Why Fiber Is So Irritating To Our Intestines

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:40 pm

Hi All,

According to the research article at the following link, fiber speeds up motility by damaging cells in the intestinal walls, and believe it or not, this is considered to be beneficial.

as these bulky foods make their way down the gastrointestinal tract, they run into cells, tearing them and freeing lubricating mucus within.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 093156.htm

Does that sound beneficial to you? This explains clearly why fiber is contraindicated for an inflamed digestive system. What puzzles me, is how the convoluted thinking in the article, could be twisted to conclude that damaging cells in the intestinal walls, is somehow beneficial to overall health of the digestive system, for anyone. Call me retarded, but I find it very difficult to believe that constantly damaging delicate tissue, could in any way be construed as beneficial, in the long run. In my view, that's twisted logic.

I have an advantage over the rest of you - I have an ileostomy, and because of that, I can actually see and touch the interior surface of my ileum. Trust me, it is extremely delicate. It is the softest, most delicate tissue that one can imagine. Simply touching it, will often draw blood, and lightly wiping across it, even with soft tissue, will always draw blood. Before this, for over four years, I had a colostomy, so I could see and touch the interior surface of my colon. It responded the same way, to touch and wiping. Why would we even consider scraping it with something as harsh and abrasive as fiber?

Based on this information, since it demonstrates that with a high-fiber diet, intestinal repairs will have to be repeated on a constant schedule, I'm going to predict that some day, researchers will get around to proving that high-fiber diets are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.

FWIW, recent research has already demonstrated that despite previous claims, increased fiber in the diet does not reduce the risk of colon cancer. The final step will be to prove that at it actually increases the risk, (IMO). This research project, for example, showed that in Dutch men, not only did fiber not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, (CRC), but in fact, men who occasionally suffered from constipation showed a significantly reduced risk of developing CRC.

In this study, frequent bowel movements were associated with an increased risk of rectal cancer in men, and constipation was associated with a decreased risk.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/e ... 7.abstract

Evidently, Dr. Briffa agrees with me, as he recently blogged about this, and note his closing paragraph:

Do bear in mind though that insoluble fibre has been show to induce tiny rips and tears in the lining of the bowel. These will need repairing of course, requiring proliferation of cells. Uncontrolled cell proliferation, by the way, is the hallmark of cancerous tumours. While doctors, dieticians and cereal manufacturers often extol the virtues of bran, my opinion is that such foods should be flushed (straight) down the toilet.

The red emphasis is mine, of course.

http://www.drbriffa.com/2010/12/28/thin ... ink-again/

Well, it appears that we've been duped once again, (for the umpteenth time), by advice coming from the medical community and our governments.

I can't help but compare us with Charlie Brown, in my mind - he's so trusting that he continues to fall for deceptive behavior of that sort, also.

Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:57 pm

What about diverticulosis? Most doctors blame diverticulosis on the lack of fiber in the diet. I seem to remember reading that industrialized countries have a much higher rate of it than non-industrialized countries.

But when you have diverticulitis, they advise eating a low-fiber diet while the gut is inflamed.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:14 pm

I had diverticulitis, too, and for decades, I ate a lot of fiber, hoping to prevent it, (since my father had diverticulosis), but I pretty much stopped eating it, after discovering that I had developed it anyway. I wonder if there has ever been any valid research to prove that fiber reduces the risk of diverticulosis. I have a hunch that just like so many of the other misconceptions in the medical world, the benefits of fiber, and it's effects on diverticulosis, (if any), were assumed, many decades ago, and never proven. Industrialized countries have a much higher rate of all sorts of problems, when compared with non-industrialized countries, and not just digestive system problems - we have problems of every description and type, that are virtually unheard of in non-industrialized nations.

Tex

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:54 am

Morning Tex,

Very provocitive. Guess some day they will learn but I am not sure of that.

Love, Maggie

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:29 am

Interesting musings, Tex!

I agree that the GI gut mucosa appears delicate. Your first hand observations are helpful. Recently I mentioned how inflamed my mucosa looked on the colonoscopy photos I was given after taking that corrosive prep (Miralax/polyethylene glycol). When I purchased the Miralax OTC, I was stunned to see that I had to take the full 14-day supply in the box in a few short hours. I kept thinking "what's wrong with this picture?"

I know one thing - I will never again do a colonoscopy prep like that. I'd rather just fast for 3-4 days..........or eat one of my intolerances to clean me out. LOL!

Don't forget, however, that the GI mucosal cells are programmed to replace themselves more quickly than almost any other cells in the body. Maybe that's because they need to, given the damage that fiber causes. IOW, it may be a physiologic process that's perfectly normal. Who knows?

Love,

Polly

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:16 am

Hi Polly,

Yes, it's true that those cells are replaced every 5 days, on the average, but remember that they are being replaced as part of a strictly routine, (scheduled), maintenance program. Any additional repairs are above and beyond our body's normally programmed apoptosis, and therefore, they are the equivalent of unscheduled, emergency repairs. Right? Remember that many forms of cancer, (lung cancer, for example), are the result of continued insults to tissue. When unscheduled repairs have to be made on a frequent schedule, as time goes by, the odds of uncontrolled cell proliferation surely must increase significantly.

Insoluble fiber behaves as a laxative in our digestive system - by physically injuring the epithelia. We know better than to use laxatives on a continuing basis - no doctor in the world would advise a patient to use laxatives every day, for the rest of her or his life, and yet in the same breath, they will recommend the use of increased fiber, to maintain "regularity". What's wrong with this picture?

Love,
Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:50 pm

What does this imply about nuts? It would seem that they are very hard on the gut. I even worry about nut butter.

Gloria

tcorbett · Post by **tcorbett** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:43 pm

WOW - this is all very frightening for sure.

I too worry about nuts and nut butters. I still do not digest nuts - so I assume I am causing further damage to my delicate system? I guess my SCD chicken soup isn't such a bad option tonight. Although I do long for a nice fresh salad, a crunchy apple or a bowl of popcorn. But, tonight its soup and legal sugar free homemade jello!

Who can we trust when it comes to our diets? I remember the big push for high fiber - they didn't warn folks to drink lots of water with it, my friend's husband ended up in the hospital with severe pains, only to discover he went overboard with fiber - needed more water! Scary times.

I think about how my parents(born in 1916 and 1922) and grandparents ate - everything was farm fresh, no chemicals or toxins, they could handle anything. They lived to pretty ripe old ages!

Okay, enough said - I'm "thinking out loud" here.

This MC has totally taken over my life, I feel like I am constantly worried about food, meals, my bm's - will I be okay today, can I go out safely....

Thanks for this info Tex - it really helps me!

Theresa

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:30 pm

Hi Tex,

This is a very interesting topic. I'm curious about what you think would be a healthy diet for an average person with no stomach/intestinal issues to take into account? Gloria asks about nuts - what about veggies and fruit? Thanks ......

Love,
Kari

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:11 pm

Amazing article.. my hubby was diagnosed with diverticulitis about 15 years ago. He stayed away from seeds and lettuce and spinach as suggested.. and he took to heart increasing his fiber.. the man eats at least the " daily recommended" amount of fiber.. probably exceeds it by some multiple and he is so proud. LOL

Getting him to actually take the medications he needs.. synthyroid, niacin, norvasc.. has been a battle.. he wanted to be pill free til he died.. had to enlist a bunch of medical people to tell him he would die sooner if he didn't take the meds!

Getting him to reduce his fiber is not something I can even think about suggesting...

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:43 pm

Gloria,

You're right, nuts are quite high in insoluble fiber content.

http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/fiber-content.php

That's probably why so many of us have problems with them before we heal.

Tex

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:37 pm

Kari,

Please don't mistake me for a diet expert - I'm just voicing my opinions, here, and I'm certainly not a medical professional. In fact, I'm the least qualified person here, to make any recommendations about fiber in the diet, because I'm the only one here without a colon.

IMO, moderation is the key to good health. I don't see anything wrong with eating fruits and vegetables, but I have always peeled them, because most of the fiber, (especially the insoluble fiber), is in the peel. Of course, I feel that all fruits and most veggies should be avoided by anyone with MC, until their intestines have had sufficient time to heal, but for someone who is free of any significant digestive system issues, I see nothing wrong with eating a variety of foods. I just don't see any reason to go overboard on the fiber. Growing up on the farm, I quickly learned that fiber works best for ruminants, because they have a digestive system designed to handle it. Pigs, on the other hand, have a monogastric, (single stomach), digestive system, which is very similar to the human digestive system, and they do best with very little fiber in their diet. All they really need is protein and carbs, (and the small amount of fiber found in corn), to, well, get as fat as a pig.

The "most perfect" food available, (i. e., the only food that contains all the essential amino acids necessary for human existence), is meat, and strangely, the medical community advises against eating meat.

What are they thinking?

http://www.drbriffa.com/2010/12/31/meat ... superfood/

All my life, I have totally ignored all the government recommendations for eating healthy, (IOW, I have never tried to minimize fat in my diet, I've never shied away from fried foods, and I have never eaten any source of fiber, simply because I felt the need to get more fiber in my diet. Please don't misunderstand me, I have eaten many sources of fiber, but it was because they appealed to me as sources of other nutrients besides fiber, (such as fruit and veggies). And where did it get me? I'm getting old as the hills, and I've got no colon. At least now that I don't have a colon, my doc no longer nags me to "be sure to eat plenty of fiber".

Today, the only food I wouldn't touch, is any food that contains gluten.

Sorry to digress. To get back to your question, yes, I think that eating a reasonable amount of fruit and vegetables is a good idea. I just wouldn't go out of my way to eat any fiber, simply for the sake of eating fiber. After all, this is the way that the paleo people dealt with fiber. If it was in real food, then they ate it. I'll bet that not a single one of them ever told someone, "I've got to get more fiber in my diet". I'm guessing that when times were hard, and they were starving, they probably ate some pretty fibrous foods, (such as roots, tree bark, etc.), in order to get something in their stomach, but otherwise, they didn't seek it out, as long as "real" food was available.

Love,
Tex

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:46 pm

GrannyH,

If he is happy and content with his high-fiber diet, I certainly wouldn't try to upset him by arguing against it. If he doesn't have diarrhea, then obviously his digestive system is happy with his current diet. If it ever changes it's mind, he'll be the first to know.

Tex

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:47 pm

Theresa,

Remember, this is just my opinion, so it's only worth about 2 cents.

You're more than welcome,
Tex

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:51 am

Hi Tex,

Thanks for taking the time to explain your thinking. These days "I'm eating to live", rather than "living to eat" (from the LEAP diet program:), so I'm working on "retraining my taste buds". Meat is probably my least favorite food, but I realize that I should learn to like it to develop a healthy, balanced diet. I agree with you that moderation and balance seem to make the most sense.

I'm sure fruit, nuts, greens and roots have always been part of the human diet to some extent, since they have been freely available in nature. The longer I'm into this "altering my diet" phase, the more convinced I am that buying whole, organic, unprocessed products and preparing and cooking them myself is the way to go. That's not to say it's easy :).

Love,
Kari