iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll o tclhdfliThei mdcdaeA low-residue diet, the elemental diet is composed of free amino acids
and fat in liquid form. Amino acids, glucose, fat, and vitamin/mineral
supplements are utilized instead of food.
The elemental diet has been traditionally used for rehabilitation of se-
verely malnourished individuals, bowel inflammation, and diarrhea.
This diet results in reduced secretion of pancreatic and gastric juices, giv-
ing the stomach and pancreas a rest from activity and allowing for heal-
ing and reduction of inflammation to take place.
As the diet has little residue, it results in slower movement of the GI tract,
which speeds up healing.
Additionally, free-form amino acids allow for the body’s own protein to
be spared, helping the rest of the body heal quicker.
An elemental diet may be extremely beneficial in kick-starting the pro-
cess of the thyroid-healing diet. This diet causes a rapid shift in bacte-
rial flora within one to two weeks. As an extremely low-residue diet, it
requires no digestion and does not provide any food to the pathogenic
bacteria, thus starving them.
Clinical trials have shown this diet is effective in reducing SIBO within
two weeks in people with IBS, resulting in a substantial improvement of
symptoms.
The drawbacks of the diet are that amino acids are expensive and taste
pretty disgusting if not properly prepared. People report feeling nause-
ated after drinking the solution, and aspiration has resulted when people
lie down too quickly following ingestion.
Commercially available formulas (e.g., Vivanox®) contain a lot of arti-
ficial ingredients people with Hashimoto’s may not tolerate. They also
include loads of carbohydrates, which can cause high blood sugar and
harm adrenal function. Additionally, many of the elemental formulas
have added iodine.
Some critics of the elemental diets also noticed that symptoms sometimes
return after a period of time ranging from months to years. I think this is
likely because people go back to their junk food diets too soon. However,
if an elemental diet is followed by a grain-free FODMAPS diet, SCD
Diet, or similar diet, this could result in permanent remission.
A homemade elemental diet is available in the Companion Guide to the
book, which you can download at thyroidpharmacist.com/guide. As