Elemental Diet Benefits and How To Follow

Functional Medicine Research with Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, DC

The elemental diet dates back to 1932 and is one of the most utilized tools by functional medicine practitioners. It is useful for a variety of gut-related conditions and even conditions outside the gut. The elemental diet is a liquid diet that reduces inflammation in the gut, heals the gut barrier, and has an antibacterial effect.The elemental diet is done with Elemental Select powder from Moss Nutrition. A full elemental diet can be done with 100% of daily calories coming from Elemental Select or a partial elemental diet with 25-75% of calories coming from Elemental Select and the rest from whole food sources. Elemental Select is mixed with water or in a blender with ice and consumed by slowly sipping the mixture over the entire day in divided doses. Click here to learn more about the Hedberg Institute Membership. The elemental diet may be helpful for the following conditions: IBS-C and IBS-D SIBO Crohn’s disease Ulcerative colitis Diversion colitis Eosinophilic gastroenteritis and esophagitis GERD Gastritis Multiple food sensitivities Leaky Gut Constipation and diarrhea Short bowel syndrome High ileostomy output Ileal fistulas Pancreatitis Pancreatic insufficiency Pancreatic fistulas Bile-acid-induced diarrhea Refractory Celiac disease (gluten-free diet fails to resolve issues) Malabsorption Rheumatoid arthritis Eczema Psoriasis Stroke recovery Critical illness recovery COVID-19 and other viral illnesses MCAS Histamine intolerance Anemia Asthma Dermatitis herpetiformis Chronic kidney disease Cystic fibrosis HIV Cerebral palsy How does an elemental diet work? The elemental diet is purely vitamins, minerals, amino acids, medium chain triglycerides for fat, and simple carbohydrates. This means that digestion is not required so almost everything gets absorbed regardless of gut function. It is also void of any food-based compounds such as whey, pea, hemp, rice, soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts etc. which makes it entirely hypoallergenic. There is virtually nothing in the elemental diet that the immune system can react to. This is a game-changer for those with food sensitivities and gut problems. There is also no fiber in the elemental diet, so it won’t exacerbate SIBO or IBS. The elemental diet also allows your digestive organs to rest. The stomach doesn’t have to pump out as much hydrochloric acid, the pancreas doesn’t have to make so many enzymes, and the gall bladder can rest as well. The elemental diet contains all the right amino acids for healing the gut barrier. For those with leaky gut syndrome or malabsorption, it can rapidly heal the gut. The elemental diet reduces pathogenic bacteria in the gut and can also improve healthy bacteria diversity. This helps reduce inflammation in the gut so the microbiome can become more balanced. This is why the elemental diet is so effective for SIBO, IBS, and IBD. How to follow an elemental diet? Elemental Select from Moss Nutrition contains 150 calories per scoop, and total daily calories should be determined by a healthcare professional. The first option is a Full Elemental Diet with 100% of daily calories consumed from Elemental Select. Sample 1,500 calorie/day protocol: 10 total scoops/day = 1,500 calories 4 scoops in the AM divided into 4 separate 8-ounce glasses of water. Mix 1 scoop with 8 ounces of water and sip slowly over a 20-60 minute period. Repeat for the next 3 scoops. Alternatively, all 4 scoops can be mixed with 32 ounces of water and sipped slowly over a 1-4 hour period. 3 scoops around lunch time. Same consumption guidelines as noted above sipped slowly over a 1-3 hour period. 3 scoops around dinner time. Same consumption guidelines as noted above sipped slowly over a 1-3 hour period. Alternatively, all 10 scoops in 10 glasses of water can be sipped slowly over the entire day without breaks.