I'm gathering from discussions that use of sugar is discouraged. Could I have more information on that?
In my case, when I was having such severe D that I was tipping over from dehydration and low BP, I turned to a diet of meat and sugar for a period of time. I had sugar in tea, coffee, marshmallows, lollipops, ginger ale, and Gatorade. Sugar and meat were initially the only source of calories that did not aggravate my gut. Soon I began eating white rice too. This gave me a starting point where my head was clear enough that I could help myself. Prior to that time I was so weak and dehydrated that I was helpless and sleeping almost 24/7. I had lost my self-preservation abilities.
How do you feel about sugar as a means of calories and energy during the most acute phase of MC?
As a note, prior to my illness, I was sugar and substitute-free for at least a few years. I'm not big on sugar as part of a healthy diet but it's a means of calories/energy in a pinch! Thoughts?
Thanks.
Sugar
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Hi DJ,
Bear in mind that we are all different, and not everyone's symptoms are the same. But in general, here's what happens when someone develops enteritis (intestinal inflammation), regardless of the cause of the enteritis (even the flu has this effect):
Early on, the brush border regions of the small intestine will begin to lose the ability to produce lactase, and as the enteritis continues, the magnitude of the loss will continue to grow, until eventually virtually no lactase may be produced. If the inflammation continues, the ability to produce the other enzymes that are needed to split sugars will be progressively lost, until eventually (if the inflammation becomes severe enough and continues long enough), it may become impossible to digest any type of sugar. As that happens, any sugar that remains undigested ends up in the colon where it is digested (fermented) by bacteria, resulting in gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.
As the inflammation is brought under control, and the gut begins to heal, the ability to produce those enzymes is slowly restored, in the reverse order in which they were lost. IOW, lactase will be the last enzyme to be restored. In some cases of long episodes of severe inflammation, the ability to produce certain enzymes may not be fully restored, due to incomplete healing of the gut. In general, the younger the patient, the faster healing occurs, and the more likely that healing will be complete.
Early on, I too relied on sugar sources for energy, so that I could continue to work, because my work was physically demanding. I drank Boost, Ensure, Encore, etc., and colas. But after I figured out what was causing me to be sick so often, I eventually had to cut out virtually all sugar, in order to heal my gut. By that point, I could drink 1 cola per day, and usually be OK, but if I drank 2, I would get sick. So I cut them out completely.
YMMV.
Tex
Bear in mind that we are all different, and not everyone's symptoms are the same. But in general, here's what happens when someone develops enteritis (intestinal inflammation), regardless of the cause of the enteritis (even the flu has this effect):
Early on, the brush border regions of the small intestine will begin to lose the ability to produce lactase, and as the enteritis continues, the magnitude of the loss will continue to grow, until eventually virtually no lactase may be produced. If the inflammation continues, the ability to produce the other enzymes that are needed to split sugars will be progressively lost, until eventually (if the inflammation becomes severe enough and continues long enough), it may become impossible to digest any type of sugar. As that happens, any sugar that remains undigested ends up in the colon where it is digested (fermented) by bacteria, resulting in gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.
As the inflammation is brought under control, and the gut begins to heal, the ability to produce those enzymes is slowly restored, in the reverse order in which they were lost. IOW, lactase will be the last enzyme to be restored. In some cases of long episodes of severe inflammation, the ability to produce certain enzymes may not be fully restored, due to incomplete healing of the gut. In general, the younger the patient, the faster healing occurs, and the more likely that healing will be complete.
Early on, I too relied on sugar sources for energy, so that I could continue to work, because my work was physically demanding. I drank Boost, Ensure, Encore, etc., and colas. But after I figured out what was causing me to be sick so often, I eventually had to cut out virtually all sugar, in order to heal my gut. By that point, I could drink 1 cola per day, and usually be OK, but if I drank 2, I would get sick. So I cut them out completely.
YMMV.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex said it all. We are all different. While I STILL have a hard time with fructose ( fruit), I can... and always was able to eat reasonable amounts of white sugar and still heal. Too much use to give me D. I don't purposely eat it, but I don't avoid it either. I have been know to work on about 10 jelly bellies when I am craving sugar :)
leah
leah
Hi, Refined sugar has no nutritional value. If you need the carbs for energy raw sugar contains nutrients and is available in most stores. Molasses is a by-product of the refining of sugar and contains all the nutrients that was taken from the raw sugar. Palm tree sugar has the best profile of nutrients of the sweetners but is only available in health food stores or online. Jon
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info. During my acute phase, sugar was a help. Once I could think, I could understand how sick I was and help myself. Tex, based on your explanation, I will go easy on sugar. As far as complete elimination goes, I'm working on my four "heavy hitters". They are clearly most offensive. I appreciate your help very much.
DJ,
That's definitely the right approach. Those 4 "heavy hitters" (at least the first 3) cause your immune system to produce antibodies that result in the inflammation that causes MC. The only reason why sugar is a problem is because we are unable to digest it properly when we are reacting or recovering, so it can cause the symptoms I mentioned. Sugar does not trigger the production of antibodies however, and that's an important distinction. That means that while it can be aggravating, it's not a cause of our MC.
You're very welcome,
Tex
That's definitely the right approach. Those 4 "heavy hitters" (at least the first 3) cause your immune system to produce antibodies that result in the inflammation that causes MC. The only reason why sugar is a problem is because we are unable to digest it properly when we are reacting or recovering, so it can cause the symptoms I mentioned. Sugar does not trigger the production of antibodies however, and that's an important distinction. That means that while it can be aggravating, it's not a cause of our MC.
You're very welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
