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I want a spinach salad so badly...

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/3/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Dare I eat one?   I was flaring pretty much since last December until I started Rowasa enemas--been doing those now for a few months, trying to taper to a couple of times per week.  Formed bms, no blood or mucus, no urgency.

I haven't eaten a raw vegetable since April of 2011.   I had an attack of diverticulitis, hence the diet change, and then learned that raw veggies can aggravate UC.  Imagine that, I'd had UC for 6 years at that point, always eaten a TON of raw veggies, and never knew that it might not be wise.  My stool for the most part over that 6 years was never formed, but I didn't have blood so I thought this was no biggie.

So, I guess my question is, should I try a teeny tiny bit of raw spinach?   Lettuce?  Cucumbers (minus the seeds and skin)?   I miss salads so badly.  I just wonder if this will jeopardize my current remission, assuming that is what this is?

Chinamom

Posted 1/3/2013 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
i'm a bit of an anomaly in the uc world - i've never had issues with salads - or any raw veggies -

i mostly use leaf lettuce in my salads - spinich sometimes - i've heard iceberg can be a bit gaggy ! oops meant to say gassy, but gaggy works too :-)

i don't think one salad will do permanent damage - but then again, it's not my butt -

Posted 1/3/2013 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Try cooking it maybe?
Posted 1/3/2013 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
When I eat cooked spinach I see it undigested in the toilet but I don't see lettuce salad. I think that means I'm digesting the lettuce.

If I were you if try a little bit.
Posted 1/3/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
i think you should try a side salad amount, not a dinner salad amount. if it gives you problems, at least you only had a small amount instead of a bunch of servings.
Posted 1/3/2013 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
I would say go for it. I've never had problems with greens. And lucky for you that you crave veggies instead of sweets.

If you can't tolerate, try in different forms. I know that I don't always a substantial amount of veggies when I'm working, so I buy Lakewood Organic juices: www.amazon.com/Lakewood-Organic-Veggie-32-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B0000ZSHB4 You can find so many varieties of these in regular supermarkets for like $4 bucks. This is a 6 pack? Don't be fooled by that $29 dollar price tag.
Posted 1/3/2013 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I can each raw spinach in small doses, but NEVER iceberg lettuce, it is like poison and shoots through!
Just make sure it's really clean spinach, not from a restaurant but washed yourself, is my advice.
Posted 1/3/2013 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in soystud's camp ... raw veggies never bothered my UC. However, I don't see why you can't start off small and work your way up, depending on how it all goes.

BTW, I stopped eating iceberg lettuce years ago after discovering it really has no nutritional value. i learned to like other types of lettuce and greens and now prefer it. I even put raw spinach on sandwiches and burgers.
Posted 1/3/2013 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
if you want it - try it once and see how it goes. Just because some people cant eat raw veggies doesnt mean everyone shouldnt.
Posted 1/3/2013 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
you inspired me to have one. i haven't had greens since early november. i ended up making a paleo caesar salad (egg free). i used some organic spinach and it was pretty good. need to try it with romaine so i can be traditional.
Posted 1/3/2013 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds yum!  I've actually decided to hold off for a few days; my colon feels grumbly today and I'm not sure if tapering back to an enema every 3rd day is wise just yet.  So I may go back to every other day and then try a teeny tiny spinach salad......You all have inspired me to be brave though, when I'm sure things are still settled down in there.

Chinamom

Posted 1/4/2013 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Lol I have been craving it all week as well, but have been to scared while in flareup. I think I will go for it!
Posted 1/4/2013 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Go for it. You already know the worse that can happen and how to treat it.
Posted 1/4/2013 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
I found that I can eat Romaine lettuce while in a flare and it doesn't bother me much, nor does raw spinach. Iceburg kills me though. Sometimes I would mix Romaine in with the raw spinach and serve with salad dressing - no other veggies. The Romaine and spinach are pretty easily digestible, unlike if you add other roughage, so I find it helps both my Uc and diverticular disease at the same time.

The only thing I would say to avoid 100% with absolutely no cheating, in your case, is of course seeds and nuts - I have to avoid the same thing.
Posted 1/4/2013 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry, I've been almost obsessive about avoiding nuts and seeds!  So many things I miss.  I've also avoided raw veggies and greens, more for the diverticulitis than UC, but I've found that I'm really missing the greens.  I now cannot eat a lot of certain things, even cooked, like broccoli.  It still amazes me that to keep my colon happy, I have to eat LESS of the healthy foods that I so loved before. 

Chinamom

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