenic) diet for Crohn’s disease. Exogenous ketones can reliably elevate blood ketones as well as or better than a ketogenic diet, without the potential attendant downsides of such a diet. Ketone esters elevate blood ketone levels more than ketone salts, and may be better tolerated, but are also more expensive. MCT oil (particularly pure caprylic acid) can promote ketogenesis in the liver, but has a limited ability to do so compared to exogenous ketones. All of these supplements have various strengths and weaknesses and may be worth experimenting with for someone with IBD who is attempting to achieve therapeutic ketosis, whether in the context of a ketogenic diet or not.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on May 2, 2022.
In my (rather lengthy) article about the ketogenic diet, I discussed the background, risks, and potential benefits of a ketogenic diet in the context of IBD. Ketone supplements have become popular as both an adjunct to a ketogenic diet and as a way to get some of the benefits of ketone metabolism without the stringent dietary restrictions. But do they actually work? Are they safe? And are they worth trying if you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease?
[Read more…] about Ketone Supplements for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseLast updated on April 21, 2022.
Most of us decide whether a bit of information is trustworthy in large part on the basis of who has conveyed it to us. You shouldn’t trust everything people say on the internet, and I’m no exception. This post is meant to give you a sense of who I am as a person, what my biases are, and the perspective I’m writing from, so that you can figure out whether you’ll be taking the information I provide with a grain of salt (or several).
Table of Contents
What qualifies you to talk about health and disease?
Why do you bother writing and sharing this stuff? Do you make money from it?
How do you do research for and write your articles?
Are you one of those anti-Western medicine types?
Are you one of those woo-woo New Age-y energy medicine types?
What’s your perspective on the causes of and solutions for chronic illness?
Are you anti-vegan? Anti-low-carb?
What does your own diet look like?
What are your current research interests and personal goals?
If I’m gonna be doling out IBD-related information, I figured I ought to share my own story with the infamous disease. I’ll be honest, it’s still hard for me to think about those early days – my life is pretty great right now, despite lingering symptoms, and I have great optimism for my future, but it’s uncomfortable recalling such dark times.
But I want to preface this post by saying that I’m incredibly grateful for all of it. Even the surgery – I would have chosen differently if I’d had more information, but I don’t regret it.
When I started this journey, I was smart, hardworking, and good-natured, but rigid and perfectionistic – I had no give to me. When things went wrong, I didn’t bend; I broke. I was so caught up in oughts I couldn’t see how things actually are (much less enjoy them), I became angered and impatient easily, and I took everything so very seriously. A good quality when things are serious, certainly – but not conducive to a happy life.
Perhaps from the outside, the change wasn’t so dramatic, but to myself, I’m almost unrecognizable now.
The girl who so identified with her beliefs (food, religious, or otherwise) that she would feel threatened by those who believed differently – she’s gone now. The girl who thought exclusively in black and white now delights in the whole spectrum of gray.
I’ve learned that good and done is better than perfect in my head, and that there’s no award for trying the hardest or suffering the most – in a fight with reality, reality always wins.
I’ve also gained access to the eternal playground of ideas and discoveries that is human health, and the endless wonder and fascination that affords. And much to my previous dismay and current elation, health is indeed so much more than the state of our physical bodies.
But enough of my philosophizing. Please enjoy the chronicles of Alyssa and her colon.
[Read more…] about My IBD Story: Ulcerative Colitis, Restrictive Diets, Surgery, and Ongoing ExplorationSummary: Ketogenic diets have exploded in popularity for weight loss and overall health optimization. While we are still sorely lacking in clinical research on ketogenic diets for IBD, there are a few compelling mechanisms – particularly modulating intestinal immunity and overcoming energy starvation in colonocytes – indicating that ketosis could be a helpful therapeutic strategy for some people. However, there are also some risks, with a potential increase in hydrogen sulfide production being a particular concern since hydrogen sulfide is often already elevated in people with IBD. Therapeutic effects of the diet are likely mediated both metabolically (by emulating fasting) and via the microbiome, but both of these mechanisms appear to be highly context-dependent, contributing to significant disparity in results across the existing literature on ketogenic diets in health and disease. In the context of IBD, my current assessment is that a strict ketogenic diet could be helpful as a short-term strategy for certain people, but is unlikely to be an optimal long-term strategy.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on April 27, 2022.
As the name would suggest, a ketogenic diet is a diet that promotes the metabolic state of ketosis. This is generally accomplished by consuming very few carbohydrates, a moderate amount of protein, and getting most calories from fat.
Note that I discuss the carnivore diet separately, because while a carnivore diet is necessarily ketogenic, its defining feature is the elimination of all plant foods, which is not necessary on a non-carnivore ketogenic diet.
For information about exogenous ketones (including brands), MCT oil, and some comments about breath vs. urine vs. blood testing for ketosis, check out my article on ketone supplementation.
[Read more…] about Ketogenic Diet for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseSummary: The carnivore diet has become increasingly popular for everything from weight loss to general health, and many with IBD have reported miraculous results, including one written up and published as a case report. However, a strict carnivore diet (especially with our modern tastes) is not a tried and true strategy for humans: populations that have traditionally subsisted on mostly animal foods do still eat some plant foods, and usually have very specific dietary patterns that most modern carnivores don’t come close to replicating. A carnivore diet could absolutely still be worth trying for IBD, especially if nothing else has worked, but care should be taken to monitor for any issues related to hydrogen sulfide overproduction or metabolism and general health. Certain strategies, such as keeping the fat-to-protein ratio supportive of ketosis and including specific microbiome-supporting foods like cranberries, could help minimize risk and maximize chances of success.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on April 15, 2022.
The carnivore diet is like the sexier, more exciting cousin of the ketogenic diet (which I covered in the linked post). Rather than hewing to a certain macronutrient ratio, a carnivore diet simply eliminates any food that comes from a plant, only including foods that come from animals. This makes it far simpler to follow, and also more fun (if you’re the type of person who enjoys all the connotations of being a “carnivore” and feeling superior for eschewing lame plant foods).
Many people with IBD have reported miraculous results from adopting a carnivore diet, but many also claim that a stint of carnivore dieting ruined their health. So what are the considerations surrounding a carnivore diet in the context of IBD?
[Read more…] about Carnivore Diet for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseSummary: As the name implies, the Autoimmune Protocol, or AIP, is a therapeutic dietary strategy designed to address autoimmune diseases of all types – including IBD. The AIP addresses both gut and immune health by eliminating all foods that could be immune-activating or disruptive to the gut, and focusing on foods with high nutrient density. The dietary guidelines (including avoidance of grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, nuts and seeds, and nightshades) were already supported by extensive research, but now the AIP as a holistic strategy for IBD is also supported by one uncontrolled clinical trial. Most of my concerns with the diet (specifically surrounding carbohydrate and associated prebiotic content) are being actively addressed by prominent members of the community. As with any strict elimination diet, care should be taken to avoid triggering or exacerbating an unhealthy relationship with food, but overall the AIP is a nutritionally sound diet that has demonstrated success in treating IBD, both anecdotally and clinically.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on March 22, 2022.
As per my determination to avoid reinventing the wheel, this article primarily consists of links to other resources. The AIP has an extremely robust and scientifically-grounded online community, so while I do hope to one day spend some time comparing/contrasting the various IBD diets (including the AIP), I don’t have much to contribute to the AIP-specific body of knowledge that has not already been contributed by others!
[Read more…] about Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseSummary: The bean protocol is a nutritional approach that has exploded in popularity as a cure-all for everything from acne to severe Crohn’s disease. The theoretical mechanism of success centers around soluble fiber and its ability to improve detoxification by interrupting enterohepatic circulation. While there are many scientifically sound mechanisms by which this protocol could be beneficial for those with IBD – including support for the liver, nervous system, and microbiome – certain claims are dubious and verge on the pseudoscientific (to be explored in a future post). Overall, the protocol provides an excellent framework for a health-supporting diet and lifestyle for those with IBD, but care should be taken to avoid getting so caught up in the particulars that individual needs or relationship with food are disregarded.
Note: this article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on March 17, 2022.
I’ve personally been experimenting with a bean-protocol-esque diet recently, and I plan to start delving into the science (or pseudoscience) behind it in the near future. Follow me on Instagram for personal content related to the bean protocol, as well as snippets of research as I work on an in-depth “Science Behind the Bean Protocol” blog post.
[Read more…] about The Bean Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s DiseaseSummary: Vegan diets are one popular intervention for IBD, and for good reason – a well-designed vegan diet may confer beneficial effects on intestinal health via modulation of the microbiome, increased nutrient density, and elimination of food irritants. However, diets completely devoid of animal products are not viable long-term for the vast majority of people, and nutritional deficiencies are a serious risk. All the potential health benefits of a vegan diet can still be leveraged within an omnivorous diet, but for those who are vegan for ethical or sustainability reasons, careful supplementation or strategic inclusion of certain nutrient-dense animal foods (such as bivalves) are potential options for avoiding some of the pitfalls.
This article is part of the IBD Index. Last updated on March 16, 2022.
It is well known that high intakes of meat have been associated with IBD (example source; there are many!). And while yes, these are epidemiological studies and no, correlation does not equal causation, I’d consider it a bit disingenuous to brush off these results as a mere artifact of the “healthy user bias” (as many in the keto, carnivore, and paleo communities are wont to do).
I’ll say right at the outset that, on the basis of anthropological, biological, and other scientific knowledge and data, I don’t believe a strict vegan diet to be viable for the vast majority of humans. That said, many people have anecdotally had astonishing success managing their IBD with a vegan diet, and considering those experiences in light of the epidemiological evidence I mentioned above, I think it would behoove us to pay attention to what this information could teach us about the disease processes involved in IBD, and how to best address them.
[Read more…] about Vegan Diets for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease