Re: curiosity question

December 27, 2007

I believe there is already scientific evidence that the Bland diet does not

work.

The soft diet replaced the bland diet. From what I remember, many of the food

items that were excluded on the bland diet were found to not be irritating. It

came down to being a problem that had to be resolved, for some patients, by

trial and error. If they found that some foods allowed on the Soft diet

bothered them, than they shouldn't eat it. Broccoli that wasn't allowed on the

Bland Diet was found not to cause problems for ulcer patients. However, certain

spices were found to cause some patients a problem. The last time I had to

explain to a physician why we give leaf lettuce on a soft diet has been a few

years now. So, I think docs are used to this now.

When I started some 35 years ago, or so, we had a diet called the Sippy Diet.

(If you remember that diet like I do, then you are showing your age, as I am.)

It was designed by a doctor for ulcer patients. There was a progression of 21

days of food, if I remember right. It started with cream. The cream was to be

given every hour or so for so many hours. Advanced to boiled eggs, then I

forget what else. Wish I had a copy of that diet. Every day, another food item

was added, such as bananas or boiled chicken. Basically, they found it was

not based on scientfic fact and it was discontinued. Ulcers were found to be

caused by bacteria and medication resolved most of the issues with ulcers. The

soft diet may be ordered initially and patients graduated to a regular diet at

home as their ulcer symptoms resolve. Actually, I don't remember the last time

I had to give a diet instruction to an ulcer patient.

In my opinion, don't think we could do studies on the clear liquid or full

liquid diets. They do not meet nutritional needs of anyone, and are just used

as a transition diets from say surgery to a soft diet. We would have to do the

studies on patients, and I don't think it would be ethical. We can't do double

blind studies on the clear and full for a period of time as it would detrimental

to the patients recovery. Other than that, probably experience by physicians

and surgeons are why these are still in effect. They don't want to feed, for

example, some surgery patients heavy meals right away. It depencds on the

type of surgery.

The no nuts, no seeds for diverticulitis can be resolved by asking patients that

have had a bout with diverticultis what they ate before the attack. I'm not

sure if seeds are really a factor though. However, I have had problems with

diverticulitis and I know that if I get carried away with too many nuts and/or

do not chew well, I can have an attack of diverticultis.

I'm sure that someone else may have more information or a different opinion to

offer on this topic. Actually, I think this was an excellent question.

Joan M. Quillian, M.S., R.D., L.D.

Saipan

curiosity question

Just food for thought and not being a big research person Do we have double

blind studies on the following diets:

Bland

Clear Liquids

Full Liquids

Low residue

No nuts, seeds

I've seen studies on low fat, low sodium, controlled carbs etc... However,

most of these studies I've seen are groups being rotated from diet a, b, c over

a series of weeks. Most of the studies have not been in controlled environment.

Meaning it could be other factors influencing their success/failure.

Epidemiological studies only come up with common factors.

If there's no studies on these diets, then how did we come up with them? Was

it based on what worked, what didn't work? Or just someone's brainstorm? We

accept these as appropriate " treatment " , but do we have the research? Just

curious. Research is not my forte'.

Kathy Link, M.B.A., M.S., R.D., L.D.N

Certified LEAP Therapist , Reiki Master

www.nutritionmakescents.com Discover the price tag of poor health.

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December 27, 2007