Is eating DIRT something I should do when I have Crohn's Disease?

The problem today is that we don't eat dirt; we wash everything. Of course, given what is in the dirt and on the dirt around us, it’s probably best that we do clean it all. But in the process, we never get a chance to ingest those healthy bacteria that our genes expect us to. 

In most healthy people this doesn't usually present a problem. As long as there are some healthy gut bacteria present those healthy bacteria can flourish and keep us well. BUT unfortunately, we have Crohn's Disease.

So, as long as we don't get too stressed out (stress hormones can kill off healthy flora),
too sick (diarrhoea and vomiting are ways the body purges bad bacteria – but it purges good bacteria with them), or take antibiotics (antibiotics tend to kill most bacteria – that’s their job), and as long as we are eating well we are able to keep our healthy bacteria and keep them flourishing.

SO ARE WE DOOMED BECAUSE ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE SOMETHING THAT HAPPEN TO US ALL THE TIME?

We live in a time when stress is everywhere, where we do tend to get sick and take antibiotics, where we eat certain processed foods that support the growth of unhealthy bacteria and yeast forms while choking out the healthy flora. That is our everyday life. 

So what can we do?

Many people whose diets include daily doses of yoghurt or acidophilus can maintain healthy gut flora, but these sources aren’t always reliable (pasteurising and added sugars can reduce their effectiveness), and not everyone with Crohn's Disease can tolerate dairy that well. For that reason, it’s wise to take probiotic supplements. 

Mark Sisson thinks we should think of probiotic supplements as friends. 

"Not those friends you always tell “we should hang out more!” when you run into them but never do. Real friends. The ones you have over for dinner every week. The ones you include in group texts that go for months without breaking. That’s how you should treat probiotics – like real friends whose company you genuinely enjoy and who come in capsules and require refrigeration."

He recommends taking probiotics with food or 30 minutes before meals, as our bodies are “meant” to consume probiotics with food. They seem to survive the transit through our gut when taken this way (as opposed to after a meal). 

I like to take mine 30 minutes before I eat. 

If you have any more questions then please free to email me at [email protected] or visit my Facebook Page at My Crohn's Doctor.

Yours in Health and Wellness
Dr Michael

My Crohn's Doctor
www.mycrohnsdoctor.com

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This article (including links to any/all website pages, blog posts, blog comments, forum, videos, audio recordings, etc.) is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information is provided for informational  purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have an urgent medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Any application of the recommendations in this blog post is at the reader's discretion. My Crohn's Doctor and Dr Michael are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this blog. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this article.