What is the Elemental Diet & Who is it For?

What is the elemental diet? Let me fill you in.
A recent study used the example of Crohn’s to look at the effectiveness of the Elemental Diet on GI conditions.
So let's see what the research says and expand on the many gut conditions that the elemental diet works for (with the one exception).
I'll also break down the different types of elemental diets and best practices so you're equipped with all the information you need to decide if and how to get started on this highly effective diet.
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About me:
I’m a clinician, clinical researcher, and author working fervently to reform and improve the field of functional and integrative healthcare. My primary focus areas are digestive health and its impact on other facets of health, including energy, sleep, mood, thyroid function, and more.
My clinical and research team has published our research and clinical experience in peer-reviewed medical journals. We use this experience and research to inform the talks I give at integrative health conferences as well as the free resources available at drruscio.com/
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment.

[@DrRuscioDC]

Want to get started or have any more questions? Check out the Elemental Guide: drruscio.com/elemental-diet/

[@KarebelleMissKarebear]

Goodness this was was one of the most helpful videos Ive watched yet!

[@patriciahinojosa4022]

Thank you! I needed to hear this today is my first day to treat my SIBO 💪🏻

[@DrRuscioDC]

Glad you enjoyed this video. Good luck on your health journey!

[@ChicagoDefense]

How did it go?

[@KarebelleMissKarebear]

Awesome. Any updates from your journey? Im just starting out now!

[@satcomunication]

This is really great info! A lot of people say just go low carb but I loose wieght on low carb. I love how you adress the wieght gain. I just wish there was a way to make a "homemade version" would be great to show a video on best options for this!

[@DrRuscioDC]

There are homemade options like that of Dr. Allison Siebecker's: www.siboinfo.com/uploads/5/4/8/4/5484269/homemade_elemental_diet_options.pdf

[@markpierce326]

During elemental diet do you take probiotic?

[@JasonTylerS]

Help! My wife has ulcerative colitis that is now diagnosed as crohns. She’s literally had hundreds of surgeries and her intestine was removed for the J-pouch surgery. She now has fistulas and recently had a few procedures to drain out an infection. Thank god for insurance because they were hundreds of thousands of dollars. I found out about elemental diets from a search and ordered your product. Hope it helps her because she’s in pain every single day and cries every day because she can’t even live a normal life or take care of our son with any level of enjoyment. Every day is a huge struggle. I really hope this helps!

[@DrRuscioDC]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I do find elemental diets to be extremely effective, so I'm glad you found that option, but if your wife needs/wants more help through the process, she is also welcome to work with us at the clinic: drruscio.com/virtual-clinic/ Best of luck, and please follow up with how it goes. I'll also attach an article of mine here about the elemental diet that includes some tips for success. drruscio.com/elemental-diet/ Hope that helps!

[@WeepingWidowSueAna]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos for us. I have learned a lot from you and appreciate the time you take for us all. My question is - should you avoid the Elemental Diet if you have celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity? I was listening to a talk by Dr. Peter Osbourne yesterday and he mentioned how "maltodextrin" is made from corn or rice normally and that those with celiac should avoid this. I'm curious as to your thoughts.

[@JillManifestsEasily]

been following for a while - just fired my Naturopathic Dr. and ordered the Elemental Diet looking forward to starting - what makes sense to me is what I will go with ...

[@carmengallegos4767]

How is the Elemental diet going for you?

[@BakedJake27]

I noticed there are 2g of fiber per serving in Elemental Heal. This could lead up to 20g of fiber or so a day. Will this much fiber feed SIBO? Does someone with SIBO need the low-carb version because of this?

[@KAM66300]

Very interesting post so thank you so much.I was interested in your Elemental Heal product, but unfortunately, it has stevia in it. Do you have stevia free stuff by any chance????? (Stevia put me in hospital for five days with severe colitis (Sigh!!!!😪😭😢), after a "gut health" product I was sold did not actively list stevia in its ingredients. Instead, the term "natural sugars 960" was used. (which I thought meant plain old sugar, but it's stevia) Nowadays I am assiduous in checking for this additive, but sadly, it is in most "gut health" products, including yours, (which at least you list as stevia).

[@DrRuscioDC]

I'm sorry to hear that! Our original vanilla formula doesn't use stevia. store.drruscio.com/products/elemental-heal Hope that helps!

[@markmishyn]

@@DrRuscioDC hi! Thank you for your work. Is shipping to Ukraine an option?

[@stevenkates4876]

Where are the ingredients listed ? Love the idea and see the “ other” ingredients on my tub of no whey but what are the basic ingredients?

[@burtjulia0]

What about the first few feet of the small intestine? Does the SIBO still survive there? If so, isn't that a problem?

[@carmengallegos4767]

Im interested in trying this. I’m 56 years old with Hashimotos and scalp Psoriasis. Is it safe for me to try?

[@AnneDupere-vb2ou]

What are the long term effects of the elemental diet. What happens when people start eating normally again?

[@Alexander-rq9he]

Interesting!

[@jessicamstorch]

I have very mild UC and just found out I’m lactose intolerant. My lactose enzymes are low (not non existent though). Can I use your elemental diet as someone with mild lactose intolerance?

[@erikgordon6893]

in your book it says you have a recipe to make your own elemental powder,and broth for the short fast before the diet,where would i find those recipes?

[@DrRuscioDC]

Great question! So all of the support materials are here: drruscio.com/gutbook-resources/ :)

[@samuelsnell9474]

Sore throat feom sibo ,what can i do , driving me crazy

[@ellerellerek52]

Can it help with gastritis?

[@pammcnary]

My gastroenterologist prescribed Xifaxan for my Sibo, but having insurance headaches getting authorizations. That prescription only costs $2,000 without 8:35 insurance! I ordered the Elemental Heal and it’s arriving today! Do you have any recommendations! Should I take both? If so, in what order?

[@DaeDaeTV]

how was the elemental diet? did it work for you?

[@pammcnary]

Well, yes & no. I drank 3 shakes a day, and nothing else but water for 2 weeks. I lost 25 lbs, and had a flat stomach for the 1st time in a few years. The bloating slowly started coming back when I started eating again. I did end up using Xifaxan too, but sadly I’m in the same boat again a year later… 😔

[@thomaslange1624]

@@pammcnarybut that’s good you had 1 year pause

[@thomaslange1624]

@@pammcnarystop eating crap 💩

[@fabianirsara9846]

@@pammcnaryhoe long did it take for symptoms to slowly come back after Elemental diet?

[@OGAesthetics]

does anyone else experience itching from dextrose? dr ruscio, have u had any clients experience this? im not sure if i should continue if dextrose gives me itching and other potential side effects?

[@JenMarco]

Dextrose, maltodextrin, yeast extract, tapioca starch, potato starch are all the same thing and when I cut it out all my joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, swollen legs and joints, stomach issues all went away. That stuff is poison and in almost all packaged and processed foods

[@ccs1229]

Can i mix in some coconut oil? Just to make me feel satiated

[@user-np6tf8zx1u]

Idk about his formula but i know thr absorb plus elemental diet im using actually includes to add mct oil as part of the instructions

[@bethpage6696]

I'm gluten and dairy intolerant, which shake is best for me

[@DrRuscioDC]

Our whey-free version is a great choice.

[@yellowdragonflower944]

Great video, already loving the chocolate whey-free version to calm my terrible post covid GI symptoms. I tested it out by replacing half my calories with it, and it definitely helps. Even drinking it super slow, I struggle with feeling sugar rushes, as I have been mostly carnivore for 4 years. Also, my usually clear skin started breaking out like I'm a teenager again...any thoughts? Thanks! 😊

[@kevinjoseph517]

macrobiotics. fasting. juice only for a few days.

[@joeguercio4157]

Hi I've been dealing with long covid for 15 months and have also been carnivore for about 6 of this months. I definitely have a gi problem that has not been diagnosed. I'm considering the elemental diet in conjunction with carnivore. How did it work out for you?

[@4evelean]

I eat keto style sometimes have reflux and am very slow digesting the food. Is there an Elemental diet that is low in carbs? what would you recommend I do? Thank You

[@DrRuscioDC]

I have a low carb Elemental Heal option at my store.

[@4evelean]

@@DrRuscioDC Thank you I am in touch with your staff Haily and she advised me on it. What else should I get?

[@DrRuscioDC]

@@4evelean If you are seeking a full gut healing protocol, I recommend my book Healthy Gut, Healthy You ((drruscio.com/getgutbook), where I walk through a DIY step by step protocol to improve gut health - it lays out what to do and in what order to make sure you don’t waste time and money on unnecessary supplements.

[@MartyMcFly506]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but would this elemental diet be around 1 thousand dollars for 3 weeks? Also, would just a prolonged water fast yield similar results?

[@DrRuscioDC]

Pricing would depend on the dosage that is right for you. Everyone is a bit different. I would recommend you check into the self-guided Great-in-8 protocol provided in my book Healthy Gut, Healthy You (drruscio.com/getgutbook/) or if you'd like to work with someone, get in touch with our clinic (ruscioinstitute.com/). Good luck!

[@satcomunication]

Fasting could be a good option buy you have to think as he explains that some whi are underweight should not fast, this is a great option! I'm working on figuring out how to make my own shakes

[@kevinjoseph517]

is it whey?

[@DrRuscioDC]

I'm not sure about other brands, but I have a whey and a whey-free option. store.drruscio.com/products/elemental-heal store.drruscio.com/products/elemental-heal-whey-free Hope that helps!