Find out what a G.I. doctor has to say about intermittent fasting and microscopic colitis.
Can intermittent fasting help relieve the symptom of diarrhea in microscopic colitis?
“At present, we do not know enough about microscopic colitis as a whole or about the specific effects intermittent fasting may have on it,” says Jeffrey Fine, MD, chief of gastroenterology at the Medical Surgical Clinic of Irving.
“However, diet can have a profound effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole.
“If you have microscopic colitis or are concerned that you might have it, discuss it with your doctor.
“He or she can advise you on the best diet for you, given your condition, family history, fitness levels and other factors.”
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a dietary strategy that alternates between periods of eating and fasting.
Unlike continuous caloric restriction, which focuses on reducing overall calorie intake while still eating regularly throughout the day, intermittent fasting emphasizes the timing of food consumption.
In intermittent fasting, you cycle between periods of eating and fasting, such as eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours of the day.
This method is popular for weight management and metabolic health.
The primary goal of intermittent fasting is to give the body extended breaks from food, potentially leading to improved insulin sensitivity, increased fat burning and other health benefits.
It’s different from caloric restriction, where you continually reduce your total daily caloric intake but still eat at frequent intervals.
Both approaches can have benefits, but intermittent fasting specifically targets the timing of eating rather than just reducing calories.
Microscopic Colitis or … Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Shutterstock/Bannasak Krodkeaw
The only way to be diagnosed with MC is to have undergone a colonoscopy so that tissue samples can be taken from your colon and examined under a microscope.
IBS should not be given as a diagnosis until microscopic colitis has been ruled out, since the symptoms of these two conditions are very similar.
But the treatments, however, are different. That’s why a proper diagnosis is crucial for management and treatment to be effective.
Though there’s no studies supporting the application of intermittent fasting on the symptoms of microscopic colitis, it’s important that the patient determine which foods seem to trigger the diarrhea, and then work on eliminating or at least cutting back on those foods.
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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