No, Basic Food is not a good idea. Except Under One Condition.

What is a staple food?

Lindsay Malone, MS, RD, LD, lecturer in nutrition, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, defines the macronutrient diet as a strategy that provides a form of liquid food supply (with carbs, fat , protein) formula that can reduce symptoms and provide digestive comfort for those dealing with gastrointestinal conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

As Malone points out, formulas also provide the necessary nutrients (vitamins and minerals) to serve as a complete source of nutrition. Most protein shakes last two to three weeks, he says.

The common misconception about whole foods (and the source of its name), according to Byrne, is that these “components” are easy to break down and don’t make your digestive system very active.

Important: Basic nutrition is not something you do alone. “Elementary foods should be used under medical supervision by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or registered dietitian. Individual needs should be calculated and milk mixed with water to provide a portion of 100 percent of the calorie, protein, vitamin and mineral requirements,” says Malone, adding that no other food or drink should be consumed along with this program. “The whole goal is to reduce the work the digestive system does and replenish nutrients,” he says.

According to Malone, a typical day on a basic diet can include 12 or more tablespoons of the basic formula mixed with plain water. Depending on the individual’s tolerance, the formula may be taken frequently throughout the day or divided into three to five small “meal” periods, he explains.

It is clear that eating these foods can damage your mental health. “Because there are very few types of basic foods, it is recommended to fill your days with self-care and fun activities to take your mind off food and snacks,” says Malone.

Are there any benefits to a basic diet?

Basic diets will always be recommended and administered under the supervision of health professionals. If your care team thinks it can help you with your specific situation, you should always discuss the benefits and risks of participating in this protocol.

That said, for those advised to eat a basic diet by their health care provider, some benefits can be found in the protocol. Most of the research on whole foods is related to SIBO, IBD, and IBS. Malone shares that in his experience, whole foods “can help reduce the noise of various conditions and allow healing of the gut, but if you don’t treat the causes of the problem, whole foods are only a help. .”

“Some older research shows that a basic diet can be helpful for treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) if other things like elimination diets or medications don’t work,” adds Byrne. The nutritionist also points to another very small recent study, which found that basic foods with amino acids (protein values) can help with gastritis and gastroenteritis.

What about accidents?

Dietitians emphasize that the basic diet is not necessarily a cure-all for those with digestive problems, and it is certainly not recommended for healthy people.

“There is no research available on how the basic diet affects healthy people without serious GI symptoms, because no health care provider would recommend this diet to a healthy person,” says Byrne. “It doesn’t have fiber and it’s usually high in carbohydrates, and it’s not good to drink every meal,” he adds, emphasizing that if someone is interested in trying a basic diet as a strategy of losing weight, he will warn against that. Byrne says: “Skipping real food can have huge psychological, emotional and social consequences, and can lead to a full-blown eating disorder.

Malone also emphasizes that 14 days without food is a long time. “For example, SIBO is not limited to basic foods,” emphasizes Malone, adding that research shows that antibiotics are the most effective way to treat SIBO as well as support digestion. (In practice, Malone shares that doctors use something called the 5R—remove, restore, reinoculate, repair, and balance—program to balance the gut.)

Should you try a basic diet?

Most likely, no. “Most people don’t need a basic diet for good health,” says Malone.

Echoing Malone, Byrne believes there’s no reason to try a basic diet unless you have painful GI symptoms that won’t stop. “If this is the case, you should seek out a gastroenterologist who can help you determine what is causing your symptoms, and a dietitian who can guide you on elimination diets or basic diets if needed,” he says. we.

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Perri is a New York City-born and based writer; He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University and is a graduate of the plant-based Natural Gourmet Institute, now the Natural Center for Culinary Education. His work has appeared in the New York Post, Men’s Journal, Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Insider.com, Architectural Digest, Southern Living, and more. Maybe he’s seen Dave Matthews Band in your town, and he can’t say no to a bloody Mary. Learn more at VeganWhenSober.com.