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3 Reasons Eliminating Grains May Be Harmful For Gut Health

Jason Wachob
Author:
August 20, 2019
Jason Wachob
mbg Founder & Co-CEO
By Jason Wachob
mbg Founder & Co-CEO
Jason Wachob is the Founder and Co-CEO of mindbodygreen and the author of Wellth.
Image by Hannah Schwob / mbg creative
August 20, 2019

Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., is a go-to source when it comes to questions surrounding gut health. Board-certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology and published in America's top gastroenterology journals, he's seen hundreds of cases surrounding our most common gut health complaints. Additionally, he earned a Master of Science in clinical investigation (MSCI) from Northwestern University, as well as a certificate in nutrition from Cornell University. When it comes to the gastroenterology and the microbiome, Bulsiewicz is nothing short of a seasoned professional.

I was able to chat with Bulsiewicz about whether cutting out whole food groups is really a good idea, as well as what he believes are the most important foods to consume for a healthy microbiome. For now, here are the three reasons you shouldn't cut grains out of your diet, straight from Dr. B himself:

1. It's not the grains themselves we're actually intolerant to.

Highly processed grains—think white flour, breakfast cereals, and pastries—are definitely the culprits for gas pains and stomachaches. However, those minimally processed, whole grains are on the good side of gluten that Dr. B definitely stands behind. He mentions that although people may experience inflammation or bloating when consuming these whole grains, it's less about what we're eating that causes the reaction and more about the damage already done to our microbiome. 

"There definitely are people having gas, bloating, and some sort of reaction to the consumption of these foods," Dr. B tells me. "But believe it or not, it is not the gluten necessarily. It is actually a component of the grain, which is called a fructan. Fructans are one of the FODMAPs, if you have heard of the low-FODMAP diet. And so for someone who has damage to their microbiome or has underlying irritable bowel syndrome, that's what's going to cause that feeling that they get—the gas, bloating, GI distress—changes in their bowel habits. And it's not necessarily inflammation from grains."

What he means is gluten may receive all the blame for those wretched stomach pains, but it's actually the weaker microbiome itself that cannot break down the fructans in grains.

2. We need to increase our diversity of plants.

When we eliminate a food group entirely, we're reducing the diversity of our microbiome and making it more susceptible to harmful bacteria. Meaning, our microbiomes become weaker and make us more susceptible to bloating and gas pain.

"When we eliminate grains of any variety, we see that there is a loss of diversity within the microbiome," he adds. "And it makes sense to me, because when we do categorical elimination of plant foods that feed the microbiome in a unique way, then we should expect that all of the bacteria that thrive off the consumption of those foods are going to fall off." 

With not enough of this "good" bacteria, the harmful bacteria overpower the microbiome, which can lead to increased intestinal permeability and inflammation. He asserts that a diverse, plant-based diet is the most important component for a healthy eating plan that will ensure a diverse and strong microbiome.  

"It's about getting as many different types of these entities, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts, as many different varieties and types into your diet as humanly possible."

3. Fiber in our diets is essential.

Plant-based foods—including grains!—contain fiber, which is essential for a healthy gut microbiome, according to Dr. B. 

"Ninety-seven percent of Americans are not getting the minimal amount of fiber that's recommended to them, which is 25 grams for women and 37 grams for men," Dr. B reveals. Because most of the country is deficient in fiber, our gas, bloating, and leaky gut issues could be a result of this lack of critical bacteria. 

So, cutting grains from your diet could contribute to this lack of fiber, which, in turn, can cause most of our common gut health issues: "Fiber is critical in terms of the microbiome. It feeds the healthy bacteria. They multiply. They thrive. And then what they do is they actually pay us back. They transform the fiber into short-chain fatty acids called butyrate, acetate, and propionate. And these short-chain fatty acids are then released right there in the colon and fix things like leaky gut." 

So for a healthy gut, opt for a diversity of plants—think fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds—and don't skip out on the complex carbohydrates, as if you needed another reason to pile on the quinoa.

For more tips on how to create the perfect eating plan for your gut health microbiome, be sure to check out this week's podcast. Maybe one day we can all be like Dr. B and enjoy in a rich, plant-based diet that will strengthen our microbiomes (with a cheeky treat here and there, for good measure).

Enjoy this episode! And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher, and sign up for our podcast newsletter!

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