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Thinking of starting liquid diet..tips?

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Posted 11/27/2009 2:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hey everyone,

I have to make this quick because I'm at work, but I'm basically getting sick of being in pain right now and I'm toying with the idea of starting a liquid diet. I wouldn't say I'm in a full flare because my only real symptoms right now are pain & nausea, but I'm just tired of dealing with it every day.

How long does it take to see results from a liquid diet?

Also, what can I have? Can I have fruit smoothies or are they a no-no? I need to start planning out how I'm going to do this, because I LOVE food and I know it isn't going to be easy for me to do this.

Also, what kind of protein powder should I be adding to stuff?

Thanks :)

Posted 11/27/2009 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hey,
I would like to suggest something else for you if you don't mind. I have learned that using brown rice (ecological) every day for a week or two could calm down a flare and shut down an inflammation. If you want to go this route: make rice for breakfast by putting a cup of rice in water (quite much water) at night, and let it be there untill the morning, then eat it for breakfast. You could also make a lot and eat it as lunch or as often as you want, to avoid eating something else when hungry. Don't eat ANYTHING else than brown rice the first 10 days.

To reduce the inflammation: mix 2 teaspoons of curcumin with a fresh juice, no sugar, and drink this (some cups a day).
Also use: zink to reduce ulcers.
The use of castor oil packs applied to the skin of the abdomen, may have systemwide anti-inflammatory impact.

Avoid Omega 6 oils and increase Omega 3 oils. This omega 3 oil is known to reduce inflammation. Fish oil in liquid form is ok, not tasty, but use double the dose than suggested.

Garlic is the most anti-bacterial of the herbs, but most of the common herbs added to food probably affect the gut flora and shift it to a more anti-inflammatory composition.

Find some pre- and probiotics, this will reduce the inflammation activity, too.

And finally: google LDN. Low dose naltrexone. Using LDN may reduce your inflammation within days or weeks. You may want to know more by looking to one of the online LDN yahoo groups, one of them is for us with Crohns or ulcerative colitis. LDN, low dose naltrexone will increase your endorphins and reduce your pain, and gradually it may reduce the inflammation as well.
This is just my opinion, and not exactly what you asked for, anyway, good luck! / Bee
Posted 11/27/2009 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Valerie, I just use Nutren 1.5 made by Nestles, in vanilla flavor. It provides pretty good nutrition, at less than half the cost of an Enteral, if you shop around on the internet. I know that's not the normal liquid diet, but it's simple and effective for me.

I hope you find some relief real soon.
Posted 11/28/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Valerie,

Have you started the diet? I would go with the Nutren 1.5 as well or just and Ensure, Ensure plus or Resouce 2.0. The Resouce 2.0 has the most calories. At least these products are lactose and gluten free. If you want a clear liquid supplement I suggest Boost Fruit Beverage.

Are you on meds?

I hope you start feeling better soon.

Ladybug
Posted 11/28/2009 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Oh - if you want protein I suggest either Beneprotein or a soy based protein. Personally, I have always found whey protein made for body builders hard to tolerate.
Posted 11/28/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
If you go on an exclusive liquid diet using a meal replacement drink (Ensure, Nutren, etc.) you could feel improvement within a week, if not faster. I used Nutren 1.5 during an 8-week exclusive liquid diet and currently use Nutren 2.0 or Ensure to replace one meal a day or more if I'm not feeling well. Lately when I'm feeling worse I go on Nutren/Ensure exclusively for a few days and feel better.

If you want a 100% liquid diet and are concerned about your diet being nutritionally balanced then I think it is easier to use a product like Ensure or Nutren.

I am mostly asymptomatic but sometimes feel uncomfortable and nauseated...I found that having a can for one meal (usually lunch), eating a smaller dinner, and avoiding eating after about 8 pm helps me.
Posted 11/28/2009 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys, I'm going to follow your suggestions and buy Nutren and Ensure (Only time I ever tried Ensure was when I was flaring so badly I couldn't even keep that down, haha, so it'll be fine now). I'm on Entocort right now, I have been since March. My doctor told me that I'm really at the limit of what Entocort can treat, which is probably why I'm still not feeling great. I'm a bit hesitant to go on pred because of the side effects, and I am going to be switching to other meds next time I see my doctor (in January). I'm not TOO bad right now but I'm just sick of constantly complaining, even if it isn't affecting my day to day life like it used to.

Also, Illini - after I try this out (I'll probably only need to do it for a week or 2, my symptoms aren't severe enough to try it any longer), if I'm not feeling great, I may try replacing lunch with Ensure to see if it helps, and follow your suggestion of eating a smaller dinner and not eating late. I have a bad habit of snacking really late at night and I'm sure it probably isn't helping me feel any better!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I'm going to start this today and I'll let you know how it goes.
Posted 12/13/2009 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Beesting, I am going to try your advice about the brown rice - I need something to calm my insides for a few days and was going to try a liquid diet but couldn't find a ton of information on it. I dont want to drink ensure for 3 days and am trying to avoid dairy. The brown rice idea seems worth a shot. Thank you!
Posted 12/13/2009 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
If you decide later to try a liquid diet, you'll find more information by searching under the official name for this treatment option, "enteral nutrition." You'll get plenty of hits if you search pubmed.gov.
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