Paleo Diet: More Evidence That Fiber is Not A Good Thing
Bread, a NOT SO healthy source of fiber
I’ve been saying for some time that contrary to popular belief, fiber is not necessary in the human diet, and could possibly do much more harm than good. Insoluble fiber cannot be digested in the intestine, so it remains intact all the way through the digestive tract, scraping and irritating as it goes on it’s way. Constant, repetitive irritation causes inflammation, and inflammation can eventually lead to cancer. According to an article published on Sciencedaily.com on January 23rd 2012, entitled “Diets High in Fiber Won’t Protect Against Diverticulosis, Study Finds”, too much fiber could also be responsible for causing diverticulosis. Is this more evidence that fiber is not a good thing?
“For more than 40 years, scientists and physicians have thought eating a high-fiber diet lowered a person’s risk of diverticulosis, a disease of the large intestine in which pouches develop in the colon wall. A new study of more than 2,000 people reveals the opposite may be true.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine , found that consuming a diet high in fiber raised, rather than lowered, the risk of developing diverticulosis. The findings also counter the
commonly-held belief that constipation increases a person’s risk of the disease.
“Despite the significant morbidity and mortality of symptomatic diverticulosis, it looks like we may have been wrong, for decades, about why diverticula actually form,” said Anne Peery, MD, a fellow in the gastroenterology and hepatology division at UNC and the study’s lead researcher. The study appears in the February 2012 issue of the journal Gastroenterology.”
“The opposite may be true”…..imagine that! Of course I’m being sarcastic here. It’s no big surprise for anyone who follows an alternative nutritional path, to find that the truth is actually completely the opposite of what we are told by the “mainstream”. This is precisely why we can’t always trust our doctors to tell us the truth. It’s not necessarily that our doctors don’t want to tell us the truth and make us healthier, it’s just that sometimes they’re not particularly well informed, or up-to-date with the most cutting edge information, like we are.
“Since the late 1960s, doctors have recommended a high-fiber diet to regulate bowel movements and reduce the risk of diverticulosis. This recommendation is based on the idea that a low fiber diet will cause constipation and in turn generate diverticula as a result of increased pressure in the colon. However, few studies have been conducted to back up that assumption. “Our findings dispute commonly-held beliefs because asymptomatic diverticulosis has never been rigorously studied,” said Peery.”
“We were surprised to find that a low-fiber diet was not associated with a higher prevalence of asymptomatic diverticulosis,” said Peery. In fact, the study found those with the lowest fiber intake were 30 percent less likely to develop diverticula than those with the highest fiber intake.
The study also found constipation was not a risk factor and that having more frequent bowel movements actually increased a person’s risk. Compared to those with fewer than seven bowel movements per week, individuals with more than 15 bowel movements per week were 70 percent more likely to develop diverticulosis.”
So constipation isn’t bad, and neither is an infrequent pooping schedule. That’s great, but you may want to stay seated for the next paragraph…..
“The study found no association between diverticulosis and physical inactivity, intake of fat, or intake of red meat. The disease’s causes remain unknown, but the researchers believe gut flora may play a role.”
Yes, you read that correctly, they found no association between diverticulosis and the intake of fat, OR RED MEAT. Finally, poor old red meat gets a bit of a reprieve.
As usual, I’m not cool enough to have access to the original study, but I’m guessing that the majority of fiber that was fed to study participants was wheat based. This means that our lovely friend gluten would also have been present. There are always confounding variables in studies, and since I can’t see the whole paper, I can only wonder at how many other fundamental problems may be present in the study, but it leaves me wondering if the results seen from the study were caused by the fiber itself, or the combination of gluten with the fiber.
Regardless of the implications, if a person eats according to a healthy Paleo diet or Primal template, and therefore avoids all gluten containing grains, the majority of the possible offenders are already excluded. Fiber will be cut to a minimum, and gluten will be avoided completely. Let’s face it, the governmental recommendations of 35 grams of fiber per day are more obviously wrong now than ever, but people getting their daily fiber intake from Paleo fiber sources like fruits and vegetables hardly have a hope of actually consuming that 35 grams per day anyway, so either that’s a sign, or just a happy coincidence.
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Barry Cripps is a Paleo-based Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, who operates out of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
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hi, my name is John and I suffer and live with this condition “diverticulosis” every day. I’ve had 6″ of my lower intestines removed due to bleeding profusely from it. I actually am doing better as a result of that surgery and also having changed my diet. I have been eating a paleo style diet. My original reason for eating Paleo was weight loss but as i keep eating in this style i’m learning about my disease of diverticulosis. I’m a white guy going on 50 years old come April. I’m continuing to learn about Celiacs disease also and without being “formally diagnosed” by a “doctor” i believe i suffer from that condition too. Here’s my point …. before during and after my diverticulosis surgery, my digestive doctors always sent me home with a little packet explaining what diverticulosis is and what i should be eating while it’s in it’s inflamed stages vs. its non inflames stages …. and yes this includes whole grains to supposedly sweep the digestive track clean of “build up” of certain toxins and potential food that can get caught in the pockets that come along with this condition. I’m learning about the conversion of grain to sugar and sugar to the acidic state encouraging candida which encourages almost all known disease of all types but we’re referring to diverticulosis here. If someone chooses to start eating paleo for weight loss my suggestion would be to dig a little deeper and connect some dots to other digestive conditions one may suffer …. my experience is that weight loss is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak but it’s great because it blows the doors open for soooo much more information that will help you make different choices and helps you (me) understand why …. i mean there are soooo many autoimmune diseases that can be directly linked to grains. My problem sometimes in these “special” digestive paleo groups are this, they seem to talk in very scientific terms rather than laying it out in language that most people can understand …. i’m not a dummy by any means, but i’m sure i can’t be the only one who probably thinks they’re talking in a foreign language about stuff that may save my life. i’ve lost about 70 pounds so far in the last year eating mostly Paleo and yes i’ve slipped during my Paleo attempt …. i’m back on again day 14 or 15 …. doing well …. but i’ve been coming in touch with a whole bunch of people lately asking me about how i lost my weight and i yell them … but these people seem to be either diabetic or have graves disease or celiacs etc.. etc.. and i didn’t realize that when i mention eliminating grain products and all sugar from their diets or slowly getting rid of it …. the look on their faces are one of rebellion and unwillingness. I don’t know how to phrase it in a way that will encourage them to get on board
John,
Thank you so much for sharing your story here. It is fantastic that you have found your way to the one way of eating that will help you get better.You’ve gone through a lot, as have many others to find your way to good health.
As far as convincing others, the only way to do that is to be an example. And that you already are. Do not yell at them, this will only push them away. Just continue on your path, losing weight and getting healthy. Some will ask again and maybe they will follow the path you’ve been on. Others will never want to change. That’s just the way it is. You cannot change anyone except yourself. As soon as you accept that, everything gets easier.
I wish you all of the best on your journey towards great health!
Cheers
Lila
Hi! I enjoyed this posting and also shared it with my fans on facebook! I have been following the paleo diet (low carb, no grains) since Februar 2010 and lost ~50 pounds (no chronic-cardio, just weekly strenth and daily walks)! Back to my weight 12 (!!!) years ago! I want to promote the paleo diet and HIT (training) as best as I can. Thank you!
Agreed with John! I have had the same experience..people look at me like I have six heads when I tell them I have increased my intake of fat and protein and eliminated grain. I feel like a new person. I have been treating hypothyroidism for 18 years…my meds have now been lowered twice….my hair which was thinning at a rapid rate is getting thicker! Noticeably thicker. MIRACLE!! I am also turning 50 this year adn for the first time in my entire adult life I feel like I am becoming the person I was always supposed to be….a fit athletic person. I am grateful right down to the core of my being.