Possible what we eat causes this disease

I have to wonder if we have reactions to all the processed food and contaniments they put on and in the foods we eat- that our systems have a reaction to this.  I do the best I can in buying organic (less additives) but it can be expensive.  It's amazing to me to see there are so many people out there with Ulcerative Colitis. 

I have been flaring for a while (months).  I was on Asacol for 4 years and then switched to Apriso.  That wasn't doing anything so I stopped taking it two weeks ago.  Right now the only think I'm doing is Canasa suppository once in a while.  I'm still flaring - will probably go back to taking the pills again.  But wondered if anyone has ever done a colon cleanse or tried a liquid diet for a month to see if that would help clear up the flaring?  I really hate the fact that I need to be on med's for the rest of my life.  I did some reading on Asacol and found that it can deplete bone density.........amazing that now I'm on a boniva pill once a month for my bone density.  I hate it when you are put on med's - then it starts other issues to your system.  Why can't we try more natural ways of helping our systems rather than pumping it up with drugs! 

 Has anyone been to a holistic doctor for Ulcerative Colitis?  I'm been thinking of going to one (doing my research to find a good one in my area).

I've tried eliminating many different food types searching for a cure but only removing wheat/gluten made a serious difference. I stopped bleeding within 2 days. After that I removed dairy and other grains and that made another big difference, less urgency and D. I tried this 5 years ago and it didn't take but this time it did. Guess I got serious this time.

Ulcerative colitis has been around for thousands of years, mentioned in Roman times. But there are so many ways foods are made and we don't always know what the real ingredients are.
When I keep grains, gluten and dairy out of my diet I am cured.

I am sure diet helps many people but I've never seen too much change in my condition by altering my diet. I wish I could say otherwise. I tend to eat mostly fresh, unprocessed foods, even organic when I can. I shop at stores that sell foods that do not use preservatives... I tried SCD diet and completely eliminated grain and sugars and I only got sicker because I was losing too much weight. However, I would give it a try again in the future if I felt inclined. I think everyone should try diet before resorting to drugs.

For those, especially doctors. who say diet doesn't affect us, have them sit down and drink a 6 pack of beer and see what result they get. Of course it does, in one way or another.

For me, I now believe my immune system became compromised (maybe from antibiotic use as a child, birth control pills, or mold exposure from my water damaged house) which over the years eventually resulted in a fungal overgrowth. The foods I was eating (grains, sugar, high carbs) continued to feed it. After deciding to *experiment* to see if fungus could be the underlying reason for my UC symptoms by severely restricting my carbs, allowing lots of choices of meat/fish/poultry, most veggies, few select fruits, (basically eating only whole, natural foods) ...tada!...I got well. I stopped taking my meds after my doctor told me at my last check-up (after I got well) I would probably need to be on meds (of some type) the rest of my life. That was 4 years ago. If it was up to him, I'd still be taking something. Don't stop taking your meds, however, without his knowledge. I am NOT advocating that.

Doctors don't provide an "exit strategy" so you often need to experiment on your own with diets and such. My doctors always told me just don't eat what seems to bother me, which I did. But the trial and error method of that didn't help me get well. The knowledge and realization of fungus being implicated in many of our diseases, including UC symptoms, did. I have said  here before, I am a  FUPO-head (fungus until proven otherwise).

I don't buy the food theory; too many infants diagnosed with UC and they, sometimes, haven't even been on food.  And don't blame their mother's!

Sue

I agree completely with Sue. I tend to think that it is the use of antibiotics, medicines, etc. It def has to do with your personal medical history and makeup as well. I am going for the surgery and ain't looking back. this god d*** disease has stripped too much from me over the past year and 1/2.

I think it's about the foods we are eating and also personal history. My mother had polyps removed and a portion of her colon also a Uncle with Crohns so it runs in the family. I do think that we are having issues with the antibiotics - we are becoming intolert to them because of all the antibiotics they are pumping into the animals that we eat.

All the doctors seem to say the same thing to everyone here - it has nothing to do with what we are eating. But if you find something that is bothering you - then certainly take it out of your diet. It's different for everyone what seems to trigger flares.

I did change my diet over a year ago now - and recently gave up wheat/gluten I was so bother by feeling so large in my middle area (told the doctor this many times - she never mentioned to see if I had a wheat intolerance) and since I did remove that - I don't feel like that now......I felt so full and puffy all the time. Even though I am still flaring I feel so much better eating the diet I'm on. Doctors don't get much training in nutrition so I'm not surprised they don't talk to you about your diet. My last physical I mentioned to my doctor I had changed my diet - and he never asked me what I was doing......it just seem to go right by him........so he could get on to his next patient since he was running behind. Needless to say I will be looking for another doctor to replace him.

I'm so glad I found this forum to know that I'm not alone with this (UC). I think it's important to be able to ask questions and read about other experiences others are having with this disease.

I wish they would do more research on UC to find a cure........it makes me feel so bad for those that are having surgery.

Thank you for your response - it will be interesting to see how this week goes - I think I will continue with the Canasa for the week and see if this will help with my flaring.

I have heard that soy and other ingredients formula can cause digestive problems with infants.

kim123 said...
For those, especially doctors. who say diet doesn't affect us, have them sit down and drink a 6 pack of beer and see what result they get. Of course it does, in one way or another.

Lol.

Gentle Now- I have the exact same issue! I try to eat lots of whole grains, veggies, fruits, yogurt and other healthy stuff, where the rest of my family eats white breads, lots of red meat, etc, yet I am the one with UC! My brother exists on a diet composed primarily of taylor ham, steak, mac n cheese, and cake batter yet has no medical issues except a cyst he had to have removed and some acne. On the other hand, I eat lots of veggies, soups, and fresh foods and have this stupid disease.

Also, imagardener-without formulas composed of soy, infants with milk allergies like my boyfriend would be dead.

I veiw this topic very much the same way as kim...

You can tolerate toxin's for so long...especially if you are predisposed genetically. My assessment of these nasty intestinal issues leads
me to buy into the theory - body's ability to fight or give in to the bacteria we feed it. No one can say that bacteria comes from the food we ingest
or the air we breath (well sure they do, but it's so hard to prove) however, we know both are FAR from perfect. Which also co-inside's with the obvious rise in the number of newly diagnosed intestinal diseases that seems to be on FIRE right now! The scariest part is that doctor's who treat the very area's that
are for breaking down what we ingest or breath don't even want to talk to us about diet & when they do it's the same old BLAND diet speech...BLAH-BLAH-BLAH! Unless your one of the lucky few that has a doctor that will entertain these things...GOOD FOR U :) Right now I am gluten -free & I never
buy anything with "steriods or antibiotic's or artificial what-ever's"...THAT I KNOW OF!! Again, if you can find the things that affect your particular case
and eliminating it helps you feel better...GO FOR IT! It kills me that my husband can literally ingest anything & NEVER has any problems but that is his genetic gift oh sorry, I meant genetic make-up!!

I also agree that it can take yrs for the garbage foods to show their damage, just as it can take time once you stop eating garbage foods for it to be completely out of your system...everyone's triggers more than likely vary and even if food isn't a trigger for some people that doesn't mean a person shouldn't eat as healthy as possible, especially with having a digestive disease. Afterall, it may be hard for a person to realize or put a connection to poor diet and their disease symptoms because it does take time before your body is rid of the toxins/bad effects from eating unhealthy.

That's why they say, "you are what you eat".


:)

My theory is that UC is a cluster of diseases with different causes. I can't figure out any other reason for us all to respond so differently! Why do probiotics help some people, food exclusions help some, etc..?
I don't think any of us are going to convince "the group" that there is one overall cause, because.... I think that someday some smart researchers will figure out that there is not one cause but many, therefore not one cure but many.