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DIFFERENT CURES FOR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.....

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Posted 3/24/2008 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanx kb5 for explaining that...by the sounds of things your UC is not under control and I hope it will be soon, so you can get back to doing what you so love so much. How long have you been off work?

BumDeal & Tomster, that's my point really to this whole thread, different foods - different countries.
You both seem to see the pattern - your relaxed - something different your eating - and of course red wine LOL - wish I could drink that but I don't like e taste (sorry lol)
And your UC settles to a point so you can manage it. I'm the same. I travel alot for work / holidays and like I mentioned - certain foods in other countries I can't eat -where I can eat them at home.

Asia countries I have to be super careful - with water even (everything is bottled) but america blew me away - that actually was the most difficult for me.
Posted 3/24/2008 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I have to agree that eating processed foods versus whole foods makes a huge difference for me. Even though I've never been very much into eating fast food or greasy food, just by changing my foods a bit and reading labels to make sure that I'm eating whole foods and not as processed has been great. As soon as I stopped and started back to eating foods with white flour and sugar, the gut pain returned. But we are all different, and this is my story.

 

Posted 3/24/2008 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications



Alcohol consumption is known to promote folic acid deficiency and has also been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. People with IBD, especially UC should, therefore, keep alcohol intake to a minimum.

A person with IBD might consume more sugar than the average healthy person, and it is speculated that a high sugar diet can increase the risk getting the disease, especially UC. A high-fiber, low-sugar diet mat led to a reduction in IBD exacerbations when compared to people who consume high amounts of sugar. While details of how sugar injures the intestine are still being uncovered, doctors often suggest eliminating all sugar (including soft drinks and processed foods with added sugar) from the diets.

Many people with IBD have food allergies and do better when they avoid foods to which they are allergic. More than a half-century ago, several doctors reported that food allergies play an important role in some cases of UC and CD. Since that time, many doctors have observed that avoidance of allergenic foods will often reduce the severity of condition and can sometimes completely control the condition. People who wish to explore the possibility that food sensitivities may wish to consult with an appropriate healthcare provider and get a food intolerance test or get help performing an elimination diet.

There is some evidence that people who eat fast foods at least two times per week more than triple their risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and nearly four times the risk of developing UC, than people who do not eat fast food. This means that reducing the amount of saturated fat and trans-fatty acids can decrease the risk of getting IBD. For example, in studies people with a high intake of animal fat, cholesterol, or margarine had a significantly increased risk of UC, compared with people who consumed less of these fats. Although these associations do not prove cause-and-effect, reducing one’s intake of animal fats and margarine is a means of improving overall health and possibly UC as well. As with many other health conditions, it may be beneficial to eat less meat and dairy fat and more fruits and vegetables.

Read the whole article, it has great tips and info...

http://www.naturalmeds.co.nz/Conditions/IBD.htm

:)

Posted 3/24/2008 8:14 PM (GMT 0)

Midnitenz said...
Thanx kb5 for explaining that...by the sounds of things your UC is not under control and I hope it will be soon, so you can get back to doing what you so love so much. How long have you been off work?

BumDeal & Tomster, that's my point really to this whole thread, different foods - different countries.
You both seem to see the pattern - your relaxed - something different your eating - and of course red wine LOL - wish I could drink that but I don't like e taste (sorry lol)
And your UC settles to a point so you can manage it. I'm the same. I travel alot for work / holidays and like I mentioned - certain foods in other countries I can't eat -where I can eat them at home.

Asia countries I have to be super careful - with water even (everything is bottled) but america blew me away - that actually was the most difficult for me.

Hi Midnite,

I see where you're coming from, although I think it may be kinda the other way around for me in that I can eat a much more varied diet in Thailand than I can at home. I guess it's mostly to do with an overall lessening of symptoms, but a classic example is Heineken, I can't tolerate it at all in the UK, but they go down fine in Thailand. Maybe not an entirely appropriate example given the nature of this disease, but true none the less.

I also think that simply being in the sun makes a big difference for me, my symptoms pretty much clear up May-September in the UK and anywhere esle I go that's seriously sunny, with dry heat being the best all round for sympton reduction.

I'd like to ask you some more about your experiences with long haul flying and how it effects your UC, I also suffer really badly after long haul flights and would love to get any tips about how to avoid the worst of the effects, but I'll start another thread to do so.

Cheers,

Tom.

Posted 3/24/2008 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I feel (please remember I am only talking about MY story here) that food has been the main key to controlling my UC. Before I was diagnosed - I wasnt' the type of person to eat alot of "junk" and was very health orientated - with sports etc......then I changed jobs - became a shift worker and it all went down hill (lol). But now - I control it with meds - as mentioned in other posts but also balance it with foods. When I was diagnosed, I was at a loss - felt completely alone, as I had never meet anyone or knew anyone who had UC, and I couldn't understand how I got UC - but I do remember how sick I was. I did alot of research on the web - reading books everything - because I refused to believe my 1st specialist that this was something that couldn't be controlled - UC was not going to control me - so I dug and tested and the end result for me - was food control - watching what I put in and thinking "how would that react" for example - fizzie drinks - as silly as it seems - to me it's bubbly going in the mouth - how would it react on the inside....Curry burns your mouth when eating, even though the body cools it going through it's process - but what made it hot is still in there ie" herbs, chilly.
Everyone reacts differently - and to me - the triggers are stress and foods. Before being diagnosed I didn't eat alot of dairy products - as I was lactose intolerant - but the weird thing since having UC - how I can eat yoghurt and cheese now and it doesn't affect me.
Preservatives in food I think hold a part of the puzzle. Look at how food is prepared now - easy quick fire meals for the busy working person - im NOT saying this is the cause - I am looking at it from my experience - there are alot more people now with UC then there was 15 years ago....what has changed in those 15yrs to make it so!!!!
Posted 3/24/2008 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Morning Tomster,
Yeah for sure - srart another thread and I will help where I can.....I managed 33 hours on a plane - and still here to tell the tail LOL...so I have a few tips.

With Thailand - heh - fully understand the "beer" reference - I am the same.
I am healthiest during summer and when I am away on holiday - as weird as that sounds. Thailand (havent been there) but singapore/china./malaysia I am ok - I watch what I eat - meaning I dont try something extreme - as we all know sometimes food still moves on ya plate there - but I always drink bottled water - and with the heat (not so much the smog) I feel fine. Winter in NZ I suffer. Not so much with the UC - but more so with colds etc - not sure if you are all the same - MY ammunity levels are lower then the average person - and believe it or not - antibodics (the ones they use to fight the virus etc) actually annoy my UC - so I have a cold etc a little longer then most, and I get tired more in winter......but put me in the sun say in Fiji and I thrive.....and because I am relaxed. No stress..... Strange how it works ah.
Posted 3/24/2008 8:51 PM (GMT 0)

Morning Midnite,

I could have written that post myself, everything you've said in it is true for me. I recently had my first serious smog experience in China, this left me with Bronchitis and on antibiotics, which in turn triggered the UC.

Like you said, put me on a beach in Asia and i'm in remission, put me in a cold, grey country and unless i'm very, very careful I go into flare - it's pretty much that simple for me. Luckily I own my own business which gives me the opportunity to pretty much do what I want travel wise, but our busiest time is January to April and that puts me here right through winter, which plays hell with my symptoms.

I've just treid to start the flying thread but it's not showing up - either I've done something wrong or there's a time delay on new members starting topics - either way keep an eye out for it...

Cheers,

Tom.

Posted 3/24/2008 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Ah no, just me being a muppet, here it is...

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1078353

Cheers,

Tom
Posted 3/24/2008 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
SNAP Tom - with the bronchitis - I never had that before - and since UC - man do I suffer with it - to the point of getting Bronchial Pneumonia (if Im not careful) and the antibodics cause the UC to have a mental breakdown - but I have learnt smaller doses (antibodics) takes longer yes - and a spray (inhaler) as well - does take a little longer to come right - but it still getting the stuff in there to fight it.....
Ok - just spotted the other thread - will answer soon - Im at work - lol - with the time zones and all - its 10.16am here Tuesday morning.....
Posted 3/24/2008 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
re. symptoms being different in different climates, wasn't there a study published about twelve months ago that showed that people living in the very cold parts of Canada had an increased incidence of IBD? From memory, it had something to do with bacteria being killed / not being killed by the cold...

pb, do you remember the study I mean?

I.
Posted 3/24/2008 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
heh they would be great to read......never saw anything about it - so would be interested if you have the link.
Posted 3/25/2008 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Not really ivy, I've only heard that Canada has a high prevalance for IBD which they believe has to do with the environment in some way but it's still a mystery...."the very cold parts of canada" that's funny, because this whole darned country is cold, there really isn't anywhere you can go to escape it unless you actually leave the country...BC is probably the warmest province and that's not saying much as in many parts there it can get very cold....no where in Canada can you escape snow either, sure it might snow more in some areas than others but every province gets snow too...

I have heard that they thought refridgerated foods was thought to be linked (or even the cause) of IBD for the same reasons that you touch on about Canada being cold...certain types of bacteria form on refridgerated foods.

:)
Posted 3/25/2008 1:49 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...

Guess everyone has to come to the realization on their own, but that doesn't change the fact that researchers have not ruled out food as being a possible trigger for IBD, that's reality...it's slightly arrogant for anyone to say there is no connection when it has not been proven yet.

Just to clarify, I am not saying there is no connection. I do not know if there is a connection or isn't. I was saying it could be considered optimistic thinking to hope there is not a connection. You said everyone who says there is no connection is being pessimistic. I disagree.

I think you misunderstood my post, because I certainly wasn't being "in denial" of anything, nor did I prove your point.

As an aside, when you say you eat no processed foods, does that mean you don't even buy bread at the store? What about dairy products? Pastuerized milk? I'm just curious what your definition of processed is.

Posted 3/25/2008 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Sara14 - I personally do not eat white bread - I don't drink a glass of milk or have anything spicey - or what I would see as gluggie.... I eat a huge range of food - but I also look at the combination.
For instance, if I was having a flareup - I won't touch anything that has fibre in it or anything heavy- so when you look at a bowl of pasta with sauce and it looks heavy before u eat it - then I wont.
People eat pizza - but when I looked into that - scared the living u know what out of me.....the topping digests - but apparently the doe can sit in the bowel for up to 6 weeks - because it hard to breakdown.
So my theory is - my system already has a hard time - why add to it.
From memory when I was in hospital in 2002 - they stuck to light fluffy kinda foods (sounds weird) so I had yoghurt (acidophilus) hope I spelt that right/was allowed cornflakes but tiny amounts. Pretty much anything that had alot of fibre (scarey thing is that lettuce also has it) I wasn't allowed.
Now that I have UC under control - I still watch what I eat - but it's done in moderation. Like I wouldn't eat cheese and mac for 4 days in a row - that would be once a month (if i ate it).
Hope I am not confusing you - and this is solely on my experience......
Posted 3/25/2008 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
That's correct sarah, no white bread (that's death), nothing out of a box, can or bag, everything I eat is whole foods, fish, chicken, fruits, veggies, fresh herbs...I drink water and chamomile tea.

I doubt it's optimistical in "hoping" there's no connection, to me that sounds more like denial than optimism...you can disagree, it's your right but for people to say there is definitely no connection to food and IBD is not accurate when you consider that the research community is still not able to say FOR SURE one way or the other...like I posted before, the link at the CCFC even indicates the food could very well be a possible trigger for IBD.

And I am aware you didn't not say there wasn't, I wasn't referring to your post.

And when you wrote "I personally don't want to have to restrict the foods I love to eat."...that was the point you made for me, people don't want to give up eating foods that could very well be causing them so many issues with their disease.

:)

Posted 3/25/2008 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
pb, what about frozen whole foods like peas? Do you avoid frozen, otherwise unprocessed vegetables too?
Posted 3/25/2008 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
oh oh oh....I don't eat peas - never did - and never will lol - I don't even class them as a food group lol...oh how i hate peas.....
sorry had to add it - back to you :-)
Posted 3/25/2008 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ivy :)

Yes I do actually avoid them too...when I eat corn I buy corn on the cob, right off the back of the truck during season, on occassion I have cut the corn off the cob and froze them myself, but I don't often crave corn, usually only when it's fresh in season...don't eat peas (YUCK, I'm with you Midnitenz, I've never even fed my kids peas), but I eat pretty much every other veggie out there...fresh of course...I go to the grocery store a couple times a week, not an issue, it's conveinent enough for me (live in a small town, everything is 5 or less minutes away).

Also, as I've mentioned before, extra virgine olive oil is a huge staple in my diet Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit. the health benefits are amazing and it's even known for aiding with intesinal function...I even use it as a hair and skin moisturizer every night before bed, it's amazing for the hair and skin.

Extra Virgin olive oil has a superior ability to form a moisture barrier and soften skin while keeping irritants at bay. However, what makes it unique is that, unlike some synthetic moisturizers, olive oil allows skin to breathe. It even has an advantage over many other natural oils: its chemical structure is small enough to allow it to penetrate pores more deeply to hold in moisture without clogging.  Olive oil and your skin both consist of squalane, an ingredient that helps feed cells oxygen and reveals fresh skin more quickly.  More recently, research has focused on extra virgin olive oil's powerful vitamins and antioxidants. Research suggests that with their ability to neutralize damaging free radicals, the antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil fight against the appearance of aging.

:)

Posted 3/26/2008 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
canada is too clean and the cold kills all the bacteria in the enviroment . IBS is associated with excessive cleaniness , your immune system somehow attacks harmelss food articles when it has nothing to do . I agree colitis can start with a bacterial infection throwing your immune system into haywire.
Posted 3/26/2008 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
I read somewhere that Canada has the highest incidence of IBD than any other nation. The cold may kill the bacteria, but the snow creates a lot of mould during the melting season (Feb-Apr). Condensation from the cold allows mould to grow inside the home too, creating a very unhealthy environment.

Added a link:

http://ibdmanitoba.org/news.htm

Posted 3/26/2008 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Cold weather is bad . I am originally from India and after coming to the US developed bronchitis/allergies/asthma . I suffer from depression/schizophrenia too so it could be related to that . I highly recommend the book "virtual medicine " , the doctor there talks about a device called SCENAR($ costs 400) which forces the body to heal itself by intense neuro peptide productions.

There is a product called TRANSFER FACTOR PLUS , website www.4tf.com , it modulates the immune system , worth a shot? what do you guys think?
Posted 3/26/2008 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
You did read right
I am in Ontario Canada and we do have the or one of the highest % for UC

due to cold and the MOLD we also have one of the highest %'s of COPD asthma and Bronchitis
Mold is causing many probs within older and newer homes.MANY health problems
Babies are on Ventolin inhalers some at a few days old
It is unreal
Cold in Canada ..eh
LYN

** And right smack in the middle of the snow belt .......

Posted 3/26/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe that is why too we see so many from Michigan here. We get super cold winters too, not to mention we are right next to Canada. Top that off with the melting season and super hot summers. And here I thought it was in the water of the great lakes! :)
Posted 3/26/2008 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
i wonder if mold has something to do with inflamatory diseases like asthma and colitis . after moving into my new apartment(it is 70 yrs old) , my health is getting worse day by day...i am located in upstate NY
Posted 3/26/2008 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
India is a dirty country with molds , bacteria , dirty water , adulterated food(lead , mercury , etc) , milk made of urea...cancer rates are sky high in India but allergy diseases are still low in spite of heavy pollution . IBD are also not common . hot weather and un hygenic conditions making the immune system strong?
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