by YES A catchy name – and it’s making waves on TikTok – but is the elemental diet for everyone?
Far from it. “The elemental diet is a medical dietary protocol prescribed for people with severe gastrointestinal problems that are unresponsive to other types of diets or treatments,” says Christine Byrne, MPH, RD, dietitian and owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition in Raleigh. , NC. “Some TikTok creators are using the elemental diet to alleviate uncomfortable GI symptoms, which may encourage others to follow the diet,” she continues, noting that it’s a huge red flag. here’s to her, since it’s a very restrictive diet and no one should. continue without the support and monitoring of a health care provider.
Read on to learn more about the elemental diet—and why health care professionals are warning everyday people not to try it.
What is the elemental diet?
LINDSAY MALONE, MS, RD, LD, instructor at the Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, described the elemental diet as a plan to leverage partially digested, liquid meal replacement formulas (with carbs, fat, protein) a plan that could reduce symptoms and provide digestive ease. for those dealing with gastrointestinal illness such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
As Malone points out, the formulas also provide the necessary micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to serve as a complete source of nutrition. Most elemental diet protocols last two to three weeks, she says.
The idea behind the elemental diet (and the source of its name), per Byrne, is that these “elements” are easier to break down and don’t make your digestive system do as much work.
Important: The elemental diet is not something you do on your own. “The elemental diet should be used under the medical supervision of a physician, medical practitioner, physician’s assistant or registered dietitian. Individual requirements should be calculated and the formula should be mixed with water to provide 100 percent of the calorie, protein, vitamin and mineral requirements,” says Malone, adding that no other foods or beverages should be consumed in along with this program. “The whole purpose is to limit the work the digestive tract is doing and replenish nutrients,” she says.
According to Malone, a typical day on an elemental diet may include 12 or more scoops of elemental diet formula mixed with plain water. Depending on individual tolerance, the formula may be sipped continuously throughout the day or divided into three to five small “meal” periods, she clarifies.
Of course, participating in this diet can take a toll on your mental health. “Because there is so little variety in an elemental diet, it’s recommended to fill your days with self-care and enjoyable activities to take your mind off meals and snacks,” says Malone.
Are there benefits to the elemental diet?
THE ELEMENTARY DIET always recommended and administered under the supervision of healthcare professionals. If your care team thinks it may help your specific condition, you should always discuss the pros and cons of participating in this protocol.
That said, for those who have been advised by their health care provider to participate in an elemental diet, there may be some benefits to be gained from the protocol. Most of the research on the elemental diet relates to SIBO, IBD, and IBS. Malone says that the elemental diet, in her experience, “can help calm the noise of various conditions and allow some gut healing, but if you don’t treat the root causes of the problem, the elemental diet is just a band-aid.” .”
“Some older research shows that an elemental diet may be beneficial in curing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) if other things like an elimination diet or medication don’t work,” Byrne expands. The dietitian also points to one very small recent study, which found that an elemental diet high in amino acids (building blocks of protein) may help with gastritis and gastroenteritis.
What about risks?
DIETITIANS GET INTO THAT the elemental diet is not necessarily a cure for those with digestive disorders, and it is certainly not recommended for healthy people.
“There is no research available on how the elemental diet affects healthy people without severe GI symptoms, because no health care provider would recommend this diet to a healthy person,” says Byrne. “It’s low in fiber and often high in carbohydrates, plus it’s not much fun to drink every meal,” she says, emphasizing that if someone is interested in trying the elemental diet as a trick weight loss, she wants to be careful against that. “Skipping out real food can have major mental, emotional and social consequences, and can lead to the development of a full-blown eating disorder,” says Byrne.
Malone also points out that 14 days without food is a long time. “For example, SIBO is not going away with an elemental diet,” Malone emphasizes, adding that research shows that antibiotics are the most effective way to treat SIBO along with supporting digestion. (In functional medicine, Malone shares that practitioners use what’s called a 5R program—remove, replace, re-inoculate, repair and rebalance—to rebalance the gut.)
Should you try the elemental diet?
MOST LIKELY, NO. “Most people don’t need an elemental diet for good health,” says Malonee.
Echoing Malone, Byrne believes there’s no reason to try the elemental diet unless you have really painful GI symptoms that won’t let you. “If that’s the case, you should seek out a gastroenterologist who can help you figure out what’s causing your symptoms, and a dietitian who can guide you on an elimination diet or an elemental diet if needed,” she says.
