White Flour in the Tayyibat System: Why Does Dr. Diaa Describe It as Plastic That Clogs Your Colon for Years?

د. ضياء العوضي، استشاري الرعاية المركزة، ومؤسس نظام الطيبات

In almost every Arab kitchen, white bread is the star of the table. But in the Tayyibat System, white flour is considered the most dangerous forbidden food, not only because of its lack of nutritional value. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, describes it with strong words: “rubber and plastic” that does not digest, remains in the intestines and colon to rot, clog, and cause chronic inflammation. The problem is not just in calories or carbohydrates, but in its sticky texture that “sticks to the metal” and to the delicate interstitial tissue of the body, disrupts absorption, ruins the microbiome, and leads to diseases that seem completely unrelated to food. If you are new here, you may benefit from learning about What is the Tayyibat System? or reviewing the article on Allowed and Forbidden Foods in the Tayyibat System, as well as reading the Biography of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, and finally you can Download the Tayyibat System PDF.

White Flour Is Not Just “Nutritionally Poor,” It Is “Plastic” That Sticks to the Intestines

Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, believes that the most common error in evaluating white flour is focusing only on the fact that it “lost its bran” or “became poor in fiber and vitamins.” This is true, but it is not the core of the problem. The core of the problem is what happens to white flour after it is mixed with water and enters the digestive system. It turns into a sticky, colloidal substance resembling paste or glue, adhering to the wall of the stomach, small intestine, and colon, and remaining stuck there for long periods. He describes it as “rubber and plastic” because it does not break down sufficiently by human digestive enzymes, as if you had eaten a piece of thin rubber or plastic. This sticky substance coats the intestinal villi responsible for absorption, preventing nutrients from reaching the blood.

“Sticks to the Metal”: How Does White Flour Disrupt Absorption?

The expression “sticks to the metal” is not just a metaphor; it is an accurate description of what happens inside the digestive system. Intestinal villi are microscopic finger-like projections lining the small intestine that enormously increase the surface area for absorption. When undigested white flour sticks to these villi, it covers them with a sticky layer like paint. The result: even if the food you eat is rich in iron, protein, or vitamins, these elements cannot cross the sticky layer to reach the absorbing cells. This is why many people suffer from malabsorption anemia (iron deficiency) even though they eat red meat and leafy greens rich in iron. White flour is the “barrier” that prevents food from reaching the body.

Malabsorption and Anemia: The Hidden Face of White Flour

One of the most common diseases in the Arab world is iron deficiency anemia. Patients are often treated with iron supplements, and symptoms may improve temporarily then return. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that the root cause in many cases is not a lack of iron in food, but the presence of white flour that prevents iron absorption. When white flour is removed from food (along with other difficult-to-digest foods), the sticky paste layer disappears from the intestinal villi, absorption returns to normal, and iron levels rise spontaneously without any supplements. Dr. Diaa has documented this phenomenon in a large number of his patients. Malabsorption anemia caused by white flour is not treated with more iron, but by removing the obstacle.

White Flour and Baked Goods: Rotting and Clogging in the Colon for Years

What is not digested or absorbed in the small intestine passes to the large intestine (colon). Here the disaster becomes even greater. White flour that reaches the colon as an undigested sticky substance becomes fertile ground for harmful bacteria. This substance ferments and rots, producing toxic gases (such as methane and hydrogen sulfide), irritating compounds (such as indole and skatole), and bacterial toxins (LPS – Lipopolysaccharides). These substances irritate the colon wall, cause chronic bloating, increase intestinal permeability (Leaky Gut), and allow toxins to pass into the blood, triggering the immune system and causing inflammation in joints, skin, nerves, and even the brain. Some of this waste may remain in the colon for years, hardening and accumulating to form internal “crusts” that impede intestinal movement and cause chronic constipation.

White Flour, Platelet Destruction, and Interstitial Tissue

The harm of white flour extends beyond the digestive system to the blood and connective tissues. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that the sticky substances resulting from undigested flour may lead to the destruction of platelets or affect their normal lifespan, causing bleeding and clotting disorders. Additionally, these substances settle in the interstitial tissue – the fluid surrounding cells that acts as a medium between blood and tissues – causing viscosity, congestion, and poor perfusion. A cell living in a thick, viscous medium does not receive its nourishment nor eliminate its waste, so it becomes diseased or dies. This explains why some people suffer from scattered pain, chronic fatigue, and weak immunity without any apparent cause.

White Flour and the Microbiome: Ruining Bacterial Balance

The microbiome is the internal ecosystem of bacteria in the gut. The balance between beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria is the key to health. White flour, when it reaches the colon as undigested food, feeds certain types of harmful, putrefactive, and fermentative bacteria, while beneficial bacteria that depend on natural fibers starve. This imbalance (Dysbiosis) translates into digestive symptoms (bloating, constipation, diarrhea), immune symptoms (allergies, recurrent infections), neurological symptoms (anxiety, depression, brain fog), and hormonal symptoms (glandular disorders, obesity). Restoring the microbiome is not achieved by taking probiotics alone, but first by removing what ruins it: white flour is the primary ruiner.

Citing Imam Al-Shafi’i: “Fava beans are not food for the son of Adam at all”

Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, cites the saying of Imam Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him: “Fava beans are not food for the son of Adam at all; they are only fodder for animals.” This saying is not only about fava beans, but about all foods that Allah created for animals and are not part of the original nature of human food. White flour and its products – bread, pastries, pasta, biscuits, cakes – are the result of modern industrial intervention and did not exist in the natural diet of humans thousands of years ago. The human body did not evolve to digest these complex sticky substances. Insisting on eating them despite their clear harm is a violation of the body’s innate nature. When a person returns to the foods Allah created for them (rice, potatoes, clean meats, natural fats), their health improves spontaneously.

How Does White Flour Differ from Whole Grains and Fermented Bread in the Tayyibat System?

The Tayyibat System does not generalize all types of grains or baked goods; it distinguishes between them precisely. Whole grains (such as a grain of wheat, barley, or rice before grinding) contain fiber and natural substances that may slow down their negative effects. Grinding turns the grain into fine powder, increasing its surface area and speeding up absorption, but the bigger problem is in kneading and fermentation. Well-fermented bread (especially natural sourdough) may have some gluten proteins partially broken down by yeast and bacteria, and may be less harmful. However, in the early stages of the Tayyibat System, it is preferable to abstain from all types of flour and baked goods completely until the intestinal wall heals and the microbiome returns to balance. After months, some people may be able to introduce well-fermented bread in very limited quantities.

Conclusion

White flour in the Tayyibat System is the most dangerous forbidden food, not only because it is nutritionally poor. It is “plastic” and “rubber” that sticks to the intestinal and colon wall for years, prevents absorption of nutrients, causes malabsorption anemia, ruins the microbiome, and leads to chronic inflammation throughout the body. Its stickiness disrupts the intestinal villi, settles in the interstitial tissue, and may destroy platelets. Dr. Diaa’s citation of Imam Al-Shafi’i’s saying about fava beans illustrates the idea: some foods were created for animals and are not original human food. Treating the harm of white flour is not achieved by adding vitamins or medications, but by removing it from food completely for weeks or months, and observing the significant difference in digestion, energy, weight, and immunity.

Read Also

• What is the Tayyibat System?
• List of Forbidden and Allowed Foods in the Tayyibat System
• Biography of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi
• Download the Tayyibat System PDF

This article is a simplified and organized summary of the video content, aiming to arrange the ideas and concepts mentioned in it and connect them to their context within the Tayyibat System. You can watch the video on YouTube here.