The Fast Tract Digestion IBS ebook is now available on Amazon (Update: The print book is also available through the Digestive Health Institute)!
What Really Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and How Best To Treat It?
If you suffer from IBS, you are not alone. IBS affects up to 50 million people in the US. The small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) diet in the book is science-based and designed to eliminate the symptoms of IBS.
This book is about a ground-breaking science-based diet and behavioral recommendations that address the real cause of IBS. The Fast Tract Diet will help you eliminate drugs and remain symptom free for life.
The book covers conventional treatments and the following medicines that do not address the real cause yet carry significant side effects and health risks.
- Laxatives
- Anti-diarrhea medications
- Antacids
- Pain relievers
- Prescription drugs
The risks of off-label-use of antibiotics is also examined.
SIBO is the cause of IBS. The maldigestion of 5 difficult-to-digestive carbohydrates leads to SIBO and its symptoms. IBS is NOT caused by psychological stress, hormones, or faulty neurotransmitters.
The Fast Tract Diet is based on Fermentation Potential (FP) and behavioral recommendations that minimize maldigestion, SIBO and the symptoms of IBS. FP is a novel mathematical formula to determine the symptom potential of any food.
“The Fast Tract Diet is superior to other diets including Paleo, FODMAP, Low Starch, Low Carb, Specific Carb, and Elemental diets” (foreword from Michael R. Eades. M.D.), which are closely examined in the book. Over forty recipes including snacks and desserts are all made with low FP foods. Over 300 foods and their symptom potential are listed in the FP tables in the back of the book.
The Fast Tract Diet is based on solid and extensive research and the latest developments in medical science. The Fast Tract Diet limits difficult to digest foods that promote SIBO so you can eliminate your symptoms altogether or at least reduce them to an absolute minimum.
IBS is linked to:
- acid reflux
- celiac disease
- asthma
- restless leg syndrome
- rosacea and several other conditions
SIBO is the common connection. Addressing SIBO with this diet offers benefits that go well beyond IBS.
Feel better with Fast Tract Digestion IBS without drugs or antibiotics.
Will the ebook be available any sooner?
It should be earlier as no indexing is needed. Maybe third week in March if we’re lucky.
The ebook is now available.
Hi!
Got IBS, probably SIBO, easily gets a lot of gas and tends to be constipated + hemorhoids, despite low-carb diet.
I’m very intrested in your ideas and looking forward to your new book. Can you tell when it gets availabe for sale as e-book?
/ Patrik
Hi Patrik,
We are on schedule. The book should be live on Amazon before the end of this month (March 2013).
Ok! Looking forward to it!
/ Patrik
Hi, your book Fast Tract Digestion : IBS is posted on Amazon but says out of print. Any idea when the book will be available for purchase?
Hi Janice,
The ebook will be available in a couple of weeks. The print book will be out in approximately a month.
Eagerly waiting. Thanks!
The ebook is available.
I got a lot out of reading “Fast Tract Digestion: Heartburn,” but IBS is the problem I’m most interested in treating.
Will “Fast Tract Digestion: IBS” have new content that isn’t included in the heartburn book?
P.S.
Thank you for doing this research. I figured out on my own that carbs played a role, but I never could have taken it to this degree. I appreciate the specific advice and the recipes.
The first five chapters are specific to IBS. The majority of the recipes / meal plans are new and the FP tables are updated and expanded. Having said that, all of the Fast Tract Digestion books are based on addressing SIBO with the FP system along with supportive information on supplements, behaviors and treatments for each specific condition.
Where are your links to the “elemental diet supplements” that can be taken? Is Vivonex the only “elemental diet” supplement choice? Aren’t there better elemental diet supplement choices out there? AbsorbPlus is from whey and can’t use that.
Hi Jan,
Sorry, I don’t have a recommendation for a specific elemental diet formulation. My focus has been the development of the Fast Tract Diet. You should be able to find several message boards discussing this topic.
This looks interesting. Having been on FODMAP , it has worked but I still have an issue with sugar. Do you know of any reason? FODMAPS says I can still have table sugar, but I still end up with chronic abdominal pains and major brain fog. My dietician can’t think why. Would be interested in your thoughts. Many thanks for working so hard to find solutions to the ‘IBS’ label.
Am also underweight..always had difficulty putting weight on. Even when I ate lots of cakes, processed foods.
Hi SP,
Thanks for a good question. Table sugar or sucrose is a disaccharide composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule. Table sugar is not limited on FODMAPs diet based on the finding that fructose, while poorly absorbed when consumed alone, is absorbed more efficiently when consumed with an equal part of glucose. But the efficiency of fructose absorption is certainly not 100 percent even in the presence of glucose based on the difference in the glycemic index of sucrose (59) vs. glucose (100). As a result, the fermentation potential (listed in the appendix of Fast Tract Digestion IBS) is 6 grams for a 1/2 ounce (14 gram) serving of table sugar. While not as bad as pure fructose (FP 11 grams for the same serving size), the fermentation potential of table sugar can add up pretty quickly because its present in so many products. The result? SIBO and symptoms.
As for weight gain, if you are suffering from SIBO, your ability to absorb sufficient nutrients for weight gain could be compromised. As you address and control foods promoting SIBO, this would be expected to improve.
Hi Norm, Thankyou for your reply and explanation.
When is the hard copy of the book going to be available?
I wonder if you could give me your thoughts on this ‘low FODMAP’ recipe for a blueberry corn cake?
125gm GF flour
170gm corn meal
2tsp baking powder
60gm caster sugar
2 eggs
1 cup almond milk
60 gm butter
130gm blueberries
Is it really low FODMAP. Does the mix of sugar and blueberry make a difference or is it just the sugar that is too much?
Also when looking at total intake, many FODMAPS give a max intake per sitting which means I can eat the same again in a few hours, however, surely the intake should be a max per day?
Hope you don’t mind me posting these questions here. Thankyou.
Not sure what’s in the GF flour you list. 1.1 ounce (30 grams) or just under a quarter cup has an FP of 15 grams. This ingredient alone makes this a less gut friendly recipe. Than you have to add more FP from the GF flour and sugar and a bit more from the blueberries. The almond milk is pretty low. All told, you have a high FP dish that will likely drive symptoms. In my opinion, this is a good example of why the FOPMAP diet leaves many people with symptoms.
Thankyou once again. The GF flour is made of: rice, potato, tapioca, maize and buckwheat flours.
Will the book show me how to read packaging ingredients such as this and how to calculate the FP myself? That has been my biggest issue. Everyone keeps telling me I can have anything GF but I know I can’t and your confirmation on the above recipe has just given me the answer I needed.
Hope the book is launched soon.
The GF flour is high FP. Just the tapioca for instance (1.1 ounce amount) has an FP of 14 grams.
This recipe is very likely to drive symptoms. Fast Tract Digestion (now available on Kindle and in print by May) will help you evaluate the symptom potential by using the information on the food label along with the glycemic index.
Update on Tapioca: Sorry to say, my original source for tapioca was incorrect, the GI value for tapioca is actually 81. So a 1.1 ounce serving (boiled with milk)has an FP of only 5 grams! Some good news. Sorry for my mistake. This will be updated in future book editions.
Hi Norm!
First of all, thanks for a great book on heartburn! I’m also planning buying the one on Ibs as well. So to my question- even though I feel that my ibs-symptoms are under control (after implementing low carb/fast tract heartburn diet, I still suffer from some kind of food intolerance, and my stomack still seem a little fragile. Do you think this would gradually fade away and improve? What are your experiences in terms of food intolerances?
While I don’t know much about your situation, if you had significant GERD/IBS symptoms at one point due to SIBO, it will take some time to fully recover (as opposed to food allergies / sensitivities). I would say just stay the course with the Fast Tract Diet.
If you want more info on IBS, the first five chapters of FTD IBS deal exclusively with IBS. Even the diet chapters are more specific focusing on IBS as apposed to acid reflux.
Dr. Robillard,
Thanks for the new IBS book. I was pleased to see mention of the possibility of proximal duodenal bacterial overgrowth as well as intragastric bacterial overgrowth, which was not mentioned in the Heartburn book. We discussed this in your comments to me here:
https://digestivehealthinstitute.org/buy-books/
I just reread those comments and noticed that you mentioned “a shot of whiskey for good measure.” (For some reason, I paid no attention to that comment when you initially wrote it.) I am not sure what you meant by that comment. If serious, please let me know the rationale. Was it in the belief that the whiskey might kill microbes? I am not a drinker, but I would be happy to start if I thought it would be beneficial.
In addition, I am curious if you could point me to any other information on gastric bacterial overgrowth. I am aware of H. pylori, but is there evidence of other organisms in the stomach? (When I search PubMed I mostly find references to H. pylori.)
Lastly, since you are a student of bacteria, I am curious if you have any thoughts about biofilms. I recognize that your thesis is that a low FP diet is the best way to address bacterial overgrowth. But, given your professional background, do you think that gut bacteria form biofilms, and, if they do, do you think that that makes them harder to eradicate?
Thanks again for your invaluable contribution to those of use who are dealing with SIBO symptoms.
Hi Mike,
Good ideas as usual from you. I was more than half kidding with the “shot of whiskey” but alcohol certainly does have antimicrobial properties and I would not be surprised if a shot of whiskey might actually help in some cases. But I have no data to back this up with. I terms of GERD, there are studies that seem to show alcohol can exacerbate GERD and others that show there is no connection. I personally think the studies that show the connection have not taken into account the starch in beer and sucrose/fructose in sweet drink mixes (as opposed to the alcohol itself).
There has been work done on proximal and gastric bacterial overgrowth. Most this work is with people who have been on proton pump inhibitors. H. pylori, while showing a definitive link with gastric ulcers, does not show a good correlation with GERD. I don’t pay much attention to it except the the ulcer connection.
Biofilms are a big deal with indwelling medical devices (tendon screws, catheters, etc.) as bacteria are very good at adhering to materials and each other. They can build up over time becoming many layers thick (dental plaque is a biofilm) even including different types of bacteria. Once a tenacious biofilm is formed they can be difficult to eradicate. I know some work has been done on gut biofilms, but I have not followed this work closely. Biofilms likely do exist to a certain extent in the intestines, but there is always a counter force at work. Mucous production and sloughing off of cells likely continues to turn over biofilms. I would assume that the more friendly (best adapted) microbes would be the best at biofilm formation which could be a good thing.
Fascinating! Thank you.
Dear Dr. Robillard,
I’m so glad I found your book! I’m sorry if you’ve answered this somewhere else on your blog, but I couldn’t find reference to it in the Fermentation Potential Tables (again, maybe I missed it?). Do you know the FP for maple syrup?
Biofilms are fascinating! I just learned about them (and biofilm disruptors) a couple weeks ago when researching SIBO.
Thanks again for sharing your expertise and for being so approachable!
Hi Hanaelulu,
Thanks for your question. The FP for a one half ounce serving of maple syrup is 5 g.
Dr. Robillard,
Thank you for your work. I’m trying to find a low FP, non-dairy substitute for smoothies, and Hazelnut milk is my preference (which I would make from scratch). I thought almonds would make a good comparison, and this link posts nutritional content for both: https://skipthepie.org/nut-and-seed-products/nuts-almonds/compared-to/nuts-hazelnuts-or-filberts-blanched/#nut.
Using the FP formula, I get almonds at 22 and hazelnuts at 17 (I’m sure I’m doing something wrong but….). Can you please tell me if they are close enough to consider hazelnuts a Low FP? Thank you.
Hi Jill,
Here is what I get for each using 100 g (3.6 ounce) serving. By the way, I am now recommending keeping the serving size of nuts to 2.0 ounces to limit fiber in early stages of the diet. According to https://nutritiondata.self.com, almonds have 11 g net carbs and 12 g fiber. I subtracted the 12 g fiber from the 22 total carbs to get the 11 g net carbs. This gives an FP of 21 grams. That’s because nuts have a low glycemic index and a good amount of fiber. By the way, the net carb value I had in the table if you adjusted it to a 100 g serving was 7 grams likely based on an actual food label. I corrected the value to the reference cited which is also consistent with the source you cite.
The values for Hazel nut are similar for a 100 g serving. Net carbs are 7 g and fiber is 10 g. That gives an FP of 15 g. Keep one thing in mind. The fiber from nuts can be an issue for some people as it is fermentable, but the fiber in nuts is not as bad as the highly fermentable fiber in most legumes.
Also, I am not sure how you are making your almond/Hazel nut milk, but I imagine the commercial preparations include quite a bit of water, because the label on two different brands in my frig say 1 g net carbs and 1 g fiber per cup which is extremely low and gives an FP of about 1 g.
Hello Dr. Robillard,
Would like to thank you so much for publishing this book! I’ve been suffering from undiagnosed IBS for 10 yrs. And although I’m just starting the program everything that you’ve stated makes a lot of sense.
Was curious as to how you would prepare low FP potatoes? I’ve experimented with red potato hash browns, but after eating I immediately have IBS symptoms. I would grate the raw potatoes and put them in the skillet for a total of 10-15 min. should I boil them before hand?
Also, what’s your opinion on raw diary. I’ve drank raw milk in the past but would have IBS symptoms from it. Figured it would be ok because lactase is present in raw milk, but no go for me. Thank you so much.
Hi Robert and Thanks. Glad you like the book. Potatoes are a little tricky. As you know from the FP tables, there are many types and the FP can vary quite a bit between them. I recommend adding them back after your symptoms are under control. Low FP varieties of rice or parsnips are a good substitute during this time. When you do try potatoes again, do your best to find the low FP varies and try a well-baked potato first as opposed to french fries, hash browns, or even boiled. Also, follow all the pro-absorption behaviors discussed in the book.
As for dairy, I have also heard that lactic acid bacteria in the milk and their lactase offers some protection from the lactose. Might not be the case if you’re sensitive to lactose. You can try using extra lactase or cutting the serving size. But there are also oligosaccharides in milk that could be giving you a problem. I personally don’t drink milk as I have become lactose intolerant over the years. Instead I used small amounts of heavy and light cream.
I purchased your latest book about heartburn and acid reflux online at amazon.com and had one question. In the two week menu plan can one switch up the dinner options paying respect to not eating bread until the second week? For instance if I want to cook something different on night 4 and substitute it with night 7 as long as I keep the fp points the same can I do that? Just was curious as to the flexibility or what one may be hungry for if the principles are still followed. Ie. like the key lime pie and would rather have that instead of the ice cream. Is that ok?
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for trying the diet. You can absolutely switch it up any way you want as long as the FP limits are intact. Keep in touch. I would be interested in hearing about your experience.
I am so interested in your book. I am absolutely miserable pretty much every day. My GI doctor is now treating me with Flagil for SIBO. Not sure yet how helpful this will be but I always knew there was something on my diet that wasn’t right.
I am really looking forwad to figuring out what are those foods that causes so much discomfort, tiredness and pain after eating pretty much anything, even water blows my stomach!
I have been on Nexium for about 5 years. If I don’t take it I am in such misery all the long.
I would like to know if you going to have your FTD IBS book in print and if so by when. I cannot wait to read it and try the diet. I know I cannot longer live like this, I have to relearn what to eat and even different ways to cook.
Thanks for giving me hope through your research.
Thsnkd
Hi Carolina,
I really feel for you as your situation resonates with many of us on this site. I hope that one day, doctors will prescribe the Fast Tract Diet before antibiotics and PPIs as both of these treatments can make the underlying problem worse not better. Fast Tract Digestion goes to print this week and should be available in about 4-6 weeks. We were waiting to include a foreword for the book by Dr. Mike Eades which he completed this week. In the interim, the ebook is available on Amazon and can be read on any computer with Amazon, Calibre, or mobi pocket reader free ebook reader software.
Thank you for replying. Cannot wait to get it on my hands.
Carolina
Have you had trouble finding light cream? I have searched many stores in my area and while I can find heavy cream I can only find half and half, buttermilk, whole mile, 2% and skim but nothing else. Any help would be much appreciated. Also, have you ever thought about putting out a recipe book beyond the 2 week plan?
Hi Kerry,
Most supermarkets (except Trader Joes) stock light cream. You should be able to find it. Try Stop and Shop, Ralphs, Shaws, etc. We have plans for a new book that will have more recipes. It will likely come out by years end but will not be a recipes only book. May be in 2014.
I’m reading your book, Fast Track Digestion IBS. I too have tried all the diets – Paleo, SCD, GAPS, Ketotic, etc. I have had problems with digestion as long as I can remember and would best describe myself as having IBS-C. I also have an auto-immune condition. I found your book very interesting and can relate to much of what you have written, but I don’t think it is the whole story for me. For example eating raw veggies exacerbates my IBS-C. I have to ensure timely transit or I get impacted. I notice that raw veg passes through undigested and causes a lot of pain. Because of these issues many of your meal suggestions would not work for me. Looking at the FP table in the back of your book it does not appear that FP would cause this. Any thoughts? I do take a digestive enzyme with meals and have found this to be very helpful, but it does not solve the issue with raw veg.
Also curious to know if you are aware of anyone treating IBS-C with fecal transplant.
Thanks
Hi Loring,
Thanks for reading the book. You’re right. Raw vegetables don’t register higher in FP in the books tables. The biggest reason is that most vegetables don’t have enough carbs to even be tested for GI. It is possible though that if they were tested, the FP would be higher for raw vs. cooked veggies hence the FP would might somewhat higher for raw veggies. But again, there are not that many carbs to begin with so there would be a limit in max FP anyway. However, if you have found that raw veggies cause your symptoms, I would support you in focusing more on cooked vegetables.
I have not heard of the fecal transplant for IBS-C, but it would make sense as a viable strategy to replace methane-producing bacteria linked to IBS-C.
I just bought “Fast Tract Digestion” and finished day one on the diet. I kept my daily intake to under 30FP but did not follow your menu. I avoided carbs and drank tea and water only. I hope this is okay. I was diagnosed with GERD five months ago and was instantly put on Nexium 40 mg. I did not feel that it was effective as it should have been. A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with SIBO through a glucose breath test. My GI put me on a 10 day course of Xifaxan, which did not get rid of the SIBO. I told her that I thought the SIBO may have been caused by the Nexium. She advised me to try 2 daily doses of Zantac 150 mg. After a week, I luckily have not experienced the acid surge from going off Nexium. I hope to gradually decrease my Zantac dose. I am having trouble finding light cream for coffee, so bought some heavy whipping cream. Is this okay to use? It has 0g of carbs, fiber, and sugars. The ingredients are heavy cream and skim milk with <1% of Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80 and Carrageenan. Thanks- you have given me hope that I will beat these ailments.
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for reading the book and trying the diet. Sounds like a reasonable approach. FP is the key. There is no reason you have to used the recipes in the book. Both heavy and light cream have about 2 g lactose per 8 ounce serving (even if not on the label of the product you bought) so you should not have a problem using it. Let me know how you progress.
What is the best way to gain weight while sticking with the diet? I am concerned about having lost 4 pounds over the past couple of weeks. I am almost 5′ 4″ and currently weigh 107.8 pounds. Thanks for your previous reply. I have not have a cup of coffee in over 5 months. I miss it terribly.
Hopefully you will begin to stabilize soon. Improving SIBO is one key. If you had symptoms, determine if they are improving. That will mean less nutritional malabsorption – giving you more calories. I don’t know what you are currently eating, but adding calories in the form of fats (particularly mono and saturated fats, from olive oil and marbled meats, for example) and low FP carbohydrates (i.e., jasmine rice and low FP fruits) should help.
There is no reason you can’t have a couple of cups of coffee each day as long as you limit sucrose and lactose by using cream and non-sugar sweetener if you take it sweet.
Hi Norm,
I promise my string of questions will not last forever. My physical therapist recommended two supplements, a fruit blend, and a vegetable blend, to make up for starchy veggies and high fructose fruits that I am eliminating from my diet. The products are GMO and pesticide free, from vine ripened produce. I would take two capsules of each formula each day. Is the FP too high for me to use these products? Also, are all cheeses pretty low in FP? We have a soft goat Colby from the farmer’s market, and a chunk of Feta. Thanks again for the help.
Fruit Blend:
Serving Size 2 capsules(1.5g)
Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving
Calories 5 Calories from fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total fat 0g 0%
Saturated fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0g 0%
Sodium 5 mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g <1%
Dietary fiber <1g 1%
Sugars <1g
Protein <1g
Vitamin A (100% beta carotene) 110%
Vitamin C 320%
Calcium 2%
Iron 0%
Vitamin E 70%
Folate 35%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet
Ingredients: Fruit juice powder and pulp from apple, orange, pineapple, cranberry,
peach, acerola cherry and papaya; gelatin, calcium ascorbate, citrus pectin, beet
root powder, citrus bioflavanoids, glucomannan, Lactobacillus acidophilus, natural
enzyme blend, d-alpha tocopherol, beta carotene, date fiber, prune fiber, Dunaliella
salina, folic acid.
Garden Blend:
Serving Size 2 Capsules(1.5g)
Serving Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving
Calories 5 Calories from fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total fat 0g 0%
Saturated fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0g 0%
Sodium 10 mg <1%
Total Carbohydrate 1g <1%
Dietary fiber <1g 2%
Sugars <1g
Vitamin A (100% beta carotene) 140%
Vitamin C 70%
Calcium 4%
Iron 0%
Vitamin E 80%
Folate 70%
Ingredients: Vegetable juice powder and pulp from carrots, parsley, beet, kale,
broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and tomato; gelatin, glucomannan, cellulose, calcium
ascorbate, calcium carbonate, Lactobacillus acidophilus, d-alpha tocopherol, beta
carotene, natural enzyme blend, sugarbeet fiber, garlic powder, oat bran, rice bran,
mixed tocopherols, Dunaliella salina, folic acid. .
The supplements won’t be a problem in terms of FP (less than a gram of net carbs and fiber). And most cheeses are only a gram or less in FP -gut friendly. Especially hard cheeses.
Hi Norm,
Is Marzetti “Simply Dressed” ranch dressing okay? It has 2 g of carbs, 0g of fiber, and 1g of sugar. What would you estimate the FP to be for one tablespoon? It’s day six for me and I am feeling much better. The SIBO has definitely died down. I am about to decrease my Zantac dose. Thank you so much!
I very happy to hear you are feeling better Jeanne! The FP for one tablespoon of this dressing is less than a gram – so no problem. I’m interested in your progress weaning off the Zantac. Please keep me posted.
Hi Norm,
Today I am reducing the Zantac to 75 twice a day, down from a 150 + a 75 dose per day. I have gained back nearly a pound of the lost weight. I want to add a glass or two of dry red wine back into my diet for the calories and drinking pleasure. The red blend we currently have contains 1.2 g of residual sugar per 100ml. Is that too much sugar? Thanks!
Jeanne, Great news. I am happy to hear it. You definitely deserve a glass of wine! Sounds like you have chosen a nice dry wine. Shouldn’t be a problem in the least. That’s less than a gram of FP.
Hi Norm,
I am having some problems with burping and sour stomach. Also pains in my back and throat.I wonder if the SIBO is acting up again. I have been staying within FP limits. Upon advice of a friend, I started taking chewable DGL a couple of days ago, and started Digest Gold enzymes yesterday. Do you think it is a good idea to be on these supplements? Can they be causing me problems? Is there an adjustment period after which things will improve? The DGL has dextrose as a sweetener. Thanks again.
I’m feeling a bit better now. I did read that a few days of stomach upset could happen while the body adjusts to the enzymes.
Ok, good to hear that Jeanne. I don’t encourage these combo enzymes unless you suspect that you have a deficiency in amylase, protease or lipase. Lipase, in particular can cause side effects. The DGL should be fine as long as you avoid brands containing sugar alcohols.
I’ve bought both of your books and am giving your diet a try. I don’t want to give up my daily vegetable juice. Can you tell me the approximate FP for my mix? A small beet (1 1/2 ounces), 6 ounces lettuce, 2 ounces kale, 6 ounces cucumber, a medium sized orange. Once juiced there would be little fiber. Thank you!
Hi Susan, Assuming your orange is 5 ounces (minus the peel), I get a total of 23 grams FP. The orange alone is 11 grams FP. If you want to reduce the FP, substitute a lower FP fruit or veggie for some of the orange portion.
Susan, I forgot you are removing most of the fiber. The fiber of all components comes to just under 8 grams. If you removed most of the fiber, you would have an FP of about 16 grams. Interesting exercise.
Im not a juicing expert by any means, but I would guess that most of the fiber removed is insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is likely going into the juice? Does that make sense? So we would need to know the ratio of the fiber types to do a more accurate calculation.
Thank you for responding. I’ll stop juicing until I hear the FP is much lower.
It’s up to you Susan, but I was thinking you might be onto something. The challenge is to come up with a low FP recipe for juicing. How about a little watermelon or cantaloupe in place of the orange? If you come up with a new recipe, please share!
Hi Norm,
I am fairly certain that I am suffering from some bad acid rebound 3+ weeks after abruptly going off Nexium and switching to Zantac. My cousin who got off Nexium said she had to wean herself off slowly. That is probably what I should have done; but I followed my GI doctor’s advice. I was doing so well with your plan up to this point. I have left a message for my doctor. I wonder if I should go back on the Nexium and then wean off of it slowly. Do you have any recommendations for symptom relief in the meantime? I know that antacids can be a bad idea with my SIBO history. Thank you.
Jeanne, You can talk to your doctor about going back on a PPI but I suspect that you are still suffering some level of carb malabsorption. Very small amounts of the wrong kinds of carbs can produce significant amounts of gas and symptoms. If you can identify and further limit the causative carbs, you should be able to get off both the PPIs and H2 blockers and use Tums as an occasional rescue medicine. You might consider our counseling program if you want help with implementing adjustments to you diet. There are several options depending on our analysis of your current diet and other factors.
Thank you, Norm. I would imagine that the jasmine and sticky rice(s) are fine.
That’s an important question Jeanne. Jasmine and sticky rice are better than the others by far in terms of FP, but there are a few things to consider. People with advanced or persistent SIBO are likely not digesting carbs as well as healthy people. The Fast Tract Diet idea is that by limiting the worst of the carbs, SIBO recedes and digestion improves, but if you have persistent symptoms, additional actions are warranted. That’s one of the areas we focus on in the coaching program. A couple of things to try include 1. Limiting all carbs, aka very low carb dieting for a week or two. 2 Periodic fasting. 3 digestive enzymes. Once you get to baseline (no symptoms), you can go back to the less restrictive Fast Tract type recipes.
Thanks a million, Norm! I have sent an email to inquire about the diet counseling. I am so grateful for all of the information and support I have received. My doctor wants me to go back on Nexium; but I want to try a stricter diet first.
Hi Norm,
An update…my acid surge is gone. I am really great; just watching the carbs and sugar while enjoying dry wine and coffee. I did not go back on Nexium but am down to one 75 mg Zantac per day. I have continued the DGL plus take ginger capsules with meals as recommended by my cousin who is an RN that works with GI patients a lot. She had to go off Nexium because of bone problems, and this is her regimen. My positive review of the book is on Amazon.
Hi Jeanne, I’m happy to hear about your progress. You should continue to improve. Hopefully, the Zantac will be the next med you won’t need. I really appreciate that you shared your experience on Amazon review. Thank you! Hopefully others will be inspired to give the drug free Fast Tract Diet a try.
Hi Norm,
I am puzzled by something. Dextrose or glucose has zero FP. The test I had for SIBO was a glucose breath test. Why would glucose cause a reaction?
Hi Jeanne,
I hear you. Glucose and dextrose, two names for the same thing, both have zero FP with a glycemic index of 100. So why would you use glucose for breath testing? I’m not sure why some doctors continue to use glucose. Because glucose is so quickly absorbed, there is less of a chance that SIBO, if present, will be detected. SIBO that is detected using glucose is more than likely advanced SIBO present in the earliest part of the small intestine. Lactulose is a much better choice for the H2 breath test because it’s not digested or absorbed at all. It can detect SIBO throughout the entire small intestine. Perhaps this is why 50 – 75 grams of glucose are typically administered for breath tests vs. only 10 grams of lactulose.
Given that SIBO was detected using glucose, does it mean that I have to avoid dextrose as a sweetener?
Excellent point Jeanne. You probably should keep your total carbs including glucose and jasmine rice, etc. low regardless of FP for a week or two.
Thanks, Norm. How many net carbs per day are considered low? Can dry red wine, at 4 g per 6.6 oz., be included in the daily total?
I would try to stay below 25 grams per day for at least a week – that’s 21 grams after the wine : ) As your symptoms improve, you can up it to 40 grams per day or switch over the the Fast Tract Diet.
Have just started the Fast Track Diet after purchasing book. I have silent reflux which has chronic cough as only symtom. acid reflux diet no help.
So far so good. But wondering about Buckwheat Pancack mix.
It contains rice flour and maize flour and 47% Buckwheat.
Also interested to know if I can have Buckwheat Pasta? ( buckwheat 80%). – 8 grams dietary fibre in 100 grams.
Also is Maple Syrup Ok. Apparently it’s lowin fructose.
Good luck to fellow sufferers.
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
The the FP for Buckwheat pancakes is low based on the reported high glycemic index. In general however, I would approach the buckwheat recipe with some level of caution given that I can’t confirm the ration of amylose / amylopectin starch in this flour. Maize flour certainly has some level of resistant starch. Try adding this after your symptoms are under control. Start with relatively small portions, eat slowly and chew well until you know if they provoke any symptoms. The same goes for maple syrup that contains high levels of sucrose. Sucrose is composed of one half glucose and one half fructose.
I was diagnosed with SIBO about 6 months ago after 3 years of severe symptoms, bathroom visits up to 30 times a day , 10 kg weight loss (I’m very very slim) and vit. D and B12 deficiency. I’ve been given numerous antibiotics and none have really helped . I started the diet yesterday and already notice much less wind. I find that eating fats make my symptoms even worse. I’m hoping that this diet will put a stop to the watery diarrhoea and that i can finally put on a bit of weight. How long do you think this could take ?
Hi Mary,
I feel for you Mary. Your challenging symptoms and level of malabsorption are consistent with your diagnosis and require the hands-on care of a good GI doctor. You may want to share the information in Fast Tract Digestion with your doctor. If you and your doctor can identify and address the underlying factors driving your condition (chapter 8 in the IBS volume), while on the diet and practicing the behavior recommendations, you should make good progress. Your doctor can also help you ensure you are supplementing with adequate vitamins and minerals including D, B12, K2, Calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and Selenium. You might also consider replacing some of the fats in the Fast Tract Diet recipes from meats and dairy with coconut oil which is high in medium chain triglycerides which are much easier to absorb and likely better tolerated. You can try 6 teaspoons per day and see how you respond. If you tolerate this amount, you can try to increase the amount up to about 12 teaspoons per day. Again, please discuss these ideas with your doctor.
Thanks for the reply Norm. I’ll give it a go with the coconut oil. I’ve been taking minerals and Vit D prescribed to me and have a follow up in December . I’ve been prescribed so many antibiotics, Vancomycin, Doxicillin, Cipro, Flagyl and Rifaximin , nothing has helped so I’ve given up on the ab’s. I’ve even tried a home faecal transplant.. all to no avail . I live in Germany and the Prof. I see has never mentioned anything about diet helping symptoms although I feel so much better without the carbs. It’s the first treatment to bring any relief. I’ve been diabetic Type 1 for 20 years but am actually very well controlled. I also took immunesuppressants for a few years for RA that is now in remission. Not being a big meat eater (until now) I’ve always eaten a lot of carbs . Perhaps this is the cause of my SIBO. Apart from these digestive problems I feel great and am very active .
Hi Norm,
I wanted to let you know that I am no longer on any acid blockers, and doing quite well. I plan to see a Naturopathic Doctor tomorrow for advice about the supplements I am taking. My Gastroenterologist is a very nice and supportive woman, but has no clue about remedies other than Nexium and other prescription medications. I am convinced that I have too little rather than too much stomach acid. I am surprised that the mainstream medical community has the treatment for GERD and other digestive disorders so wrong. I appreciate your wisdom and ongoing support.
Hi Jeanne, I’m so happy to hear it. We are making big changes at the grass roots level. I would like to ask you and others to spread the word on social media and other means so that the people who are suffering can experience the same relief without drugs.
Thank you!
Hi Norm,
I just finished your Fast Track IBS book and I want to thank you for making sense out of the seemingly random food choices that have been making me completely miserable for the last four years. I’ve had every gastro test known to my physicians and have gone through three GI doctors in four years searching for an answer to my pain. I do have a few questions I hope you can shed some light on:
1. I have moderate to severe pain along my transverse colon which can begin within minutes of eating. Would that signify that possibly bacteria are feasting on consumed carbs rather high in my gastrointestinal tract rather than in the small intestine? If so, how should I modify my diet?
2. After reading in several sources that without beginning a low carb diet with a course of antibiotics, it can take up to five years for the “bad” bacteria to die off, I begged my primary care doctor to give me a prescription. He did but I haven’t taken it yet because I am going on vacation in two weeks and I knew my diet would be harder to control until I got home. Now after reading your book I’m having second thoughts about taking it at all. My primary care doctor believes as you do, that the SIBO can be controlled by diet alone without the jump-start of an antibiotic. Why do the other sources (I’m sure you know who they are) insist that without the antibiotic it could be as long as five years before a healthy balance of bacteria can be achieved?
3. I don’t take a daily vitamin, although I know I should. I noticed that you mentioned that your vitamin has egg as an ingredient. I’m allergic to eggs. How can I choose a healthy vitamin?
4. Due to the severe pain It’s has caused me to have under my ribcage, my doctor is giving me Neurontin. I have to take a very high dose – 600 mg X 3 times a day to get any relief, but without it the pain is severe enough to leave me unable to function. Does the fact that a high dose of Neurontin gives me some relief make sense to you? I have been checked out from head to toe with Mr I’m, CT scans, HIDA scans, gastric emptying tests, small bowel study, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and more with the result that nothing functional is causing my pain. I’m is consistently the end diagnosis with no treatment plan.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this book and all of your research. After four years of pain diagnosed as I said but no real solution, I finally have hope.
Thanks!
Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reading the book and contributing to the discussion. Some of your questions cannot be answered without more information or may be beyond my expertise. The pain you report along your transverse colon is a bit of both. Excessive fermentation of carbs in either the small or large intestine could be responsible for this type of pain, but it could also be caused by something else altogether. If the pain resolves on the Fast Tract Diet that would be great. If not, you may require further diagnostic help with your own doctor.
I agree with your primary care doctor that the SIBO can be controlled by diet alone. Now that improved science-based diets such as the Fast Tract Diet are available, why wouldn’t you want to try that approach first since it does not devastate your gut microbiome as antibiotics do? The idea that diet takes a long time to achieve results may evolved because previous diets did not limit all fermentable carbohydrates. For diets to be effective all fermentable carbs need to be curtailed significantly.
I did not know that vitamins contain egg. I think you may need to look into that one on your own. Please let us know what you find out. Also, if you eat a varied diet, your requirement for vitamin supplement may be minimal unless your level of malabsoption is extensive.
Your doctor and pharmacist are in the best position to advise you on your pain medications. Here are a few links on Neurontin that you can discuss with them. It’s good to be aware of the side effects of any medication you take as well as how convincing the studies are supporting their use for your particular situation which in your case, if different from the original indication the drug was developed for.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa0906126
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabapentin
Susan
I urge you to try the fast track diet. It helped me more in just 8 weeks than 7 years of gi doctors and numerous meds tests and pain. It was not until my bowels stopped functioning that i discovered that diets for sibo existed
Dr robilliards plan appealed to me and i stopped taking all my prescriptions and am back to normal. I have more energy than ever. I am 67 and thought I ‘d never feel well again. I was told i had chronic pancreatitis and yet subsequent testing showed nothing. Just try this diet
Hi Norm,
My naturopathic doctor did a food sensitivity test using 10 drops of blood and sent it to a lab for analysis. The results showed that I am highly reactive to some of my staple low FP foods (eggs, cheese, almonds). What do you think of the validity of such a test? Also, what do you think is the estimated FP for Daiya cheese substitute?
Ingredients:
Filtered water, tapioca and/or arrowroot flours, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and /or non-GMO expeller pressed safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein, salt, vegan natural flavors, inactive yeast, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, citric acid (for flavor), titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral).
Per 1/4 cup: Carbohydrates 7 g, Fiber 1g, Sugar 0g
Thank you!
I’m reading your book, and am trying to create a food plan that might help my IBS. You mention the Elemental Diet, which appears to be a good recommendation from you. I’m aware of the product call AbsorbPlus, which I suppose I could have shipped to me (I don’t live in the US). But before doing that, do you think it’s possible to make my own? You mention the ingredients fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose. Do those also come in food form? Or are they all in pill/capsule form? I don’t even know what they are. Talk to me like I’m in kindergarten, okay? (Oh, I’m also on the Paleo Diet, eat gluten-free, and don’t have a gall bladder). Any advice is deeply, deeply appreciated.
Luba
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico
Hi Leona,
Interesting idea. I don’t see why you could not do this, but you would need to make sure you have the proper ratios of all the ingredients plus any required vitamin and minerals otherwise you could end up with a preparation that was nutritionally inadequate. I am not in a position to provide a recipe at this time, but if I come across one, I will let you know.
Hello!
Just a few questions :).
I am thinking of starting the diet soon, and have a few questions regarding the foods. On the first week, you say it is okay to have some lactose free ice cream, but also that sugar is not okay. Isn’t there sugar in ice cream? I would love to be able to eat more carbs than not because I know for a fact my body prefers carbs than fat or protein for fuel (apart from the fermentation issue…).
Also, how long do people typically follow the diet? My situation is not fun, but probably far from being the worst. If I add lots of probiotics, what is the recommended length to follow the diet?
Thank you so much!!
Hi Lucy, The lactose in lactose-free ice cream as well as lactose-free milk is broken down into glucose and galactose by the enzyme lactase, so the FP should be lower as glucose and galactose are easier to absorb. That being said, I can find no published GI for these foods, so currently, I still calculate FP based on published GIs for lactose-containing milk and ice cream. In reality, they should be lower FP.
Hi,
I have read both IBS/GERD books & have started the diet, into day 7 now. I’m in the process of trying to wean off Pepcid 40 a day. I feel improvement, but still breakthroughs from day to day. I’ve noticed the days I included the dessert that it seems they exacerbated versus not. Also, I’ve been unable to locate light cream & the stores you mentioned above are not in my area as we are very rural. Is there a substitution for light cream or maybe a way to weaken heavy cream (which I can only find in small whipping cream container sizes)? I started a probiotic 2 days ago. I had been suffering chronic diarrhea since having gallbladder removal & this has slowed substantially in the past 7 days, though diagnosed with IBS at age 7, now 37. One other question is will this diet make me gain weight or loose?
Hi Jodi,
Thanks for reading the books. You might have some breakthrough symptoms while weaning off PPIs. You can definitely skip some desserts or have smaller meals/portions. Also, you might consider taking a couple of Tums as rescue meds during this time.
Both light and heavy (whipping) cream are lower in lactose, but you can also try lactose-free milk. I don’t have an FP for it as there is not published GI, but you can assume about half the FP as regular milk since there are some oligosaccharides in lactose-free milk. Also with no gallbladder, you may not tolerate as many fats. If this turns out to be the case, you can contact the DHI and we will work on some alternative strategies with you.
Since the Fast Tract Diet is really a tool, as opposed to a diet, you can adjust your ratios of fats, proteins and carbs for optimal weight management – as long as FP values are controlled.
Also, I find that I’m not hungry enough to eat the two snacks. Is this okay?
Yes, by all means. Less is more in this case for sure. The serving sizes are large in the recipes as some people are larger and require more calories. You can make less, leave out dessert or save some leftovers.
Is there anything to substitute almond flour for as I have nut allergies? Also, a hint on Rice Krispy candy with low FP, if it is even possible.
Hello,
I actually ordered your book on Amazon today. Looking forward to reading it.
I was just diagnosed with IBS-C and believe I have been suffering with it for years. Two years ago, I went on a whole foods Vegan and gluten free diet to try and help relieve some of my symptoms (among other reasons) and have never looked back. Although, I was able to relieve and eliminate most of my symptoms for this time period, about a month an a half ago I had an extreme flare up and have been dealing with symptoms since then. Does your book have dietary suggestions (or easy to modify) for a plant based/gluten free diet? As I have not read your book YET, I will go ahead and ask it… Are some veggies, fruits, legumes and grains stimulants for bad bacteria overgrowth?
Eagerly awaiting your books arrival!
Thanks so much,
Danielle
Hi Danielle,
The book has a few gluten-containing foods, but flags them for people with sensitivity to gluten. The diet can be modified for a plant based diets, but most legumes have a higher level of fermentation potential (FP grams). It’s hard to get rid of all symptoms without placing some limits on legumes. You will see there are acceptable fruits and some high in FP. Given your symtpoms, I think you will find it a good read.
Thanks for the great comments! Going forward, please post comments on the blog articles or in the forum.