Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are often confused. Both conditions share symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, loose stools or diarrhea and intestinal discomfort and weight loss. Inflammatory Bowel Disease includes physical changes to the intestinal wall or lining, while Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not. Other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease include Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. Medical science does not have a confirmed single cause for IBD. Even though symptoms appear in the intestines (bowels), holistically speaking, IBD and IBS are degenerative diseases that originate in the brain. A recent medical article cites a malfunction in the gut-associated mucosal immune system response due to possible genetic factors and early programming of the anti-inflammatory system, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as a possible cause for IBD and IBS. Avoiding early traumatic experiences in a pet's life and feeding better quality food to a puppy or kitten, thus getting the proper nutrition to developing young bodies is key to avoiding IBD later on in life. Adding superfood to a pet's diet, to nourish the brain that controls and regulates all the other secondary glands (for example, adrenals, thyroid and pancreas) and organs (for example, stomach and intestines) can be crucial in avoiding and eliminating any intestinal imbalances.
Since we are not vets (or doctors), the following is our holistic lay interpretation. Vets and doctors do not really have a confirmed single cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Inflammatory Bowel Disease differs from Irritable Bowel Syndrome in that IBD includes the malfunction of the intestinal walls. When the walls of the gut become inflamed, they thicken for protection, then the gut"s defense system is compromised (leaky gut syndrome) and harmful bacteria and other bad microorganisms can attack. When this happens, nutrients, supplements, as well as medication to treat the above symptoms and diseases are not efficiently absorbed by the body and exit the other end. This is one reason why positive results may not be seen using the best holistic remedies and even medication. What could be happening is the immunoglobulin (IgA) antibodies that normally operate in the mucus membranes for protecting the intestinal lining of the gut, go out of control and sometimes even attack the body itself (auto-immune response). One suggested cause of this abnormality is an endocrine-immune (EI) imbalance as discovered by Dr. Alfred Plechner. He states, one must correct the endocrine-immune imbalance first, so that the mucus lining of the gut returns to normal and then the body can absorb nutrients again and thus heal itself. To read more about how Dr. Plechner solved (he claims up to a 70% cure rate) all the above symptoms and diseases, go to our webpage: Silent Epidemic. Until the cause of the malfunctioning immunoglobulin (IgA) antibodies or endocrine-immune system imbalance is dealt with, any change in diet, drug and even 'holistic' remedy will be in vain.
Constantly changing diets and still have not resolved your pet's inflammatory bowel symptoms, diarrhea, food allergies/sensitivities and other
digestive issues?
Giving Prednisone or Prednisolone, in ever increasing doses, and your pet's symptoms still have not improved?
Tired of watching your pet suffer from chronic infections (for example, ears, eyes) that won't go away no matter what you try?
Dr. Michael Kiriac, the researcher of bio-algae concentrates says, “Inflammatory bowel symptoms are not a disease of the stomach or intestines. That is just where the symptoms have manifested. The true source of this degenerative disease is in the brain. Feed, energize and balance the pituitary (master gland), pineal and hypothalamus glands in the brain and the body will regenerate and heal itself." The scientific basis behind this theory can be found in an article written in a human medical journal back in 2003.
The article entitled, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Separate or Unified? (Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 2003; 19:4) cites a malfunction in the gut-associated mucosal immune system response due to possible genetic factors and early programming of the anti-inflammatory system, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as a possible cause for IBD and IBS. The study found chronic stress can affect the mucosal immune system, while acute stress can affect the HPA axis. Rats with a history of aversive early life events were more susceptible to these stress-induced changes in gut permeability possibly related to early programming of the HPA axis. What does all that mean for your pet? Here is our holistic perspective based on the above scientific study and our 90+ years of holistic experience
Biologist tell us a canine carnivore in the wild gets 60-80% meat in their diet, while a feline carnivore needs 70-90% meat to be healthy. If one feeds a nutrient-deficient dry kibble diet (20-40% meat protein on average) to their puppy or kitten, their growing body is not getting the proper nutrition it needs to develop the digestive tract of a carnivore. They will be lacking needed digestive enzymes, they will not have the proper flora (friendly bacteria) develop in their intestines and their body will have to deal with an overload of carbohydrates (from wheat, corn, soy, rice, barley, potatoes, etc.) and sugars (from corn, beets, etc.) it normally would not eat, thereby stressing the pancreas (responsible for manufacturing digestive enzymes and insulin). While this may seem adequate when a pet is younger, as they get older IBD and allergy symptoms might show up. By then, it is almost too late to correct the underdeveloped and malfunctioning digestive tract. The malfunctioning mucosal immune system will allow the gut to be permeable letting through unwanted bacteria and other toxic substances. Protein molecules that normally would be digested by a wild carnivore will irritate the digestive tract of our domesticated carnivore, thus producing an allergic response. We suggest not raising young pets on nutrient deficient dry kibble but instead, feed premium canned food, freeze-dried raw food and even a raw food diet.
Not only is the amount of meat protein important but a variety of meat protein is essential to developing a diversity of flora (friendly bacteria) and enzymes in the gut. Also, different meats have different ratio of nutrients. For example rabbit is low in taurine while mouse is high in taurine. Feeding a variety of different meats over time helps ensure a balance of nutrients in your pet"s diet. It is suggested one vary not only the meat flavor (for example, beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, venison, bison, elk, quail, pheasant, etc.) but also the brand of pet food regularly in all stages of a pet"s life. Each manufacturer gets their meat and nutrients from a different source and each has their own formula for fortifying their foods. One may favor more vitamins and minerals, while another more enzymes and amino acids. One brand might use synthetic vitamin sources because they are cheaper, while another all-natural whole food sources. A diversity in food and nutrients sources leads to a diversity in the digestive tract. After all, one would not feed just beef to their toddler every day and expect it to have a fully functioning digestive tract as an adult.
Another factor could be a traumatic puppyhood or kittenhood. When pets are rescued, one does not Cajun rescued from Katrina as a kittenknow anything about their formative environment. According to the above scientific study, early traumatic life events can affect the developmental stages of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. An improperly programmed HPA axis is one suspected cause of improper gut permeability (leaky gut syndrome). This is because there is insufficient immunoglobulin (IgA) antibody production which normally operate in the mucus membranes for protecting the intestinal lining of the gut. Although this cause is different than the nutritionally-deprived malfunctioning mucosal lining of the gut, the results of letting unwanted bacteria and other toxic substances and the inability to digest certain protein molecules is the same"”IBD.
Purebred pets and pets from “puppy mills," seem to be subjected to genetic pre-disposition to many digestive disorders and allergies. Because most breeders only breed for good looks and structure, this can perpetuate any genetic imbalance and any improperly programmed HPA axis.
Foods currently genetically engineered are corn, soy, cotton, canola, sugar beets, milk and milk products. There has been too little research on the long term effects of GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) food to say they are safe. Short term studies show GMO food can potentially cause pre-cancerous cell growth in the digestive tract, smaller growth of brains, liver and testicles, partial atrophy of the liver and a damaged immune system. In the only first and only raw feeding study, rats would not eat the Flavor-Saver tomato. When they were force fed GMO tomatoes, 7/20 developed stomach lesions, 7/40 died within two weeks and were replaced in the study. Based on this short term results, from our holistic perspective, we think it would be wise to avoid all GMO food if one (or one"s pet) had any type of digestive disorder.
So, what can one do if a pet has been rescued or already displays IBD symptoms?
Build up the friendly flora in the gut by adding high quality probiotics (source of friendly bacteria) to the diet. An abundance of friendly bacteria will crowd out the unwanted bacteria and allow for proper digestion of all normal protein molecules a carnivore should be eating.
In the beginning, one might need to add digestive enzymes to any change in diet. But adding digestive enzymes is only supplementing the symptoms and will leave a lazy pancreas. Ultimately, one wants to supply the pre-enzymes (from algae, plants or raw meat) and co-factors the body needs to manufacture its own digestive enzymes.
Get your pet off the nutrient-deficient dry kibble diet that is unfit for a carnivore. Transition to apremium canned food, freeze-dried raw food and even better, a raw food diet more suited for a carnivore. We have seen a complete resolution of IBD symptoms in a pet with just a change to a more appropriate diet.
Vary your pet"s diet (both flavor and brand) to create diversity in their digestive tract and a balance of nutrients.
Increase the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function by feeding super nutrition to the brain. Animals in the wild naturally get algae in their diet from the water and soil they ingest. Certain microalgae are literally brain food that feed, energize and balance the glands in the brain. Domesticated pets that eat processed foods and drink (chlorinated) tap water are deprived of algae.
We have used bio-algae concentrates (Spirulina pacifica, Spirulina platensis, Dunaliella salina and astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis) to help address the above nutritional deficiencies, organ and glandular malfunctions. The super nutrition in the microalgae (for example, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, phytonutrients, etc.) supplied by bio-algae concentrates will go directly to the brain in order to energize, nourish and wake up the pituitary (master gland), pineal and hypothalamus that control and regulate all the other secondary glands (e.g., adrenals, thyroid) and organs (e.g., stomach, intestines, pancreas). When the entire endocrine and immune systems are functioning at 100%, all other processes (e.g., digestion, absorption, elimination) can return to normal and the symptoms should take care of themselves. People with Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic diarrhea or constipation and other chronic digestive issues have gotten results too. This is true holistic wellness, not just supplementing the symptoms.
These results are individual case studies. We cannot guarantee your results will be the same. Since each body responds differently to the super nutrition in bio-algae concentrates your results will be different. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.