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Still in Remission from Spinach/Sunflower Seeds 3 Years Later

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/17/2012 4:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Everyone!

It's been a long time since I've been in this forum and I just wanted to let everyone know that three years later I'm still in remission from the spinach and sunflower seeds.  I know this topic gets buried under all the new posts, so I just wanted to bring it up again for any newcomers that are struggling and want to try a natural approach that really works. 

I often think about what my life would be like if I had never done this diet.  Would I even have my colon any more?  I honestly don't think so.  Things were so bad, and I'm so grateful to have found the information about these foods on HealingWell. 

If you haven't heard of the diet, please do a search on this site for "spinach and sunflower seeds."  You will find lots of old posts about it.  And I'd be glad to answer questions. 

Take care and be well,

Katie

Posted 10/17/2012 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome! Thanks for making people aware, although I must say it looks much less honest and trustworthy when you link to a web site making profits for selling recipes.
Posted 10/17/2012 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you're still doing well Katie, that's always news worthy of updating!
Posted 10/17/2012 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Isn't Spinach and sunflower seeds really high in fibre? DOes this mean you should only start when you are in remission?
Posted 10/17/2012 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to you both!

I forgot that website was in my signature, but I've never purchased anything from them and can't vouch for anything they sell. I just found their diet suggestions very helpful.
Posted 10/17/2012 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
onecolitis1 - They are a bit rough on your system, so initially I always used cooked spinach and Sunbutter sunflower seed spread.  They are both way easier to digest.  When I first started the diet, my symptoms got worse for about two weeks, but then it started to get better and better.  Over the course of three months, my symptoms slowly disappeared and I was able to get off all my medications.  You should NOT stop taking medications when you start the diet.  I stopped mine only after all the bleeding had stopped and I was going only a couple times a day.

By the way, I ate 1-2 cups of cooked spinach and a few tablespoons of Sunbutter every day.  It's a lot at first, but you won't always have to eat that much.  Now I eat these foods maybe once a week to stay healthy.

Posted 10/17/2012 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Kiss what did you like about this diet compared to scd and what is this sunflower and spinach thing?
Posted 10/17/2012 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing your success.

I found this confusing IBS Diet (www.helpforibs.com).

Quick scan of the site seemed to just be about tea, peppermint and fennel tea. Might I be missing something more important ?

Thanks
Posted 10/17/2012 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
ChrissySoul - I did the SCD diet before this one, and I found it extremely difficult to cook so much when I was so sick and weak.  But I did it and even made my own yogurt.  I had no improvement at all.

For this diet, I ate 1-2 cups of cooked spinach per day and several tablespoons of sunflower seed butter (Sunbutter) per day.  I initially felt worse for about two weeks, and then slowly started improving.  Three months later my symptoms were entirely gone and I was able to taper off my medication.  I also started tapering the amount of spinach and sunflower seed butter I ate, and now I only eat it about once a week.  Aside from that I ate pretty much what I wanted except for foods that I know caused me problems (fried food, alcohol, etc.) 

aguywithuc - Try going to page about diet - http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/

They give suggestions on what foods to avoid when you're really having trouble.  I didn't buy anything from that site and can't recommend anything.  I just found they're tips on what to eat helpful.   They're are also links at the top of the page that lists trigger foods and which fibers are best when you're flaring. 

 

Posted 10/17/2012 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so you basically ate sunflower seed butter and spinach only? I don't have many symptoms currently, my meds are working great but unsure what to eat now lol. So did you follow the foods listed on that site/do you?
Posted 10/17/2012 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I don't understand what health benefits you have from spinach and the sunflower seed butter. I know SCD starves out bad bacteria. Does your diet do the same or is it extremly anti-inflammatory? Can you combine it with SCD?
Posted 10/17/2012 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I think the getting worse part before getting better scares me :/
Posted 10/17/2012 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
"When I first started the diet, my symptoms got worse for about two weeks"

what made you continue ? logic would point to immediate abort mode - with only anecdotal evidence, what was your inspiration for moving ahead with it ?
Posted 10/17/2012 11:11 PM (GMT 0)

Kiss520 said...
ChrissySoul - I did the SCD diet before this one, and I found it extremely difficult to cook so much when I was so sick and weak. But I did it and even made my own yogurt. I had no improvement at all.
For this diet, I ate 1-2 cups of cooked spinach per day and several tablespoons of sunflower seed butter (Sunbutter) per day. I initially felt worse for about two weeks, and then slowly started improving. Three months later my symptoms were entirely gone and I was able to taper off my medication. I also started tapering the amount of spinach and sunflower seed butter I ate, and now I only eat it about once a week. Aside from that I ate pretty much what I wanted except for foods that I know caused me problems (fried food, alcohol, etc.)

aguywithuc - Try going to page about diet - http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/
They give suggestions on what foods to avoid when you're really having trouble. I didn't buy anything from that site and can't recommend anything. I just found they're tips on what to eat helpful. They're are also links at the top of the page that lists trigger foods and which fibers are best when you're flaring.

I read that one but it struck me as non-specific, i.e. do the right thing, eat the right foods not the wrong ones.. I guess its a teaser to buy the cookbook.
Posted 10/17/2012 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiss, nice to see you again. You were one of the first members to post a reply to me when I first joined this forum. Stuck in my mind, obviously!
Posted 10/17/2012 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
ChrissySoul - I ate other foods, too, but I avoided the trigger foods listed on that site.  I also followed their guidelines for choosing the right fibers.  Basically I ate soft vegetables, white rice, white pasta, white bread, skinless chicken and fish (not fried).  But you should just eat whatever foods give you the least trouble and then add the spinach and sunflower seed butter.

I no longer have to follow those rules so closely, but I still avoid the big trigger foods.

Andrina - The guy who figured out this spinach/sunflower seeds thing believes that it's the magnesium and beta carotene in these foods that do it.  I don't know that for sure and, honestly, I don't really care.  I just know they work.  But don't try to take supplements as a shortcut.  The guy tried that and it didn't work. :-(

You can combine this with SCD if you want to, but I didn't find it necessary.  Plus, SCD is sooo much work.

loneal & soystud - Believe me, getting worse really scared me.  I was just so desperate to avoid the big meds (Humira and Remicade) and the guy who told me about this diet had been as sick as I was.  He even tried going off the diet to make sure it really was the diet that was healing him... the symptoms came right back.  And I can tell you that when I go too long without eating these foods, I start to have trouble again and know it's time to eat more of these foods. 

 

Posted 10/17/2012 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
aguywithuc - Here's the list of trigger foods - http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/trigger2.asp

On this page, you have to give them you're email address and they'll send you a cheat sheet for what to eat - http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/cheatsheet.asp

Here's info on soluble fiber that I found very helpful - http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/fiber1.asp

I never bought a cookbook from them.  I just dug around on their site and stole as many tips as I could.  ;-)

Posted 10/17/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Serenity Now!  I totally remember you. :-)   Your screenname always cracked me up because I love that episode of Seinfeld.  I hope you've been well - it's great to hear from you!
Posted 10/17/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
i believe they were a factor in my remission quest 2 years ago. I had changed a few things all around the same time so not sure what tipped the bucket but it was a factor. Had read about it on here several times... thought definitely worth a try.
I've continued on with sunflower seeds through out a year and a half of remission but didn't keep up with the spinach as much. nothing to loose trying these foods.

Yes i know seeds can be hard for us UC'rs but I really like them - have always had great digestion (nothing in my food stays as is) and I make sure to chew very very well until it is just mush. (sorry if TMI)
Posted 10/17/2012 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Kiss sunflower seed spread is seeds wouldnt that irritate gut in a flare?
Posted 10/17/2012 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
ChrissySoul - The sunflower seed butter (Sunbutter) is very smooth - it's just like peanut butter but with a slightly different flavor.  Not seed-like at all.  Like I said, I got worse initially (for two weeks) but then slowly got better and better until the symptoms were gone (total three months).  Keep in mind I was extremely sick - if you're not, it might not take as long and maybe you won't feel worse at first.

Canadagal - Give it another try if you're having problems again or just to stay well if you already are.  By the way, another upside to eating the sunflower seed butter is that you get a more concentrated amount of seeds.  I eat the seeds now, because I don't need as much to feel well; but the Sunbutter gives you a big boost when you're flaring (and it doesn't scratch at your colon). 

Posted 10/18/2012 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Kiss another question, what about how there is gluten in white pasta? And did the potatoes etc ever give you d or discomfort? What do you think about how scd says we can't digest potatoes/starch and so it feeds bad bacteria? And did you eat just sunflower/ spinach and then add the other foods or do both at the same time?
Posted 10/18/2012 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
She went to the bar...had 10 beers, then got Mcdonalds....Big Mac....


then she went home and ate spinach and sunflower...all cured after.

see easy stuff.
Posted 10/18/2012 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
ChrissySoul - I incorporated the spinach and Sunbutter into my usual diet.  Check out the links that I posted earlier in this thread for aguywithuc.  I followed those guidelines for the most part, but ate the spinach and Sunbutter at the same time. 

If you have a gluten intolerance, then eating traditional breads and pastas wouldn't work for you.  I don't have an issue with gluten.  You should just eat the foods that bother you the least and also eat the spinach and Sunbutter at the same time.  I hope that helps.

Posted 10/18/2012 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Kiss- it does! Very much
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