Do you ever wonder if all the good things you eat are being passed out of your system by your microscopic colitis?
Does this disease make healthy food come out withthe diarrhea?
Let’s say a person eats a lot of fruits and vegetables whole, and/or juices them.
Shortly after they have the classic porridge-like or watery diarrhea the color of the consumed produce (greenish for spinach, reddish for beets, plus visible particles of produce floating in the toilet water).
Does this indicate that a significant amount of nutrients went right through the person?
“Yes, when the body expels waste, nutrients are also expelled,” says Jeffrey Fine, MD, chief of gastroenterology at the Medical Surgical Clinic of Irving.
“That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to stay hydrated. I recommend drinking an ounce of filtered water, per kilogram per day.”
What would you tell a patient who’s concerned about wasting produce because it appears that much of it comes out in their diarrhea?
Assume this individual has only microscopic colitis—no other GI diseases or other medical conditions.
But they’re concerned that all that juicing or whole-fruit consumption—which they do for the nutrient density—is being wasted.
“What you’re describing is rapid transit and possible malabsorption,” says Dr. Fine.
“The patient should see a gastroenterologist for evaluation. The gastroenterologist can recommend treatment options, including diet changes.
“What he/she recommends depends on what is causing the rapid transit, but usually in situations like this, I recommend chicken and rice soup, and nutritional supplements with predigested sugar components.
“Also, avoid juices and raw vegetables while the diarrhea is occurring and take a multivitamin with minerals.”
That may be a tough pill to swallow for those with microscopic colitis who strive to get a lot of antioxidants and enzymes (abundant in fruits and vegetables) in their daily diet.
But if a significant amount of these nutrients is going to end up getting expelled through your other end, you may as well avoid these foods so that the flare-up of microscopic colitis has a chance to recede.
After all, it’s no secret that fruits and vegetables can bring the diarrhea into the spotlight.
Dr. Fine has been in practice for over 30 years and specializes in digestive health, integrative medicine and food sensitivities.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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