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Alyssa Luck

Alyssa Luck

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Ketogenic Diet for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

Alyssa Luck · Mar 22, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Summary: 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 Disease

Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

Alyssa Luck · Mar 22, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Summary: 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 Disease

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Hi! I’m Alyssa. I like thunderstorms and cats, hate wearing shoes, and I get really nerdy about gut bacteria. This is me in Bali with a monkey on my shoulder. And this is my blog, where I muse about health-related topics and document my relentless self-guinea pigging (in the realms of gut health and orthodontics, mostly). I created the IBD Index to help people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease discover their next health breakthrough. If you want to know more about me, click here!

Recent Posts

  • Brain Retraining for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
  • Dynamic Neural Retraining System: Can DNRS Work for IBD?
  • Ketone Supplements for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
  • About Alyssa: Background, Biases, and Philosophy on Health and Disease
  • My IBD Story: Ulcerative Colitis, Restrictive Diets, Surgery, and Ongoing Exploration

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