Diet and Bloating

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Yogi5wiz
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Joined: Fri Aug 16, 2013 2:47 pm

by Yogi5wiz on Fri Aug 16, 2013 3:43 pm

Diet and Bloating

Hi,

I am a 46 year old male and follow a gluten and dairy free diet with limited sugar intake. My diet is well balanced without much processed food but I have a heavy and bloated stomach which feels tender if pressed, but there is no stomach pain normally. I am slim and within my recommended weight range.

I measured my stomach, then I lost 2 kg in weight and measured it again and both measurements are identical.

I have been told by a private ME/CFS specialist that I probably have an over growth of candida in my gut and have been advised to take a probiotic supplement containing grapefruit seed extract and garlic for 3 months.

Can you give any advice on this? Is there a test available for candida overgrowth?

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Sue Luscombe
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:19 am

by Sue Luscombe on Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:59 pm

Re: Diet and Bloating

Hello Yogi5wiz

Unfortunately, ME is a condition which is poorly understood, with unknown causes, no diagnostic test and, in the absence of lack of answers, especially from the NHS and health professions a lot of popular theories have grown up. People understandably want answers to why they feel so unwell. I say that as a professional and also the parent who has had to watch with huge sadness for 10 years a daughter who has been moderately to severely affected.

The ME Association funded a study to see if the anti-candida diet was of benefit for ME/CFS and this good quality research was published in 2008
1. Hobday R. A, et al (2008) Dietary Intervention in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 21,141-149
The conclusion was that there is no evidence that an anti-candida (yeast-free) diet is of benefit in treating CFS. Therefore the NICE guidelines advise that there is no evidence to recommend people with ME/CFS should follow this diet.

You mentioned a bloated stomach which can be a sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome The British Dietetic Association have looked at all the evidence and together with NICE have drawn up a treatment pathway for this. You will notice that this does not recommend a gluten free diet as first line treatment for bloating or an anti-candida diet. The theory behind the anti-candida diet is unproven. This is the link to read more http://bda.uk.com/foodfacts/IBSfoodfacts.pdf Probiotics may be worth a try but do just try one change at a time. With probiotics give it a trial period of 4 weeks and if no improvement there is little point in continuing with that brand, but you could try a different one.
Sue Luscombe
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.

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