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Posted 4/15/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hello all! Very glad to have found this forum.

I have yet to read the Maker's Diet completely, but I just bought the starter kit with the coconut oil, green food, multivitamins, etc.  My husband is gluten-intolerant, so we use gluten-free mixes, pastas, breads, etc.  I see from comments here that refined sugars and certain carbohydrates won't be allowed on the Maker's Diet.  So, my concern is how to keep up my husband's caloric intake?

He is losing weight again and in a lot of pain, due to tapering off his cortisone (see signature below).  I know we're going to have to drastically change what we eat once we get on the Maker's Diet, but right now he's been trying to consume lots of high-calorie foods - cheese, ground nuts, GF bread, 3 bottles of Ensure Plus a day, eggs, meat.  We also drink our veggies and fruit because the fiber cannot pass through his narrowed ileum.  I buy mostly organic.

By the way, how do yogurt and kefir not count as dairy?  I have read several articles, including one by Dr. Andrew Weil, that recommend eliminating dairy completely for CD. 

I'd appreciate any suggestions, because I'm so scared that my husband is wasting away!

Posted 4/15/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Meisie and welcome to the forum!

I guess I'm confused. Is your hubby simply gluten intolerant or does he have Crohn's as well? It seems odd he would be on the medications he's on for gluten intolerance, but I am new to this DD and certainly have tons to learn...

It sounds like you and your husband are doing a lot of really good nutritional things for him! Take a moment to pat yourself on the back!

about the Maker's Diet; if your husband is gluten intolerant, he may not be able to tolerate the organic, sprouted bread the MD recommends. Just bear that in mind. I don't know if my son if gluten intolerant, but he prefers spelt bread, which is supposedly lower in gluten than other wheat breads...

Also, due to concerns about MAP and other pathogens, we do not consume raw dairy in any form (milk, cheese, etc.) as the MD advocates. We also cook our beef well-done for the same reason. Just thought I'd throw that in.

CrazyHarry can probably explain it better, but supposedly nearly all, if not all of the lactose is burned off during the fermentation process of making kefir and yogurt--thus making it tolerable for those who are lactose intolerant. Elaine Gottschall (of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, SCD) advocates purchasing a yogurt maker and making one's own yogurt. I believe the MD mentions it, too. Many folks here make their own...I'm going to get there eventually... For now I purchase Stonyfield's organic whole milk plain yogurt. It is a high-quality yogurt.

My son just turned 16 and is a competitive swimmer. Getting enough calories in him was--and still is--a great challenge. He eats organic peanut butter and raw honey on org. spelt toast as a snack sometimes twice a day. The yogurt smoothie recipe in the back of the MD book is also a great, nutritious snack, and far better for you than Ensure or Boost. Try adding a raw egg as Rubin suggests. We do this all the time. I also keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge as a quick, easy snack. I am constantly on the prowl for more snack ideas, though!!!

Did your starter kit include digestive enzymes and probiotics?

I hope this helps a tiny bit! I hope he feels better real soon!
Posted 4/15/2008 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
RE: celicac or gluton intolerance ppl

From what I've researched about the MD and online, soaked grains or sprouted grains are much easier even for celiac ppl to digest.

Emom, I second your fears about the raw dairy. In Canada, I think you can't buy it if it's not pasturized. And every time I try to eat antiobiotic-free natural chicken, my tummy hurts worse than ever! So, although I buy organic dairy, it's been pasturized and I don't buy very much natural meats at all.

Also, how is your son doing now?

Post Edited (Roni) : 4/15/2008 12:36:58 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/15/2008 7:31 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the ideas, EMom!  My husband has Crohn's disease and is also gluten intolerant.  His medication is to keep his Crohn's under control, and the Fosamax is to correct osteoporosis caused by 5 years of prednisone.

Posted 4/15/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)

Roni said...
RE: celicac or gluton intolerance ppl

From what I've researched about the MD and online, soaked grains or sprouted grains are much easier even for celiac ppl to digest.

Emom, I second your fears about the raw dairy. In Canada, I think you can't buy it if it's not pasturized. And every time I try to eat antiobiotic-free natural chicken, my tummy hurts worse than ever! So, although I buy organic dairy, it's been pasturized and I don't buy very much natural meats at all.

Also, how is your son doing now?

I always wondered if sprouted grains, since they are considered pre-digested, would be fine for gluten-intolerant people (I guess it depends upon whether it's the gluten that is pre-digested!). Just haven't run across anything to answer this question. Let me know if you can find where you ran across the info.

And about milk, we barely use any, but when I buy I only buy ultra-pasteurized. It (UHT pasteurization) is thought to kill MAP. I have noticed only the organic milk in my stores are ultra-pasteurized.

Thanks for inquiring about my son! He's doing great, thankfully! I can only hope he will always do as well managing his CD as he is now. Thanks again!
Posted 4/16/2008 2:52 AM (GMT 0)

Meisie said...
Thanks for the ideas, EMom! My husband has Crohn's disease and is also gluten intolerant. His medication is to keep his Crohn's under control, and the Fosamax is to correct osteoporosis caused by 5 years of prednisone.

You're welcome, Meisie! I left bananas off the list of snacks, though....we must go through nearly 2 bunches a day. Can you overdose on bananas? confused

5 years of pred. Wow.... I really hope and pray you have success with this diet. Please keep us posted on how he's doing!

One more thought on the yogurt and/or kefir. As CH said in a previous post, try it in small amounts at first and gradually increase if tolerated. But you probably already knew that... :-)
Posted 4/20/2008 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Isugal, I'm so happy to hear of your results. Your not having symptoms, have you been checked to make sure your Crohn's is gone?? Just wondering. I'm trying to figure out in my head if the Makers Diet relieves symptoms or Crohns. Would be great if it relieved Crohn's.
Posted 6/4/2008 6:49 PM (GMT 0)

In response to the couple of questions that I've had....

Yes, I was a student at LSU (Go Tigers!) when I posted the message.  I have since graduated with my masters and now work full time for the state.  Going to school while doing the diet wasn't bad, as long as you remember to plan your meals.  Since I last posted, I still have not had ANY symptoms of Crohn's.  I still don't eat white bread, white rice, pasta, and all that.  After the initial 40 days, I haven't gone back on the diet as strictly as the diet, but I still do my best to stick to Phase 3 as best I can, but I do "cheat" now.  The Maker's Diet is more of a lifestyle change than just a diet.  I think someone mentioned that you learn to shop in a whole new way.  And it's so much better! To the other question that I saw, I have not been back to the doctor to get checked.  I kinda don't feel like I need to, since I know how I feel, and that tells me what I need to know. 

I still have not taken any medication since last year when I started the Maker's Diet.  NO MORE CROHN'S.  I'm telling you, this diet works.  But don't take my word for it... try it yourself.  I don't think I've heard anyone say that they've tried it and it's made them feel worse... so what do you have to lose?? (except your crohn's that is)

 Oh, and P.S. yes, this diet will tend to cost a little more in grocery bills, but think about how much medicine, hospital visits, possible surgeries cost.  Not to mention, can you put a price on health and living a normal life?

LSUgal

Over 1 year Crohn's free,a nd living a BETTER life because of it!!

Maker's Diet w/ the recommended Probiotics and vitamins

NO MEDICATION for the time during and after Maker's Diet!!

Post Edited (lsugal) : 6/4/2008 12:52:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/15/2010 3:01 AM (GMT 0)

lsugal said...
In response to the Maker's Diet question... I was diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2006. I tried Remicade, and had a horrible allergic reaction to it on my third infusion and so couldn't continue. I was also on Entocort at the time, which I didn't find really helped. The doctor then put me on Pentasa, which caused me to throw up and not be able to hold food down for a week straight. I was completely bedridden because I had no nutrients in my body (lost about 5 pounds because I could only have maybe one ensure a day). So, the doctor took me off that, and tried to put me on 6mp. I declined, since it had been about a year at this point that no medication was helping me. My mom found the book the Maker's Diet, and I figured it couldn't hurt to try the diet (this was April of '07). I did the 40 day diet (I cheated once with a piece of chocolate cake at a wedding =) ), and by the end of the second week, my symptoms had subsided. After the 40 days were up, I continued to stick to it for the most part, but not strict like during the 40 days. During the year after I completed the diet, I have not had one symptom of Crohn's whatsoever. I lead a completely normal life now, and I personally feel as if this diet has saved my life. This is just my personal experience. Since I started the diet, I have also not been on any medication at all, but I take probiotics to help with digestion. To the people who feel as if they have tried everything, I just think why not try it? I did, and it was the best decision I've ever made. I hope this helps someone out there, the way it's helped me.

LSUgal
Crohn's since 2006
Symptom free for a year
No medicine
Probiotics
Maker's Diet

Awesome! I am going to go to bookstore this week and pick up all these books everyone is talking about and get started w/something! I am a high believer in diet and I always *thought* I was doing good, but I guess I even have to be stricter about what I eat and put in my body.

Posted 3/15/2010 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Also check out Breaking The Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gotschall. It's about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Crazy Harry has a good post comparing The Maker's Diet with SCD (they have quite a few similarities, although SCD doesn't allow any grains).
Posted 3/15/2010 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I'm gonna grab that book at the book store. I also get my food allergies' test back prob by the end of the week or by beg of next week (and my son's) and so that is exciting. My son also has his adenoid/tonsil/ear tube surgery in 12 days, I'm so excited, he's been suffering since September w/chronic AND I MEAN chronic issues w/that and so he has to avoid milk/cheese we figure that HELPS a lot. But he was at grandparents last week, they gave him cheese on his spaghetti (ugh) and then church the past two weeks gave him fish cheesy crackers as snacks, so it gets snuck in and guess what he has a sinus infection again...so it makes him sort of impy and irritable (of course, as any kid would be with a sinus/ear infection).
Posted 3/16/2010 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'd like to ask about this diet...

I was actually on the SCD Diet last year for about 4 months. I was on it while I was on 60mg of Prednisone so I don't know what was working, although I felt much better. Pred has worked for me in the past, so it could have been that. I actually had a real difficult time with the SCD -- a lot of preparation, always making my food and my almond bread, also socially, going out with my friends, going out for dinner, etc. I just found it very labor intensive and used all my free time to prepare my food.

I did some googling on the Maker's Diet and I can't find much online about it. Looks as though you need to purchase the book to really learn about it. Is this true? I'm just wondering if there are online resources for it? But my key question is: What is the big difference between this and the SCD?

Thanks for your help, Debbie
Posted 3/16/2010 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Dietcoke,

Here's a link to a post that Crazy Harry was nice enough to compile about the differences/similarities between the two diets:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=984588

I have both books. I started out on the Maker's Diet but then I decided to go to SCD since I started to notice symptoms. I'm on meds though too, so I don't know what I can contribute to the meds or diet. I felt that the Maker's Diet was a bit less strict. You can eat certain starches and grains after a certain amount of time. The diet has you go through phases, I believe the first phase is two weeks. You have a limited base of foods to choose from, I think with the idea being that you are helping your system heal/cleanse with those limited choices. Then it starts to get less strict. The whole program is 40 days, and then obviously you want to stay on that for maintenance. It allows you certain cheese that SCD does not, but I believe the cheese are either all supposed to be raw or from goat's milk, but you can have ricotta and things like that. You can also have sweet potatoes, maple syrup, stevia, sprouted grain bread, buckwheat and some other things that are not allowed on SCD. That's what I remember of it. Also, on the stricter side of the Maker's Diet, you can't have pork or shellfish. Those are the basics that I understand of it. Hope that helps.

Just curious, when you got of prednisone (or maybe you're on it still), did you find that SCD worked well for you? I'm hoping it does for me, but I definitely have to take all my meds now to get things under control, and I'm not sure how long it will take the diet to kick in for me.
Posted 3/16/2010 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Octobergirl. I actually found that post by CrazyHarry after I posted my message. It is very helpful as well as your post. After I got off of Pred, I was on Xifaxan and I seemed to do well for about three months, then I got much worse. I don't know if the Xifaxan was working, the diet, or the fact that Prednisone had healed me a bit so I felt better.

Anyway, right now, I am no longer on SCD and wondering if I should try the Maker's Diet. It does look a bit more liberal and looks like you can buy the sprouted breads, pastas, etc., instead of having to make everything. Being a mom of a young child really takes a lot of my time --- and things like that make a big difference. Thanks.

How long have you been on the Maker's Diet?
Posted 3/16/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Dietcoke,

Sure, I can't imagine how time consuming it would be to be on SCD and being a mom. Right now I only have to take care of myself and my husband (though he can take care of himself too!), and with work and exhaustion from Crohn's, I have a hard time even doing that.

I'm not on the Maker's Diet anymore. I did it for about 2 months and then switched to SCD when I started to notice symptoms coming back between my Remicade infusions. I did cheat over Christmas though, which I know is a huge no-no for SCD, and I am paying for it now. Of course it could be that the drugs just aren't working anymore, but I don't know.

I have read a lot of success stories just browsing through the internet about the Maker's Diet. But like SCD, people say if they went off it for too long or cheated too much, their disease came back. I think that if I can get things under control with SCD, I would eventually like to eat more like the Maker's Diet since it seems a bit less strict.

I hope whatever you do that it works well for you!
Posted 3/17/2010 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
both diets are pretty hard core starting out, but if you can do scd then you can do makers easily, and perhaps have an easier time once you make it to phase 3, the maintenance phase, as you can eat some grains on that. i find phases 1 and 2 of makers to be similar to the scd and i use them when i am feeling something is going bad to get things under control. i find myself doing well on phase 3 makers. i also do good on minimal grains, so i try to stick to sprouted or gluten free grains when i eat them. the makers has a big push for organics, so it takes more into account quality of food than scd, imho. i think that is good. imho, both diets are a diet for life.

best of luck. oh, and yes, you do need the maker's diet to do the diet. it doesnt have the on-line resource like the scd. you can email me personally if you have any specific questions. check my profile for my email.
Posted 3/17/2010 1:23 PM (GMT 0)

Having read all these posts, I have just sent off for the book on digestive health - thank you

I have two questions one is, is it true that sprouted breads are made from wheat sprouts, so its more like eating a bread made of vegetables, and thats why there isnt a gluten problem?

Also I cannot stand yoghurt, it makes me sick, would that be a major problem in following this diet?

Posted 3/17/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
You don't like the taste of yogurt, or the yogurt doesn't agree with you? If it's the former, you can add honey and/or fruit and make a smoothie out of it. If it's the latter, you could try making yogurt from goat milk (I presume it's the cow that would bother you), nut milk, or coconut milk. Yogurt isn't mandatory, but I love it due to it's massive probiotic count (something like 700 billion per cup). That's much more then you'll get from a pill.
Posted 3/17/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Penelope,

I can't stand the taste of yoghurt myself, even with adding fruit etc. I don't know why but it tastes like rotten milk to me. So I am sure the yoghurt doesn't have to be eaten to follow the diet. You would just replace it with a good probiotic. Thats what I do with my own personal diet.

Good luck!
Posted 3/17/2010 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
It's funny how tastes differ, because I'm crazy about yogurt :-). I eat 2 cups a day, plus eat a serving of frozen yogurt. Another thing that might help the taste for you is "dripping" the yogurt. With the bulk of the liquid gone, you lose most of the tang. Whats left tastes very much like cream cheese.
Posted 3/17/2010 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I dont follow either diets but i do eat plenty of yogurt...never liked it before now i do...lyn
Posted 3/19/2010 3:48 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you Nanners yes it tastes like rotten milk mixed with chalk and I cant stand it. Glad you can still do diet without. I did try fruit fools, which are fruit youghurt and cream but I think the cream didnt agree with me.

Thanks for advice though, I will try it again with honey, a tiny bit, maybe my tastes have changed!

Posted 3/19/2010 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
It's possible you'll like the homemade yogurt better. Also, you can experiment with different yogurt starters. I've heard people rave over using Greek fage for a starter. I just use Yogourmet myself.
Posted 2/27/2012 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I came across this this site because I have a question about soaking brown rice. In trying to help my husband with his UC, we have been implementing the Maker's Diet. I have found what hinders me is how uneducated I am about this way of preparing food.

For example, on Friday at around noon, I started soaking some brown rice in water and apple cider vinegar (Bragg's). We didn't get around to eating it and I was wondering if it's still safe to eat. I don't want to cook something that is going to make us sick. Does anyone know?
Posted 2/27/2012 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
What is the makers diet? I've never heard of it. Can someone provide me with information...thanks!!!!
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