So I’m trying to heal some severe gut issues. I have really low stomach acid, fat malabsorption, and a host of other issues. I can’t exercise cause it kills my digestion for days and makes me feel miserable. I’ve done a 7 day dry fast. I did 72 hours every week. Now im trying alternate day dry fasting and exercising on my refeed days. Im already really lean at 150 pounds 5’11.” Anyone have any recommendations for healing the gut with dry fasting without losing too much weight. Should I just stick to what I’m doing?
It sounds like you’ve got the fasting down, but I would say that the “what” of what you eat is majorly important now. Once you refeed you want to rebuild the gut bacteria with foods that are easy on the gut bacteria and help build healthy populations. What is your refeed and general diet like?
For me, fruit has been an incredible healer of the gut 🙏🏻
Ramadan fasting style may (there is two publications about that) increase gut pH.No need to do exactly Ramadan but intermittent dry fasting may help you.
See here for the references: https://www.reddit.com/r/POIS/comments/o880az/z/h409erk
Also, you should consider supplementing B vitamins that are related to digestion (B1 and B3 if I’m not mistaken).
Cranberries or cranberry juice is supposed to help the bacteria Akkermansia Mucinphilia, which is supposed to help thicken the gut mucus lining.
Fasting is also supposed to do that.
I’ve read people stating that bone broth heals the gut - but I’m not sure the mechanism for that.
Edit: you need enough salt for good stomach acid, so hopefully you’re getting enough. You also need cholesterol to make bile, so if you’re not getting enough bile, you might want to try getting a small amount of fat throughout the day at whatever rate you can comfortably absorb. Maybe via cheese, an egg sauce, or some fatty beef jerky or pemmican
I have terrible gut issues, serverly effects my health in many ways. I have found OMAD fasting doing a carnivore diet with as frequent as possible longer fasts to be working. But it takes time. A lot of time.
I’m like you, to lean to fast very often or very long. Wish I wasn’t and could fast for longer.
In your case raw fruits seems like perfect solution. Switch to raw fruits for 1 month, im pretty sure this will solve your problem completely, even faster. Have fun. I especially recommend watermelons or melons generally.
I have had digestive issues since I was a kid. I used to take HCL with my meals and felt like it was a miracle. In the last year and a half, I did nonconsecutive 20-day water fasts and one 4-day dry fast. I think by the end of the second 20 day fast, I had fixed an issue I had my whole life related to digestive issues. I agree with the refeeding comment in that you need to know your body and how it reacts. I bloat horribly with bread, sugar, beans, some veggies… I’m going to do a OBAD (one beverage a day) dry fast. Not necessarily one, but have a “hydration” time in my day and for the rest of the time dry fast for a while (14-30 days), then move to OMAD. I think consistency is key - lifestyle change and your body will eventually heal. The Fasting Highway website has several podcasts regarding OMAD and how so many people have healed health issues with that lifestyle change. It would be giving your body a break daily while still giving it nutrition for rebuilding.