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Spinach and Sunflower Seeds, Part 5

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/17/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
 Maybe the low residue diet is causing your stools to be like water? Nothing to bulk up your stools. I think fiber is important in your diet. Try eating oatmeal in the mornings and see if that helps. I would do away with the low residue diet if your not bleeding any more. I never did the low residue diet and went into remission with completely solid and formed stools. To me it seems a low residue diet will make your stools like baby stools, runny.
Posted 12/17/2008 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
That's a good point. I did the low-res, because I was so inflammed. But now that its calmed down, maybe its time for more fiber.
Posted 12/17/2008 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Publix has it

SunnyFlorida said...
Look for the sunbutter in the peanut butter section of your local supermarket. Publix in Florida has it, but Wal-Mart in Florida does not. I have also looked for it in Winn Dixie with no luck.


Posted 12/17/2008 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
If you eat some protein i.e lean chicken etc it will help firm up your stool and still be low residue...watch fiber when coming out of a flair & stay away from insoluable fiber
Posted 12/17/2008 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing the spinach/nuts diet for several months.  I won't say I'm in remission but I've gradually improved dramatically.  I also can't say it's the only thing that contributed to my improvement (changing to Prima Reuteri and metamucil fiber wafers, using hydrocort enemas, 1/2 a lomotil to calm my colon, etc).  I know it could also be any one of those things, or it's finding the right combination. 

I strongly think that spinach is a super food that does contains nutrients that UC'ers must lose quickly.  I feel better, less shakey and tired, etc., and my last blood work showed definite improvement in the anemia markers.  Urges are infrequent and I usually have only two mostly formed stools a day, in the morning. 

Sunbutter is available in the organic section of our regular supermaket (King Soopers here).  I also eat cashews or other nuts now since I've improved.  Just chew them up well.

I do the breakfast spinach & egg with swiss cheese.  I'm not tired of it yet. 

Just thought you'd like to hear from someone this working for. 

   

Posted 12/17/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Though 3 weeks on the s+sf diet have not improved me at all, and I was even forced to give up completely on the sunbutter part of the diet, I am sticking with the eating a lot of spinach part. I agree that spinach does seem to be a super-food in terms of dense nutrients- not just Mg but a bunch of other goodies. My staple veggies are well cooked asparagus, green beans and zuchini but now, since starting the s+sfs diet, spinach has become my single biggest staple. Even though it has quite a bit of of magneisum, it does not cause me to flare the way that Mg supplements do. But like I say, even completely sugar and preservative free nutbutters- including sf seed butter- caused me to flare these past few weeks when trying this diet. Not the spinach, just the sunbutter. Perhaps there is some low threshold, like a tablespoon a day, that wouldn't flare me, but it is so delicious to me that I can't bear to limit myself to that little. Besides, I wouldn't be getting much of the nutrients that way, anyhow.
Posted 12/21/2008 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just a quick sunflower seed question - this may have been asked in parts 1-4 - what is anyone's experience in eating sf seeds during a flare? I am bleeding and flaring pretty decently and want to start to try the sf/spinach diet...unshelled seeds....I have been eating spinach without much luck yet and am a bit nervous to introduce seeds at this point....any advice?

Thanks!!!
Posted 12/22/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)

mbx5, if you're in a flare, I'd suggest trying sunbutter instead of the seeds first.  That's what I did.  Even the idea of the seeds when I was flaring felt painful.  Eventually I was able to have the seeds some days, but if I'm having a day that I'm having stomach cramps or going to the bathroom more than twice, I'll go back to the butter. 

I occasionally substitute cashews, but it's easy to eat too many and the fat content can be a problem... same as the seeds. 

 

 

Posted 12/22/2008 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I grind up the seeds in my tribest personal blender with the coffee grinder attachment. Then just add it into my regular smoothie I blend up.
Posted 12/22/2008 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely use Sunbutter at first - much easier on your system.  After being on the diet for a few months, I'm at a point where I can eat sunflower seeds without a problem (although the Sunbutter is so tasty that I eat that more than the seeds).

Posted 12/22/2008 4:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I have a question for Katie (Kiss520)...I have been on this diet for about a month, and I was doing so much better on it, and then began regressing (flaring) again. I remember that you mentioned a little while ago, that you were have having the same problem. I didn't really reduce the amount of spinach nor sunbutter that I ate, so I just don't know what I did wrong..Any suggestions, as far as diet goes? Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

Posted 12/22/2008 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Angievirsep93, I know you directed the question towards Katie but I am curious, I read that you were also eating carrots when you started this diet, did you reduce the amount of carrots that you were eating? I think the beta carotene in this diet is equally important as the magnesium and thats why I asked.
Posted 12/22/2008 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Angievirsep93,

I think I was getting sloppy with the rest of my diet - I was overeating occasionally (because I was excited to eat again), and I was not so careful with my trigger foods.  Both of those actions have caused me the most trouble when flaring, so they were stupid things to do while recovering.  Also, I may have IBS in addition to IBD.  My dad has IBS and he found success with Acidophilus; so I recently started taking one with each meal.  I also increased the amount of Sunbutter per Cfromutah's suggestion.  Now things are "firming up" and I'm feeling less gurgly and gassy in my gut.  I'm still not 100% better, but I feel so close to normal that my symtoms are almost imperceptible.

I hope that helps in some way.  And I would definitely follow any advice that Cfromutah has regarding any possible missing nutrients.  He knows what he's talking about.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.  I hope things improve soon for you.  :-)

 

Posted 12/22/2008 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
i have a hard time munching on carrots so after thinking about how much my little niece loves carrot juice i decided to give that a try. i buy the odwalla version and i must say that it is pretty darn tasty. it's a different kind of flavor so it may taste weird at first. the odwalla version is 100% carrots with nothing else added and it's got 400% RDA of beta carotene as well. give it a try! as far as my progress, i've been on this diet for about a month-and-a-half and i haven't had any blood for about 3 weeks. i've had firm bm's for the most part although every now and then i'll get the gurgle farts. i've been slacking a bit on the diet as of late since my mom is in town and gorging me with korean food but at least i know that the diet is/was working out well for me. at least i'd like to think it's the diet and not something else but i plan on decreasing the meds in another month or so and see how things go. thanks to cfromutah and everyone else and hope you all have a great holiday and new years! -- rich

Posted 12/22/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Cfromutah, Katie, & everyone :)

Cfromutah, you are absolutely right. I did start off eating boiled carrots with the spinach in the beginning, but then someone here said that it messed them up so I got scared and stopped eating them completely. Also, Katie, when you mentioned that you started eating some of your trigger foods, I remembered that I ate some raviolis with meatballs and like a tablespoon of tomato sauce about a week ago...However, is it possible that just that one meal could have thrown me off like that? I have not had any blood, just very loose stools and urgency. However, a low residue diet (with the exception of spinach and sunbutter) definitely helps. Perhaps I should start eating carrots again....

Posted 12/22/2008 6:29 PM (GMT 0)

For me, eating a trigger food sets me back in my progress.  And I know that meatballs are a big no-no for me, maybe for you too.  I don't know why, because beef isn't a problem; but meatballs give me terrible gas (my mom says it does the same to her - she doesn't even have UC).  I plan to try out some trigger foods at some point after I'm in TOTAL remission, but eating them while I'm healing does nothing but set me back. 

I'd try the boiled or steamed carrots again.  Don't worry about others who may have experienced problems with the diet.  Everyone responds differently to diets, so just go with what works for you.  Hope you see improvement soon!  :-) 

Posted 12/22/2008 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Okay... I've just read this post and since I have been on a gluten free diet... I think I may try this also. I have to go to grocery store anyways. So I'm going to give it a shot. It won't interfere with what I have been doing so. My question is I am already headin towards remission I think. Most days I am down to 2-3 soft runny BM's a day. ( was 10-15 D bathroom trips ) My biggest problem now is urgency and fear. Gut gurgles and gas pressure. So my first question for you all is do I eat a can a day still? or a can every other day? ANd how do I cook this stuff? Had it when I was younger and really didn't like it. but hey I'll let my taste buds suffer if it helps.
My other question is about sunflower seeds. I used to take them for gout attacks and they really helped... through a bad gout flare up that is all I would eat for a day. SUnflower seed, fresh cherries and lots of water and it cleaned up my gout normally next day. But for this diet.. How much sunflower seeds should I be tryin?
Posted 12/22/2008 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
How spinach is cooked can have a huge impact on taste.  I personally prefer frozen over canned.  Then follow package directions to cook, but dont stop there.  Once you've either microwaved it or stove-top cooked it according to package directions I also then saute it in a pan with salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic and a tiny bit of butter.  I believe that last step adds a lot of taste.  I could eat it nearly every day cooked that way.

As far as how much sunflower seeds -  I do a couple of handfuls a day. 

Interesting, about the carrots.  I also ate a lot of them when starting this diet and when I reached remission. 

Posted 12/22/2008 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Okay... how long did ya all say to I noticed results? Cuz I have to say, I just ate my first heated up can of spinach on this diet and wow. Didn't like it. I mean I can eat it but eww the taste. If it helps I will eat it believe me. Just an idea of a time frame till I know if its helping. raw carrots. and a handfull of sunflower seeds. Not sure if i have the quanties right so someone let me know? And If there are any better recipes for the spinach besides butter and salt? Because to me the taste was horrid.
Posted 12/22/2008 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing the spinach/sf diet for almost 3 weeks now.  I was going to wait to post till after a month...but I'm just really excited, because it seems to be working.  :)  I was diagnosed with colitis three years ago.  My most recent flare started in September...and was probably the worst flare I've experienced - mostly blood and mucus in every bm...urgency every time...no energy...etc.  I've tried supplements - turmeric pills, probiotics - without much success (although I do still take them).  I take asacol...and increased my dosage when my flare got progressively worse...and it did not help.  And I refuse to take steroids b/c they're so bad for your body.  So finding this sp/sf diet thread couldn't have come at a better time - it was either try this or go see my doctor about some new meds.  Well, I'm so glad I decided to try it.  I started to eat sunbutter for about a week actually, before I started the spinach.  I used KISS520's quesadilla recipe (thanks, Katie!) and it made the spinach very easy to incorporate into my diet.  I used frozen chopped spinach also (not canned)...and have used a different creamed soup with every batch just to change things up a bit.  And if I don't have time to make a quesadilla, I just microwave some of the mixture and eat it w/ crackers - still yummy.  :)  My UC symptoms improved within about two days - I was amazed.  I missed a couple days this past week, b/c out for the holidays, etc., but I still feel really good.  I don't even eat as much as I think Cfromutah recommends.  And I don't eat anything extra - like carrots.  I haven't really been eating my sunbutter as much either - only on the couple days I missed the spinach.  Otherwise, I've been trying to eat less fiber (low-residue instead) since I started.  I'm a healthy eater normally, so it was hard to cut down on fiber - but I do think too much fiber aggravates my flares.  I usually have 2 pretty firm bm in the morning and that's it.  My symptoms didn't even get worse before they got better (like some people have mentioned) - they've just gotten better.  I've even been lowering my asacol dosage (I know it's a bit premature, but I really hate taking meds).  Anyway, I just wanted to thank Colby.  I feel like a normal person again (almost) - more energy too.  I'm not sure why it works for some and not others - but I would recommend that everyone tries it and just try to listen to your body when making adjustments - everyone's body works differently.  I will keep you posted on my progress.  Thanks again!!!  :)  Happy Holidays!
Posted 12/22/2008 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you're enjoying the quesadillas, Luli! But more importantly, I'm glad to hear you're doing so well. :-)
Posted 12/23/2008 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Wow!

So I found this forum while doing some searching on the web (really I was looking for information on how UC might affect my ability to have children safely). I am suddenly very amused by this thread on the spinach diet. Why amused? Well apparently I have been self-medicating without knowing.

I am obsessed with Spinach and have been eating a ton of it for the past couple years. I eat the canned spinach (No salt added) in two different forms, one uses a whole can for the meal and once uses just a pinch. I never noticed the correlation (until now) that when I went a few months just having the smaller portion of spinach my symptoms did in fact worsen. Now I haven't had a full-out flair up in a while now, my only symptom is a very light amount of blood. I started having a full can a day just a couple days ago and am now hoping to see my mini-flair come to an end. :-)

My spinach meals:

1 can of spinach with a couple hand-fulls of mixed shredded cheese microwaved in a non-stick bowl for 2.5 minutes. Use some low-salt chips and eat like dip.

Or, spinach and cheese quesadillas. Real simple, two tortillas lightly buttered with cheese and spinache inside, cook on medium in a frying pan, flip sides to toast both and cut to serve. Easy and very yummy. :-)
Posted 12/23/2008 6:08 AM (GMT 0)

Uncle Bubba,

I noticed results within a few days. I went from 15 or more BM a day, down to about 8 a day within a few days. I've been on this s/sf diet for about 6 weeks and I have around 2 BM a day. I also went on a low residue diet that increased BM, fortunately someone at this site advised me to each more chicken along with the low residue diet and that took care of the problem.

Posted 12/23/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Fellow Spinach-Eaters!

I have some suggestions/recipes for eating spinach for those of you looking for an easy/tasty way to eat this stuff every day.  First, if you don't like the canned stuff, looked for the frozen chopped spinach that comes in a bag.  Its WAY easier to work with than the boxed kind that takes forever to thaw. 

Here are a few recipe suggestions.  I just made this today and it was simple, healthy and good:

Basic Soup

2 14 oz cans chicken stock

2 cups frozen chopped spinach (from the bag)

feta cheese crumbles, to taste

Bring the chicken stock to a boil.  Add the spinach and return the mixture to a boil.  Then lower the heat, cover the pot and simmer for five minutes.  Serve with a generous sprinkling of feta cheese crumbles.  I also like some toasted, buttered French bread to dip in the soup.  (Spinach and feta are a popular food combo in Greek cooking, and they're great together.) 

You can get creative with this soup and put in anything you like, such as these variations:

Tomatoes; garlic; sauteed onions; fresh cheese tortellini (Buitoni) - just boil them in the chicken stock for the time given in the package instructions; Parmesan cheese; plain pasta... you get the idea... anything you would want in a soup can be added.

Aside from soups, there are lots of simple ways to prepare spinach. 

Here's a recipe for creamed spinach that's really easy delicious:  http://www.francethisway.com/frenchrecipes/creamedspinachrecipe.php

This is a decadent holiday dish that I've made several times:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spinach-gratin-recipe/index.html

And a great Paula Deen soup recipe that I love:  http://www.smithfield.com/recipes/recipe/susans-caldo-soup

Also, my quesadilla recipe is on the first page of Part 4 of this topic.  I'll try to post more recipes as I think of them.  Good luck!

I wish all of you Happy & Healthy Holidays!!!  :-)

Posted 12/23/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Tried the spinach with a little vinegar today... was a little better. still not a fan of the taste but I'm definately going to keep giving this a chance. You all have me convinced to at least try this will all your good results.
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