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Still in Remission from Spinach/Sunflower Seeds 3 Years Later

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Posted 10/30/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Onecure,

Thank you for the shot in the arm! It looks like you are also on the mend. Hope this is THE one for everyone who can do the diet.
I started with very mild symptoms, but I intend to continue for the minimal 2 weeks. I am trying to LOSE weight, I never had the typical loss, and wonder about this additional 400 extra daily calories. Better get my butt away from the computer then.
I will continue update.
Take care.
Posted 10/30/2012 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am so glad to hear you are still doing well, kiss520.

Funny, I was thinking about you just a few days ago as I don't come on this forum too much since I've been eating salad daily with spinach in it.

I can't believe what a difference this diet has made. I'm jogging and biking now, it is just wonderful!
Posted 10/30/2012 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Is anyone having nausea with the sunflower butter? This is only day 2, and day 2 of being super sick to my stomach.
Posted 10/30/2012 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
onecure - I'm so thrilled to hear about your success.  That's wonderful news!!

lemonhead - If you're having trouble with the taste of cooked spinach, try the spinach quesadilla recipe I posted earlier in this thread.  You'll get a higher quantity of spinach if you eat it cooked.  Plus, raw spinach is really tough on your system if you're flaring.  Regarding the Sunbutter, it's going to be rough-going at first.  I know it sucks, but try to stick it out if you can.

love4cats - It sounds like you're enjoying life again, and I'm glad you stopped by to say hello.  I don't come here often either, but I feel like I have to come back once in a while to share this information.  Thanks for letting people know that it's working for you. :-)

itsalive! - Sorry to hear you're going through the rough part.  I hope everyone's success stories will keep you motivated.  Let us know how you're doing.

Posted 10/30/2012 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
What do you mean "rough going"? I was wondering if I have a sensitivity to the sunflower seed butter? I feel like crap after I eat it. Really nauseaus, feel like I am going to throw up. Are you telling me this is normal??? And how long can I expect it to last?
Posted 10/31/2012 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
lemonhead - I'm not sure how much of the thread you've read, but a lot of people who start the diet during a flare get worse before they get better.  I got worse for about two weeks - after that I started seeing improvement.  These foods can make you feel crampy and make you go to the bathroom more.  I definitely did not feel well during the first couple weeks.  My theory is that the texture of the foods is not ideal for a flare, but whatever is in these foods ultimately will make you well. 

If you think you may have a food allergy, maybe you can google the symptoms for a food allergy and see if it matches up to what you're experiencing.  Most likely, though, you're just going through the initial "get worse before you get better" stage.

Posted 10/31/2012 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
I am not in a flare. I am not having cramps or more visitis to the restroom. I am having gas, bloating, and nausea.....all symptoms of food sensitivity. I am going to skip the sunbutter today and see what happens.
Posted 10/31/2012 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Some people with UC may have problems with NO Nitric Oxide, spinach is loaded with nitrate,NO precurser,sunflower seeds high in arginine another NO precurser.
Old Mike
Posted 10/31/2012 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Arginine is in many pre-workout drinks/powders. It totally wrecks me.

However Arginine-Ethyl-Ester is absorbed without digestion and never bothers my GI tract. I have some at the office and at home.

It boost NO which is great for workouts with weights but also if I feel I am having some hypertension it makes it go away.
Posted 10/31/2012 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Each day I've tried sunflower seed butter, a tablespoon on Monday and today Weds. I have pooped my pants. I don't know if its at all related, but I just find it weird!
Posted 11/1/2012 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Tried spinach for the last two days and it makes me go more. I remember trying this diet when it first came out and it made me much worse. Like OM said with the NO precursor when I tried Arginine-Ethyl-Ester like aguy uses it made me worse then as well. The only food I have noticed that helps me from day one is vinegar based cole slaw (that sits for at least 12 hours) and BBQ pork.
Posted 11/2/2012 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
For me #1 is Psyllium Seed Powder, then I would say low sugar diet, then sunflower seeds, then salmon.

Getting off pred is aided by mebeverine and licorice extract.
Posted 11/2/2012 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Ta Da!     

I am now in the getting better phase, day 8. I'm down to my last couple of tbls Trader Joe's sunflower seed butter. Not sure how much frozen spinach I gagged down.

Of course it does go down better mixed with something. I mixed the spinach with ragu or mac and cheese.

The getting worse part was not bad. Blood and industrial strength gas, then white streaks were the worst of it for me. 2 bms daily. Can't let that kinda crap bother you, ya know?

When I started this I was off my 3tabs Lialda for 2 months until I started having the old symptoms. We had to sleep with the windows open, and it is cold here in Arlington Hts.

Thanks again for posting this Kiss, and the original poster where ever you are!

Posted 11/2/2012 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Ok What I can find out. Spinach contains lots of nitrate,sunbutter arginine both NO
precursers. NO is up in the air whether it is good or bad for UC.
Spinach also contains lots of oxalic acid, and some phytic acid which are both iron chelators,so might be depriving iron bacteria of iron.
In addition lots of phytonutrients,and chlorophyll which might also help.
Also all the fiber may feed good bacteria.
Of course you can get kidney stones from excess oxalic acid.
I would be shocked if magnesium had anything to do with spinach remission.
Old Mike
Posted 11/2/2012 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
therearemiracles - Love your screen name, and I hope you feel better soon.  Sorry you're off to a rocky start. :-(

danthaman - Unfortunatley you'd have to give it more than a couple days to see improvement.  You can definitely expect to get worse before getting better.  Most people do.

itsalive! - I'm so happy to hear you're past the worst of it and are starting to feel better.  Isn't it great?!  And I can't believe you're in AH.  We are really close - I'm in BG.  Ha!  Small world! 

Posted 11/2/2012 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Spinach goes through me like greased lightning -be careful people!
Posted 11/5/2012 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Can you say Hurricane! Then add the flu and no power at my home for 6 days! But here I am...

Update:

Needless to say I am alive and we are well here with no home damage and restored power. I did fall off my diet of course for 5days but as of today am back on it fully. I developed the flu last thursday night wich really hit me hard but didn't seem to effect my UC with the exception for constipation. Yes constipation! I haven't had constipation in a very very long time. It was not really bad constipation but my stool was very hard and slow to move. I have been taking one canasa every 3rd night which seems to be keeping any blood at bay. I noticed the mild constipation not loing after I took alka seltzer plus cold and flu medicine. I am not sure if this has anything to do with it but it is then only thing I have had different in a while. I am still feeling weak and of course lost more weight (ugh) but slowly getting better today being the first after 4 days of feeling really weak and bed ridden. Today would of been my 18th day but can say that minus the 5 days of no spinach and sunflower seed butter that I am still feeling great UC wise. My appetite was nil while I had the flu but suprisingly enough that after taking the cold and flu medice I would have a appetite then would eat a little. I ate alot of oranges and peaches and chicken broth. Last night I had 3 slices of pizza with eggplant on it!

I will post again as I feel better from this really bad flu I got. I hope everyone is doing well.

Steve 

Posted 11/6/2012 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Steve. Glad you are safe.

Ok guys. This is a seriously long thread & I've done my best to keep up. But I'm wondering if someone would be kind enough to give me the Coles notes version on how to start.

Just eat 1-2 cups of cooked spinach & 3-4 tbsp sun butter along with regular food and Meds. Is this right? I'm not a fan of spinach & hope it won't make things worse. But I'll try it. I think. I hate spinach.
Posted 11/6/2012 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
rbartolo - You've got the amounts right.  If you don't like spinach all that much, try the spinach quesadilla recipe I posted on this thread.  It's a very tasty way to get a lot of spinach.  If you're not crazy about that recipe, look for others on the web that use a significant amount of cooked spinach - you'll get more of it if you eat it cooked. 

You may get worse.  If you're in a flare, it's very likely.  But if you're totally fed up with meds and side effects and doctors and throwing away your money at UC, use all that motivation to get through the worst part.  One day you'll barely have to eat this stuff to stay in remission. 

Steve - Sorry to hear you've been battling the flu AND the hurricane.  Hope you're feeling better soon.  Take care! 

Posted 11/6/2012 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kiss520. I will give this a try. And thank you also for your continued dedication to this thread. You've gone above and beyond in your response to specific people. You're awesome!
Posted 11/6/2012 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, that's really sweet of you to say. :-)   I just hope a lot of people see this and try it.  If it weren't for someone doing what I'm doing now, I can't imagine how sick I would still be.  It's not fair to have this information and keep it to myself.  Good luck and let us know how you do! 
Posted 11/6/2012 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Update: Day 19

What a difference a day and a good nights sleep can make. I feel really good today with the exception for the sniffles and had a absolutly perfect bowel movement this am. I had not taken any cold and flu medicine yesterday  and noticed that my movement was less constipated as to prior days when taking it. I am going to push my canasa suppostiories off to once every 4 days tommorrow night being the next. I really think I am on the road to full recovery as long as I stay on track with diet etc..Once again I have not taken asacol for months and have also weaned off of canasa. I just dont want to go off it completely even though my doc said use it on an as needed basis. I guess if I dont see blood then dont use it? I dont want to wait to see it then use it if you know what I mean. But then again at the time he told me that I was on the asacol which he does not know that I dont take anymore..I didn't go to my last GP appointment but will make a new one when I get back from Florida at the end of november. I just want to be able to walk in there and tell him I haven't taken asacol for months and that I have been barely on canasa. I cant wait to see what he says. I wont dare tell him I ate spinach and sunflower seed butter. He would really think I was a quack. I almost think he is one for not thinking outside of the box not even one tiny bit. It is like he is programmed. oh well.

Side note. I haven't taken any multivitamins or probiotic in at least 7 days although I think I will finish the bottle of probiotic I have but will not get anymore. I always felt that getting vitamins in food was the best anyways. I know the spinach and the extra juicing I been doing is giving me the real deal in the vitamin catagory.. I still attribute all my accomplishements to the spinach and sunflower seed butter.

Steve

Post Edited (twiggs) : 11/6/2012 7:51:16 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/6/2012 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
That's awesome, Steve!  And the sign of a truly doctor is one who won't scoff at the diet.  I was hesistant to tell my doc, but he didn't patronize me and simply said that some people are able to find their own way.  He did jot it down, and I've always wondered if he did any research with the information I gave him.  I kind of doubt it - doctors aren't likely to prescribe natural diets.  Can't make any money that way!
Posted 11/6/2012 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Kiss520 You are awesome and thanks for your dedication in responding to threads. I wanted to ask you, since you have been in remission, how much spinach and sunbutter do you take in a day/week.

Also, personally I find the organic/natural sunbutter brand better than Trader Joe's. Seems like sunbutter is more roasted. Have you tried any other brands?

Thanks
Posted 11/6/2012 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
onecure - Thanks so much, I'm glad to help.  :-)  I probably eat these foods once every 1-2 weeks.   I'm not perfect about it, and sometimes if I wait too long I may have some issues; but then I'll eat these foods a bit more often and get myself back on track.  The one things that knocks me off course is alcohol.  If I have it only once every few days, it's not an issue.  But if I have it a few days in a row, I start to have D again.  Never blood, just D.

The only sunflower seeds butters I've tried are Sunbutter (Creamy) and Trader Joe's brand.  Personally, I prefer the taste of Sunbutter.

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