Antibiotics do a very good job of wiping out bad bacteria, but also wipe out the beneficial bacteria critical to the health and functioning of the GI tract. A poor diet full of antinutrients such as sugars, empty calories, trans fats, and food toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, artificial ingredients, additives and allergens contribute to the disease process.
The "Pillars of GI Health" is a holistic, or functional medicine approach to treating CD and UC. It helps clinicians find the unique root causes of disease in the individual patient. These pillars include:
- Digestion/absorption
- Elimination
- Microflora balance
- Gut integrity
- Remove: Remove toxins, allergens and harmful organisms with an elimination diet and detoxification protocol.
- Replace: Replacement of digestive enzymes and other factors until the patient's GI complaints can be normalized.
- Reinoculate: Reinoculate the gut with beneficial probiotics and prebiotics to reestablish microflora balance.
- Repair: For full healing of the intestinal mucosa, repairing gut integrity is essential. This includes reducing inflammation, providing nutrients for GI cell growth, and strengthening liver and immune function.
Source:
The Standard: A Review of Natural & Nutraceutical Therapies for Clinical Practice. 2009( 9); No. 1.
Comment: For more information about the importance of detoxing and creating better health and wellness read the following threads on the forum:
Important threads for Diet and Health
Detoxification: Heavy Metals, Mercury and how to get rid of them
Anti-Candida, Inflammation, Heavy Metals Detox and Diet
Detoxify or Die Cookbook