I was talking to Heather's Tummy Care (acacia fiber) re the possibility of lowering cholesterol. Dave is one of those super cholesterol manufacturers, has driven doctors nuts for decades, cannot tolerate any statins. Finally a couple of years ago he asked his cardiologist at what point after he gets muscle weakness, flu-like symptoms, etc., quits the statins for a few days until feels ok, starts up again at doctor's insistence--well he asked if at some point it wouldn't be reversible. The cardio said as of right now you are off statins for life. We took that to mean he was close to permanent damage from them.
Before I joined our group, I was taking metamuscil at Dr. Hard Head's insistence, hated the garbage in the stuff, so switched to Heather's. In less than a year, my cholesterol came down 80 points, from 303 to 223. I quit when I joined the group and was told that fiber is contraindicated. After my Enterolab tests when I became GF, DF, SF things improved, and my most recent test was cholesterol 230, HDL 94, LDL 123.
Anyway, I mentioned this and my history to Heather's, and she said she thought soluble fiber is not contraindicated, metamuscil definitely is since it is both types, and is an irritant. She said it stabilizes gut flora, etc., and suggested that I revisit that issue. She thought it's indicated for IBD, and seemed familiar with MC.
Could I get some comments on this? Thanks
Beverly
Help with soluble vs. insoluble fiber
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Beverly,
Heather is quoting conventional knowledge about fiber, and conventional knowledge about fiber is at direct odds with our experience on this discussion board, regarding the treatment of MC. After we are in remission, fiber is OK. And some of us can certainly tolerate reasonable amounts of soluble fiber even while we are still recovering.
IMO, insoluble fiber is why cows and other ruminants were invented. Cows have 4 separate stomachs, designed to digest fiber. Since most of us are monogastgric (have only a single stomach), fiber is not what our digestive system was designed to handle. Yes, we can handle it, if everything is working well, but then we can put up with a lot of things, if everything is working well. But just because we can tolerate something, doesn't mean that it is good for us. The blog of Dr. Michael Eades, at the following link, sums up my thoughts on fiber, and it's appropriateness (or lack thereof) for human consumption.
A cautionary tale of mucus fore and aft
But Heather is correct that doctors love to recommend fiber to treat everything that might go wrong wrong with the human digestive system. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite work out so well for most of us, in the cold, cruel world of MC, when we are trying to gain control over the disease. There are medical research references in my book, proving that most of the glowing claims about fiber (even for "normal" people) are simply false — those claims are nothing more than assumptions and hype, and they will not stand up to the rigors of medical research.
That said, if you are in remission, you should be able to tolerate reasonable amounts of fiber (of either kind), if you crave to eat it. And soluble fiber is far more likely to be tolerated than insoluble fiber, at any stage, IMO. But one of the fastest ways to force a relapse upon someone who is in the recovery stages of MC, is to insist that they add a significant amount of fiber to their diet.
But this is just my opinion (and Dr. Eades' opinion). Most people have a different opinion of fiber.
Tex
Heather is quoting conventional knowledge about fiber, and conventional knowledge about fiber is at direct odds with our experience on this discussion board, regarding the treatment of MC. After we are in remission, fiber is OK. And some of us can certainly tolerate reasonable amounts of soluble fiber even while we are still recovering.
IMO, insoluble fiber is why cows and other ruminants were invented. Cows have 4 separate stomachs, designed to digest fiber. Since most of us are monogastgric (have only a single stomach), fiber is not what our digestive system was designed to handle. Yes, we can handle it, if everything is working well, but then we can put up with a lot of things, if everything is working well. But just because we can tolerate something, doesn't mean that it is good for us. The blog of Dr. Michael Eades, at the following link, sums up my thoughts on fiber, and it's appropriateness (or lack thereof) for human consumption.
A cautionary tale of mucus fore and aft
But Heather is correct that doctors love to recommend fiber to treat everything that might go wrong wrong with the human digestive system. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite work out so well for most of us, in the cold, cruel world of MC, when we are trying to gain control over the disease. There are medical research references in my book, proving that most of the glowing claims about fiber (even for "normal" people) are simply false — those claims are nothing more than assumptions and hype, and they will not stand up to the rigors of medical research.
That said, if you are in remission, you should be able to tolerate reasonable amounts of fiber (of either kind), if you crave to eat it. And soluble fiber is far more likely to be tolerated than insoluble fiber, at any stage, IMO. But one of the fastest ways to force a relapse upon someone who is in the recovery stages of MC, is to insist that they add a significant amount of fiber to their diet.
But this is just my opinion (and Dr. Eades' opinion). Most people have a different opinion of fiber.
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.
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Beverly,
My experience corresponds to Tex's advice. When my symptoms were at their worst I couldn't tolerate fiber at all even though I had more than one doctor advise me that eating fiber was what I needed to do despite my always saying that fiber made things worse. That attitude contributed to my decision that no doctor was going to be able to help me. I had to figure this out on my own, which I have been able to do with the help of this forum. Over this past year I have added back veggies and can even eat them raw but for 2 years I ate almost no veggies and only nut butters, no whole nuts. I just don't buy much of the conventional advice handed out about what's good for us and what isn't. I have to test it out in my body first. I also ask myself whether it makes sense and if there is any evidence behind the assertion. We have to think for ourwelves here. Even well meaning "experts" are often wrong.
Jean
My experience corresponds to Tex's advice. When my symptoms were at their worst I couldn't tolerate fiber at all even though I had more than one doctor advise me that eating fiber was what I needed to do despite my always saying that fiber made things worse. That attitude contributed to my decision that no doctor was going to be able to help me. I had to figure this out on my own, which I have been able to do with the help of this forum. Over this past year I have added back veggies and can even eat them raw but for 2 years I ate almost no veggies and only nut butters, no whole nuts. I just don't buy much of the conventional advice handed out about what's good for us and what isn't. I have to test it out in my body first. I also ask myself whether it makes sense and if there is any evidence behind the assertion. We have to think for ourwelves here. Even well meaning "experts" are often wrong.
Jean
Hi Beverly,
I agree with Tex and Jean about the fiber. Also, I have a rule of thumb never to trust any practitioner who is selling the "miracle" cure for whatever problem they diagnose. Too much room for conflict of interest, IMHO.
Polly
I agree with Tex and Jean about the fiber. Also, I have a rule of thumb never to trust any practitioner who is selling the "miracle" cure for whatever problem they diagnose. Too much room for conflict of interest, IMHO.
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.