Elemental diet powders are nutrient-rich, pre-digested powders mixed with water (or sometimes plant milk or coconut water) to create an easily absorbed meal replacement. Elemental diets were originally developed for severe medical conditions but have broader applications. Many clients are surprised when they learn that these diets have much broader applications. Let’s explore the ingredients and uses of elemental diet powders, including their application for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO or for frustrating symptoms like constipation and bloat.
What is an Elemental Diet?
An elemental diet involves consuming specially formulated powders that provide all essential nutrients in a pre-digested form. This allows the digestive system to rest and recover, as it requires minimal effort to absorb these nutrients. Elemental diet shakes with a palatable taste and texture are technically semi-elemental.
I encourage all my clients to be flexible with using elemental diet powders and to use them in whichever way suits their personal circumstances. If you’re less familiar with the first steps of elemental dieting and want to start there, you can download my Gut Reset Guide.
Common Ingredients in Elemental Diet Powders
The specific ingredients can vary depending on the brand and formulation, but most elemental diet powders share some common components:
- Amino Acids: These are the building blocks of protein and are present in their free form, making them easily absorbable.
- Carbohydrates: Often derived from tapioca maltodextrin, these provide energy. Some formulas may be dextrose-free to cater to individuals with specific sensitivities.
- Fats: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a common source of fat, as they are easily digested and absorbed.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Essential micronutrients are added to ensure comprehensive nutritional support. Look for formulations that are fortified with the full range of essential micronutrients.
- Electrolytes: These help maintain fluid balance and support various bodily functions.
Taking a closer look at the ingredients of a product like Physicians’ Elemental Diet Dextrose Free can provide a clearer understanding:
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- Medium Chain Triglycerides
- Tapioca Maltodextrin
- L-Glutamine
- L-Proline
- L-Aspartic Acid
- L-Serine
- Natural Flavor
- L-Arginine Hydrochloride
- L-Alanine
- L-Leucine
- Lysine Hydrochloride
- Potassium Citrate
- L-Valine
- L-Glycine
- Disodium Phosphate
- L-Isoleucine
- L-Threonine
- L-Tyrosine
- L-Phenylalanine
- L-Methionine
- Tricalcium Phosphate
- Dicalcium Malate
- L-Histidine
- Choline Bitartrate
- L-Cysteine Hydrochloride
- Magnesium Citrate
- Potassium Malate
- L-Tryptophan
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
- Sodium Ascorbate
- L-Taurine
- DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate
- Ferrous Gluconate
- Beta-Carotene
- Biotin
- Zinc Sulfate
- Calcium-D-Pantothenate
- Niacinamide
- Sodium Chloride
- Sodium Selenite
- Cholecalciferol
- Potassium Iodide
- Manganese Citrate
- Pyridoxal-5’-Phosphate
- Phytodiamine
- Riboflavin-5’-Phosphate
- Sodium Molybdate
- Thiamin Hydrochloride
- Copper Sulfate
- Quatrefolic® brand (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt
- Methylcobalamin
This particular formulation is free from corn, wheat, gluten, soy, dairy, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, artificial colors, or flavors.
Applications of Elemental Diet Powders
Elemental diet powders have a range of therapeutic applications:
Managing Gastrointestinal Conditions
Elemental diets are often used to manage conditions such as:
- Irritable bowel and Crohn’s disease
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Moderate to severe impaired gastrointestinal function
Research suggests that elemental diet powders are safe when used as a complete food replacement for conditions like Crohn’s disease and SIBO.
Meal Replacement
Elemental shakes are a quick and easy meal replacement. Replacing just some meals with elemental diet shakes can also be enough to calm your gut through a period of symptom flares.
Read also: DIY Elemental Diet Guide
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Research shows that a partial elemental diet can help manage inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. A 2020 meta-analysis found that when Crohn’s disease patients were given an elemental diet through a tube for some meals, but ate a normal diet for other meals they were more likely to maintain remission. In a particular randomized controlled trial, about 64% of people with Crohn’s disease had a relapse within a year while eating a normal diet.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Another similar trial looked at patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the esophagus.
How to Use Elemental Diet Powders
Mixing and Consumption
- Thoroughly mix each level scoop (36 g for Physicians’ Elemental Diet) in 4-8 oz. (118 - 236 mL) chilled or room temperature water. Additional water may be added to the mixture or consumed separately as desired.
- Consume the mixture slowly over a period of 15 to 60 minutes or more, dependent upon individual comfort.
- For Physicians' Elemental Diet Dextrose Free, thoroughly mix each heaping scoopful (33.3 g) in 7-8 oz. (207 - 236 mL) chilled or room temperature water.
- Once mixed, any product that is not consumed after 60 minutes should be refrigerated for a maximum of 24 hours, then shaken or stirred prior to consumption.
Dosage and Duration
- Physicians’ Elemental Diet should be used for two-four weeks. It was designed to maintain nutritional sustenance as a sole source of nutrition and can also be used as a half-elemental diet, making dosing dependent upon the caloric needs of each patient.
- One scoop of Physicians’ Elemental Diet = 36 grams, and 150 calories.
- For optimal nutrition during a 2-4 week period, choose Physicians' Elemental Diet Dextrose Free. Each scoop packs 35g and 150 calories, and each 1,260g bag contains 36 scoops totaling 5,400 calories.
Considerations
- Medical food intended for use under medical supervision.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- After opening, store remaining powder in a dry place at room temperature.
- Avoid excessive heat and direct sunlight.
- Do not use if pouch is torn or open.
- Not intended for use in children.
Recipes
Elemental diet powders can be incorporated into various recipes to improve palatability and make the diet more manageable.
Mango Chia Pudding
- Blend coconut milk, mango, Elemental Heal, and turmeric together.
- Pour into a mason jar (or similar container), add the chia seeds, and mix well.
Elemental Diet Bars
- Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl or food processor and mix well.
- Press the mixture into an 8 x 8 dish lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 1 hour to set.
- Remove from the freezer and slice into 6 even bars.
Yogurt Parfait
- Mix the yogurt and Elemental Heal and place this on top of the base, about 1 ½ inches thick.
Sugar-Free ‘Nutella’
- Roast 2 cups of raw hazelnuts at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (or until golden brown).
- Cool the nuts and then remove the skins (as much as possible).
- Place the nuts in a food processor and process on high for 2-3 minutes or until they form a smooth paste.
Allergen-Free Options
If you need an allergen-free option, hypoallergenic elemental diet powders are available and work great in recipes.
Important Considerations and Potential Side Effects
Consulting a Healthcare Provider
Ideally, you should consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your symptoms and what you might hope to gain from the diet. Based on your condition, your healthcare provider might recommend the diet for three to five days to manage acute symptoms, or for several weeks to give your digestive system a restorative rest and reboot. They'll also let you know how much of the formula to take to meet your body’s caloric needs. Healthcare providers often lean toward higher-calorie recommendations to make sure you won’t feel too hungry or depleted during the diet.
Read also: Comprehensive Elemental Diet Guide
Restrictions
On the full elemental diet, you don’t eat any other foods. The point of the diet is to replace food and minimize digestive activity. Following the diet exactly allows your gut the rest it needs to heal. You may be allowed to drink tea without anything added.
Half-Elemental Diet
Sometimes healthcare providers recommend a “half-elemental diet” for people who need a secondary source of nutrition or who are transitioning into or out of the full diet. In this case, the elemental formulas provide half of your calories, and the other half come from food. There are some formulas specifically marketed for a half-elemental diet, which may not be completely elemental - for example, they may contain MCT oil or whey. These are not completely broken-down sources of protein or fat, but they are generally easy to digest and make the half-diet easier to follow.
Potential Side Effects
During the diet, you may experience symptoms that make you wonder if it’s actually helping your condition or making it worse. Medical guidance can help you sort through this. Symptoms may include:
- Abdominal Cramping: The first few days on a liquid diet may loosen poop that has been stuck in your colon, causing gas and discomfort as the residual poop is pushed out.
- Detox Symptoms: During bowel rest, your liver may take the opportunity to offload extra toxins. This can lead to temporary detox symptoms, including headaches, lightheadedness, nausea, and fatigue.
- Bacteria Die-Off Symptoms: If you have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or small intestinal fungal overgrowth, the elemental diet can effectively starve them of food in your lower digestive tract, causing them to die off in great numbers. This can give you detox symptoms.
- Reduced Motility: It’s common to have less frequent bowel movements on the elemental diet. This may lead some people to believe they’re constipated, especially if they have residual poop in their colon that hasn’t come out yet. The diet doesn’t cause constipation, but it can slow down your bowel function.
Post-Diet Recommendations
It’s important to reintroduce foods gradually as your digestive system is ramping back up again. Healthcare providers typically recommend following a half-elemental diet or a low-FODMAP diet during the transition. They may also recommend probiotics to re-populate your gut with beneficial flora, and prokinetic agents to stimulate your bowels to begin moving more regularly again. As you return to your more regular diet, pay attention to the way different foods affect your digestive system.
Cautions
- Note of caution: I recommend that people with oral thrush don’t drink elemental diet shakes.
- Additionally, if you have a history of disordered eating, a full elemental diet may not be the best choice.
The Role of Probiotics and Dietary Adjustments
Alongside dietary management with diet and elemental diet powders, most people can benefit from taking a probiotic to support gut repair. Research suggests that elemental diet powders are safe when used as a complete food replacement for conditions like Crohn’s disease and SIBO.
I encourage my clients with gastrointestinal symptoms and food sensitivities to try one of the following elimination diets. All these diets also minimize processed foods and additives like preservatives, artificial colors, and emulsifiers.
Regulatory Status
The Food and Drug Administration regulates only medical-grade elemental diet products-the types administered in hospitals or prescribed by a doctor.
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