Hi Everyone,
I will try to keep this as non-medically termed as I can. Sorry its so long but I think that it needs it.
I have just completed a two week course at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, which is world renouned for its reasearch and also treatment for rheumatic diseases such as AS and Arthristis. I have for some time been trying to cut down on my startch intake and, I must admit, have found it difficult. Leaving all my loves behind such as curry, chips and also Spag Bol. I have found that the reduction has helped some, but would like to put forward what I have learned while I was there.
There was Individual and also group sessions with dietitions, physios, Dr's, Ocupational Therapists and also Dr Callin himself, who is Vice President of NASS here in the UK, and also one of the world leaders in the study of AS.
For those that would like to know here is what I found, not entirely in their words but the general gist. I do not want to confuse with jargon.
A no startch diet is probably not a good thing for people who suffer from AS, or for that matter any Disease. The studies that they have conducted have discovered that Startch is obviously divided into two types, each type is found in our 'normal food sources', these are digestible and non-digestible startch. The findings are that the Bacteria, that some people think contribute to AS suffering, in the lower intestine thrive on startch is not debated, they do feed on startch. But the type of startch that reaches the lower intestine is non-digestable startch. This startch type does make up the 'product' that the 'bad' bacteria feed on. The problem is, if we want to reduce these bacteria then we have to cut out, or, reduce our startch intake. This theory backs up the findings and also the fact that a non startch diet is good for AS sufferers. There is of course a down side to this, as there is too everything in life, and its not good.
The downside is that if we cut out startch from our diet we do several things. The first is of course that we reduce the bacteria in the larger intestine that causes AS, but this also reduces the good bacteria that is there in the lower intestine also, this is not desputed by anyone. These bacteria also contribute to the final stage of digestion. Reducing these also reduces what we get out of what we eat. Namely energy, fluid and also vitamins, this is also not desputed. So to cut out both of the startch types in the lower intestine also means cutting it out from the upper intestine. This also kills startch dependant bacteria in the upper intestine that helps with the digestion of other food types, and it is this that is considered bad.
The reduction in the intake of such foods as spuds (potatoes), rice, pasta ect also reduces the intake of carbohydrates in the 'normal' diet, this can then also reduce energy levals and basic bodily stores. This, in the belief of the people at the hospital, is an overall bad thing as activity is considered a better option for overall health in AS sufferers.
I probably in my own opionion, will continue with a reduced leval of startch in my diet, but I will also try to make my diet a more balanced one. As we all know, we do not eat anything good for us before we start having problems, and afterwards we make changes that probably should have been made prior to us fealing bad. Diet is one that everyone can look at as it is something that is easily changed, an increase in fruit here a decrease in Sausage egg and chips there, all goes to improve how we feal. BUt I know believe that it is good to have a reduction in the startch that we intake, but also that our startch intake would probably be greatly reduced anyway in a normal balanced diet. So for me I will just be having a normal good balanced diet from now on.
Now it is all up to you, what ever you feal better with as long as you are having a normal active life then that is all anyone can ask.
Dave
