More Help for Bowel Disorders

• One in three people in the UK regularly suffers from digestive illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach-aches and nausea (1)

• Over 3.7 million operations were carried out on parts of the digestive system in the UK in 2005/06 (2)

• Almost 15% of deaths in the UK are linked to the digestive tract (3)

We believe a book first published more than 15 years ago, which itself was based on a book written over 50 years ago, deserves another visit.

by Elaine Gottschall

This book describes the Specific Carbohydrate Diet - a strict grain-free, lactose-free, and sucrose-free meal plan.

Here is an excerpt from chapter 1:

"In 1951, after many years of clinical experience, Drs. Sidney V. and Merrill P. Haas published a book entitled Management of Celiac Disease. Directed to the medical community, the book documented the doctors' experience in treating and curing hundreds of cases of celiac disease as well as cases of cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. Their approach was dietary, and they used a well-balanced, normal diet that was highly specific as to the types of sugars and starches allowed. When patients followed this Specific Carbohydrate Diet for a minimum of one year, they were then able to return to normal diet with complete and permanent disappearance of symptoms.

"In 1958, we took our eight year old daughter to the Drs. Haas. Three years before she had been diagnosed by specialists as having incurable ulcerative colitis and her condition was deteriorating. The years of treatment with cortisone and sulfonamides, plus innumerable other medical approaches, had been unsuccessful and surgery seemed imminent. The Drs. Haas placed her on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and within two years she was free of symptoms. She returned to eating normally after another few years, and has remained in excellent health for over twenty years.

"Many students, friends, and others whom I have seen in my practice who were suffering from ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease (not cured by a gluten-free diet), diverticulitis, and various types of chronic diarrhea have tried the Haas Diet and most of them are now free of their respective diseases. Some of the most dramatic and fastest recoveries have occurred in babies and young children with severe constipation and among children who, along with intestinal problems, had serious behavior problems. These included autistic-type hyperactivity as well as hyperactivity, often accompanied by severe and prolonged night terrors. Very often the behavior problems and night terrors cleared up within ten days after initiation of the Haas Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It is interesting to note that in June, 1985, the Schizophrenia Association of Great Britain launched a research project to investigate Dr. F. C. Dohan's research concerning a relationship between celiac disease and schizophrenia. The basis for this project is a strict grain-free, milk-free, low sugar diet, closely related to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet."

The author, Elaine Gottschall, has also included two chapters entitled 'The Brain Connection' and 'The Autism Connection'.

BioCare Bio-acidophilus

Metagenics UltraProbioplex ND

(no dairy)

Metagenics UltraProbioplex IB (intensive)

Digestive enzymes - essential for the normal breakdown and assimilation of food. Supplementing can stimulate the body's own production of digestive enzymes.

Nutri Similase

BioCare Polyzyme Forte

Gastrointestinal repair nutrients - these include the amino acid glutamine, and butyric acid.

Lamberts L-Glutamine - more info.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids - these fatty acids from fish oil and flax seed oil are naturally anti-inflammatory.

Eskimo Omega-3 - more info.

Zinc - this mineral is excreted in high amounts in diarrhoea.

Ginger - traditionally used for nausea and flatulence.

Anti-microbial herbs - natural anti-microbial substances such as caprylic acid, oregano oil, grapefruit seed, olive leaf and goldenseal can help eliminate parasitic infection and bacterial/yeast overgrowth.

Zinc Citrate

Lamberts Ginger

BioCare ColonGuard

(1) Gut Omnibus Survey, Taylor Nelson Sofres, RSGB, February 2006. 1000 respondents.

(2) Main operations, Hospital Episode Statistics, 2005/06. DoH, England.

(3) Deaths: Underlying cause, sex and age group, 2005. The Office for National Statistics.