The Fast Tract Digestion Diet, developed by Dr. Norm Robillard, is a dietary approach aimed at addressing the root causes of various digestive issues, including heartburn, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). This diet focuses on reducing the fermentation potential of foods to alleviate symptoms and promote a healthier gut microbiome.
Understanding the Fast Tract Diet
The central premise of the Fast Tract Diet is that many digestive problems stem from the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. These bacteria thrive on carbohydrates that are difficult to digest, leading to fermentation and gas production. This gas can then cause a range of symptoms, including heartburn, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Dr. Robillard's approach involves identifying and limiting foods that have a high fermentation potential (FP). The diet is not necessarily about eliminating all carbohydrates, but rather about choosing carbohydrates that are easily digestible and less likely to contribute to bacterial overgrowth.
Key Principles of the Fast Tract Diet
Reducing Fermentation Potential (FP)
The cornerstone of the Fast Tract Diet is the concept of fermentation potential. Dr. Robillard has developed a formula to calculate the FP of various foods, taking into account factors such as glycemic index, fiber content, and the presence of sugar alcohols. The Fast Tract Diet mobile app and book series provide detailed tables to help individuals identify gut-friendly foods and track their meals and symptoms.
Emphasizing Easily Digestible Carbohydrates
Contrary to some low-carb diets, the Fast Tract Diet does not advocate for the complete elimination of carbohydrates. Instead, it emphasizes the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates, such as white rice and table sugar, in moderation. The rationale behind this is that these foods are less likely to be fermented by bacteria in the small intestine.
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Limiting High-Fructose Foods
Dr. Robillard recommends limiting high-fructose fruits and foods, as fructose is not as readily absorbed by the body as other simple sugars. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with fructose intolerance, a condition where the body has difficulty absorbing fructose, leading to digestive distress.
Addressing Underlying Causes
The Fast Tract Diet also emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing underlying causes of digestive issues that are specific to each individual. This may involve dietary modifications, gut-friendly behaviors, and other integrative solutions.
Components of the Fast Tract Diet
Food Selection
The diet involves choosing foods with low fermentation potential. The Fast Tract Digestion IBS book evaluates and rates over 300 foods from the most likely to cause symptoms to the least likely. The diet uses a point system, so you are empowered to make your own food choices limiting symptom-causing foods based on the guidelines in this book.
Meal Planning
The Fast Tract Diet includes over 40 recipes, snacks, and desserts to help individuals get started. However, some reviewers have found the recipe section less useful, preferring to focus on the principles of the diet and adapt their own meals accordingly.
Mobile App
The Fast Tract Diet App helps you identify gut-friendly foods versus hard-to-digest foods, track and chart your meals and symptoms, create shopping lists and quickly look up symptom potential for specific foods & drinks at your favorite market on the fly. Fast Tract Diet is based on a flexible “FP” point system adaptable to a variety of dietary preferences.
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Benefits of the Fast Tract Diet
Symptom Relief
Many individuals who have followed the Fast Tract Diet have reported significant relief from digestive symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain. By reducing the fermentation potential of their diet, they have been able to reduce bacterial overgrowth and improve their overall digestive health.
Improved Gut Microbiome
The Fast Tract Diet can help to improve the balance of bacteria in the gut microbiome. By limiting the food supply for harmful bacteria, the diet can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, leading to a healthier and more diverse gut ecosystem.
Potential Weight Loss
Some individuals may experience weight loss on the Fast Tract Diet, particularly if they are significantly reducing their carbohydrate intake. However, the diet is not primarily intended for weight loss, and some individuals may need to adjust their food intake to maintain a healthy weight.
Criticisms and Considerations
Sustainability
Some critics argue that the Fast Tract Diet is not sustainable in the long term, particularly due to its emphasis on easily digestible carbohydrates and its restriction of certain high-fiber foods. They suggest that a healthy diet should include both probiotics and soluble fiber to feed beneficial bacteria.
Individual Variability
It is important to note that individual responses to the Fast Tract Diet may vary. Some individuals may find it highly effective, while others may not experience significant benefits. It is essential to work with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to determine if the Fast Tract Diet is appropriate for your individual needs and health conditions.
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High Fructose Corn Syrup
Some individuals disagree with the inclusion of high fructose corn syrup in the diet, believing that it causes more damage to the stomach and small intestine than realized.
Comparison with Other Diets
Low-FODMAP Diet
The Fast Tract Diet is often compared to the low-FODMAP diet, which is another dietary approach used to manage IBS symptoms. While both diets aim to reduce the fermentation potential of foods, they differ in their specific recommendations. The low-FODMAP diet focuses on restricting fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs), while the Fast Tract Diet focuses on a broader range of carbohydrates and considers factors such as glycemic index and fiber content.
Dropping Acid Diet
Some individuals have found that the Fast Tract Diet can be used in conjunction with the Dropping Acid approach, which focuses on reducing acid reflux symptoms by avoiding acidic foods and beverages. The Fast Tract Diet aims to address the root cause of reflux by reducing bacterial overgrowth, while the Dropping Acid diet provides symptomatic relief by reducing acid exposure.
Other IBS Diets
The Fast Tract Diet differs from other diets for IBS including Paleo, FODMAP, Low Starch, Low Carb, Specific Carb, and Elemental because it’s a quantitative approach based on Dr. Robillard’s novel formula for symptom potential in foods.
The Fast Tract Diet App
The Fast Tract Diet app is designed for iPad. The Fast Tract Diet App helps you identify gut friendly foods versus hard-to-digest foods, track and chart your meals and symptoms, create shopping lists and quickly look up symptom potential for specific foods & drinks at your favorite market on the fly. Fast Tract Diet is based on a flexible “FP” point system adaptable to a variety of dietary preferences.