– If someone had told me this, I would never have believed them, says Celina Jakobsen (27). For many years she had heard that she should eat little and often. In despair over stomach problems, she could eat between five and eight smaller meals a day. Because the stomach could twist quite acutely, and cause a lot of pain. Today, she eats one or two meals a day. Jakobsen does not eat salad every day. The diet consists of ordinary things, such as potatoes, vegetables, meat and fish – but less ultra-processed food. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news Since 2018, she has had a loose stomach and irritable bowel, often accompanied by an irritable mood. It was difficult to know when she needed to go to the bathroom. However, she knew very well that it was critical to know where the nearest toilet was. – I have a whole new life. The weight has also been stable, she says, but that is more of a bonus. Thought few meals were unrealistic. Jakobsen lives in Lofoten with his roommate and their shared dog. She finds some of the main ingredients for the next meal. The hearty salad at 5 pm will be the second meal of the day. Jakobsen makes sure she gets both fat, protein and carbohydrates. – The Norwegian Directorate of Health has no general advice on eating a lot and rarely. Can you understand that people think it sounds extreme to eat two meals a day? When the roommate is away for work, Jakobsen cooks dinner for himself. He usually eats what she cooks, but is not as keen on fasting. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news – Yes, I think so too when I was recommended. I felt the constant hunger and I thought it was unrealistic that I should go so long without eating. Jakobsen believes that many more people could have been fine with cutting down several meals. – But it doesn’t work for everyone. You have to adapt to your own body. RAW MATERIALS: Jakobsen explains that it is surprisingly difficult to obtain many raw materials in Lofoten, which is known for fishing. It’s a bit like revealing where you get the molts in the summer. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news A common diagnosis According to the National Health Service, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is quite common. There are around 15 out of 100 people in the population with the condition. It occurs in both sexes and at all ages, but the incidence is higher in women and young people. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Common symptoms of IBS are: Abdominal pain Loose stools and/or constipation Soft bowel movements and a feeling of being bloated Many people experience pain after eating food and feel better after going to the toilet Symptoms can get worse with stress and certain foods, but many people feel better with lifestyle changes People with irritable bowel can be a lot of trouble, even if all routine examinations and tests show that it is not a serious illness. The condition does not destroy the intestine, but can have a negative effect on the quality of life. Source: Health Care. In its advice on meal patterns, the Directorate of Health explains that it suits most people to eat regular meals at intervals of three to four hours, and specifies that it can be individual. Furthermore, it states that good meal rhythms that suit many people are either three main meals with one to two snacks per day, or four main meals with a small snack. So around five meals a day. Cut snacks and a raw material Celina Jakobsen works as a psychologist and found the solution to the problem via a colleague. – A doctor told me about Marit Kolby’s book. I started reading up on fasting, and eating well when you eat. And cutting out ultra-processed food. In the book “what and when should we eat”, nutritional biologist Marit Kolby writes about what she thinks are the benefits of fasting. The book was high on the bestseller list since it was published in 2022. What and when should we eat? by Marit Kolby Photo: FRISK In 2023, it is still at the top with several of the major booksellers. Kolby’s two main points: Eat two or three larger meals and cut out snacks. For example, make sure that the night fast is long enough. Whole ingredients as much as possible, and ultra-processed food as little as possible, such as soups and energy bars. Some have also been critical because it can send an unfortunate signal to children and people with various illnesses. The head of the National Council for Nutrition, Jøran Hjelmesæth, has previously told news that he is critical of people jumping on diets in “shack and weather”. He advises children, young people, pregnant women and the elderly to try time-limited eating. Has suffered for several years Kolby receives many messages from people who have struggled with IBS or similar ailments, often for many years, without being able to find the cause. Marit Kolby is an author and university lecturer. Photo: Oslo Nye Høyskole – What remains is that reducing the number of meals can be very helpful. According to Kolby, many people report that they no longer have problems from the digestive system. Many experience improvement in joint and muscle pain, and fewer headaches. – Is there sufficient research to substantiate the benefits of such a diet? – There is a lot of research that supports that a raw food-based diet is much better for us than a diet dominated by ultra-processed food, and that extending periods of fasting can be useful. Kolby admits that, unfortunately, there is no research that has investigated how combining the two strategies, increasing the quality of the food and reducing the frequency of meals, will affect symptoms from IBS. Resting your stomach Two people who know a lot about the intestines are Jørgen Valeur and Heidi Villmones. Valeur, who is a specialist in internal medicine and digestive diseases, thinks it is interesting to hear about Jakobsen’s experiences. Valeur has no objections to how many meals one should and should not eat, but thinks there may be something in this about giving the stomach a rest. Jørgen Valeur works as a senior physician and head of the Institute for Children’s Veterinarians at Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital. Photo: Christin.no – But in order to give well-documented advice, it is important to follow up with research. And precisely there is little research, neither for one nor the other, he says. – Smart to let the small intestine rest Heidi Cecilie Villmones is a senior physician at the hospital in Vestfold in the microbiology department, and has written a doctorate on the small intestine. She thinks it is too extreme to eat one meal a day. Nevertheless, the idea of fewer meals makes sense, she believes. – The recommendations that are in place today are beginning to expire, there is no doubt about that. Then starting studies that can find this out in an orderly way will take a lot of time and money, says Villmones. Photo: Torbjørn Endal / The Hospital in Vestfold – I think it is wise to let the small intestine rest. But how long can vary. She explains that some: Have slow passage in the small intestine, and can spend six hours digesting food. Has rapid passage through the small intestine, and can spend half an hour on the process. These, for example, will not need an equally long window with fastening. In her thesis, she concluded that there should be no bacteria in the small intestine between meals. Eating often, and sending saliva down there, can trigger the immune system. Villmones says that the public advice clearly does not help everyone, and is based on a time when we were more physically active. Where is the nearest toilet? Both Valleur and Villmones say that there are a lot of backlogs to be taken up about food storage. For example, children and people with eating disorders or other deficiency diseases will have completely different needs. With the changes in her eating habits, Celina Jakobsen is far better. Jakobsen often uses nuts as a source of healthy fat. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news – It really has been night and day. The biggest difference is that I no longer have a loose stomach and have to go to the bathroom urgently. I also think less about food. The 27-year-old still eats many of the same items, such as meat, fish and potatoes. Normal things. – But I am more conscious when I go to the store, and like to avoid ready-made varieties.
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After nine years with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Celina changed her diet according to Marit Kolby’s book – news Nordland
