Posted 9/17/2017 8:47 AM (GMT 0)
I found that a "healing" Paleo diet was actually making me worse. The problem is grains are calorie-rich and satisfying. If you no longer eat grains then you'll be constantly hungry just eating vegetables. What happens is that you start filling up on more and more animal protein - eggs, seafood, meat etc. This excess of protein caused my symptoms to escalate to an even worse level. There are a lot of studies suggesting that sulphur might be the culprit in UC. Basically, sulphur is highest in the proteins - all meats, seafood, eggs, dairy etc. The cruciferous veges - which everyone warns you about - are relatively low in sulphur. Sulphur is really a problem with protein - amino acids.
Sulphur is metabolised by colonic bacteria to hydrogen sulphide gas, which is beneficial in small amounts but toxic in high doses. Hydrogen sulphide retards butyrate, the SCFA that heals the colon's cells. If this is true, it makes sense that a high protein diet could be the cause of bowel disease generally.
This is the guide that I follow for sulphur levels in foods:
http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/info/books-phds/books/foodfacts/html/data/data5g.html
But some of these results don't make sense.
Why are the delicious seafood types high in sulphur? Is this just coincidence?
Why does fried seafood have next to no sulphur?
Why does boiled chicken have 300 mg sulphur whereas crumbed (fried) chicken has none?
I'm wondering how accurate this list is. A lot of commentators claim that fatty meat is lower in sulphur but don't offer any reasons for this. It can't be just a simple ratio - more fat equates to less sulphur - because a lot of the meats and seafoods in this list have no sulphur content at all.
I'd appreciate any insight into this.
For those with UC or any other bowel disorder - this link describes very well the toxicity of hydrogen sulphide gas
Bowel wars: Hydrogen sulphide vs butyrate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUyi3UfzBYI
I really think there is something to this theory.