Does undigested food cause damage?

[satyrean]

I'm sorry if this isn't the most apt forum to ask this in, but I was wondering if eating foods that your body doesn't/can't digest causes damage?

It wasn't until last year that I realized that having pain meant my belly was experiencing damage...perhaps that's common sense to others, but it flew over my head.

And now I'm wondering if eating all my favorite foods such as watermelon and salad, that come out just as they came in, means that I'm hurting my belly? Even though I don't digest these foods, and many other raw fruit/veg, doesn't mean I have diarrhea. I also don't experience any upset stomach or pain. I do however have a perpetual bloat.

Am I hurting my body and otherwise helping Crohn's manifest by eating these foods? OR does it mean nothing at all?

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Undigested foods can certainly cause gas and bloating in a normal person but in an already inflamed person with narrowing it could cause obstruction. Chewing is vital to anyone but especially a crohnie.

 

[Suave]

I would say, add one at a time to your diet. Find out which one causes bloating or any discomfort. I mostly use raw foods in smoothies. Every day, I make a breakfast smoothie for my son; pineapple juice -no sugar added, coconut milk, greens, broocolli, oatmeal and frozen fruits, ginger -raw etc. His issue is constipation. If diarrhea is the issue, then no broccoli. Ginger is good for healing the lining of the stomach. I believe in raw foods but it needs to washed carefully. His inflammation was over the top and with raw greens blended and ginger and other antiinflammatory regimen, his inflammation is practically gone. His big issue, is that he is very allergic to some foods. His doctor did the allergy test and he is allergic to apples, hazelnuts, soy, etc. If he stays away from those foods, he does so much better. Get to know you body. It doesn't matter if a food is extremely healthy if you are allergic to it. Apples are so healthy, but for him, apples are very unhealthy. Another thing, be careful with the type of milk used. I can't use regular milk. I feel bloated and lots of gas.

 

[WingedVictory]

Various types of undigested proteins can wreak havoc on our digestive system. If we don't digest and absorb these types of proteins then bacteria will act upon them leading to intestinal permeability and IBS symptoms.