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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/3/2009 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm putting together a Weight Watchers guide for my dad so he can try and lose weight.  In order to put together and eating list for him, I'm going back to my food diary from 2002 when I first started on Weight Watchers myself.   I was 5'9", 147lbs and my target weight was 130lbs.

I'm noticing I was eating a lot of potato chips that had OLESTRA in them.  I could eat a good number of those on this plan because they didn't account for many "points" on the Weight Watchers system.

I started developing (as I NOW know, but didn't back then) Crohn's symptoms during this 1st year (actually within the first 6 months) of the Weight Watchers "diet".

I'm not saying I think the Olestra CAUSED my Crohn's by any means...but it has me wondering if any other Crohnies have eaten Olestra in the past or present and if so, if any of you think it causes you any "extra" intestinal problems?

Posted 12/3/2009 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Look up olestra on google search, and it will give you a lot of results for the harmful side effects it gave people including horrible abdominal cramping and incontinence. Those two alone give me reason to believe that it's possible it could have helped as a trigger, but more research would definitely be needed.

Also, I used to eat potato chips with olestra at my grandparents' house.
Posted 12/3/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
This is the first time I've ever seen the word olestra... I googled it and the harmful side effects are scary! What products is that even in? noo bueno
Posted 12/3/2009 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
It was in the Wow! brand chips as far as I know. That was the only one I saw upon skimming one of the pages, but I'm guessing there are more?
Posted 12/3/2009 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
The only useful application I can think of for Olestra is that healthy people can now eat a bag of the stuff and simulate for themselves what it's like to have serious gut problems.
Posted 12/4/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
I ate Fat Free Pringles...they had Olestra in them.  30 chips for only 2 Weight Watcher points! 

I also at the WOW! brand LMills mentioned.  Doritos, usually.

Posted 12/4/2009 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't eat anything with Olestra in it on a bet! With Crohn's, the last thing you need is something like makes your symptoms worse.

I suggest you eat Baked Lay's, if you need potato chips. They come in a whole bunch of varieties, including Ruffles, Doritos, Scoops, or even Cheetos. They won't have as few points as the ones with Olestra, but they're infinitely better than the regular kind and won't cause Olestra's miserable side effects.
Posted 12/4/2009 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
I don't believe I ever ate the stuff.
Posted 12/4/2009 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Oh lord! I would NEVER eat Olestra NOW that I know I have Crohn's! That would be a death-wish! skull tongue
Posted 12/4/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
The only time I have ever had chips with Olestra in them is when I was on Weight Watchers myself.  I would go to Subway everyday for lunch and get a sandwhich and Light Lays chips which had the Olestra in them.  I never even know what Olestra was until I was on a Weight Watchers forum and someone made a post warning people about them.  Honestly, I've never had a problem with them...but I have switched to Baked Lays to be safe.
Posted 12/4/2009 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I read when Olestra first came onto the market that it would cause anal leakage.  Needless to say, I have never touched anything made with it.

You can try looking at the baked chips.  They are tasty and lower in calories..also very accomidating on a WW diet.

Posted 12/4/2009 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Now I know why I've never heard of it! They won't let it in Canada as a food additive I'm fairly sure... I was worried because I had eaten a can of fat-fee pringles with my roommate the week I moved into residence for university last year, and my symptoms started a few weeks later, but it appears that fat free pringles in Canada don't have Olestra in them anyway... phew
Posted 12/6/2009 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
The first time I ever heard about Olestra (even before I knew I had Crohn's) and heard about the possible side effect of anal leakage, I couldn't believe that it was even approved to be put on the market!!!  Who knows what it could be doing to a person's digestive system!
Posted 12/8/2009 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
I was shocked to see in the grocery store yesterday that these products with Olestra in them are STILL on the shelves! I picked up a bag of LIGHT Ruffles and looked at the ingredients and there was the Olestra.

That's pretty awesome that Cananda doesn't allow these products with Olestra in them on the shelves. Now I'm curious as to what makes Fat Free Pringles fat-free in Cananda! :)
Posted 12/8/2009 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm... by fat-free I may have meant low fat! My mistake, I'm not sure which it was but in retrospect it doesn't make sense that they would be fat free unless there was something sketchy involved!
Posted 12/8/2009 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I believe the baked Pringles are fat free
Posted 12/8/2009 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Never eaten olestra...don't need those horrible side effects.

...Baked Pringles? Those sound good! Are they new?

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