Diet Issues

I just think of the pain it'll cause me which makes me stay away from those nasty foods.

I have a dark chocolate addiction so I can relate.
I also cheat occasionally with gluten. Lactose is not hard because I really like almond and coconut milk.
Use stevia instead of sugar or substitutes in my tea/coffee.

When I feel like I've over-indulged, I mix up some slippery elm and drink it down.

Popcorn is not my friend which is unfortunate. It's a good low cal snack. I'm not sure that slippery elm could compensate.

Why don't you try allowing yourself self to have 1 "treat" a day in a reasonable amount. If something is forbidden, it becomes so much more attractive.

I remember when I quit smoking.
I let myself have a cigarette every so often until I noticed that I no longer could stand the taste.

I remember when I first started giving up gluten, I ate fruit snacks like they were going out of style. They contained sugar but got me off the gluten. Then I tapered off the fruit snacks.

Dark chocolate is another matter.

I'm giving up my big tumbler of Johnnie Walker Black each night because my flare up isn't getting any better with the Prednisone and the topicals. I've always drank thru flare-ups and subsequent remissions in the past, but since this time I'm not getting results from the same meds, I gotta change it up. I've never changed my diet to heal myself in the past, so if there's something big I'm missing (or should miss) in my diet, please let me know.

Yes diet can effect your symptoms but you need to find what diet is good for you - no one on a forum can tell you.

A good rule for life is "eat REAL food", unfortunately, it doesn't mean it works with colitis.

Madcat25: Some people cannot tolerate fruits or veggies.

Start keeping a food journal. Whatever gives you problems, get rid of it. It's hard to do, but it's important to your health.

It's true...diet is so tough because what can be eaten by one person can't be eaten by another. For me, my trigger foods are spinach (in any form), beverages high in caffeine (like coffee and Mountain Dew), Kielbasa (because it's so fatty), and now corn. I love spinach and corn, but I made myself remember how poorly I felt after eating them, which definitely helps me stay away from them. I don't really miss Kielbasa or Mountain Dew, so giving those up were not a problem.

I think what really helps me is the fact that my first flare was so bad. I was hospitalized for three weeks, and they were very close to taking my entire colon then. In fact, my inflammation was so bad that the doctors were debating whether or not to diagnose me with UC or Crohn's. After coming home and recovering, I decided that I didn't want to have a flare that bad again, and if I needed to make sacrifices in my diet, then I was willing to do so.

Anyway, that was my motivation. :) It's tough to know that your diet is unrestricted when on Prednisone, but then not so much when you're finally weaned. I think you're definitely headed in the right direction as far as trying different things and seeing what works for you!

Hey Minners,

In regards to SCD - I have a couple of things that might help you:

1) It's darn tough... probably the hardest thing you'll ever do if you just jump into it and remain 100% strict. Seriously, lot's of people will tell you this. Specially the first 1-2 weeks.

That being said it forever changed my outlook not only on food itself, but how bad my "food choices" actually where".

2) As far as cookbooks go - I had serious trouble with SCD (stuff tastes like crap) till I found these two:

http://www.amazon.ca/Grain-free-Gourmet-Delicious-Recipes-Healthy/dp/1552856682
http://www.amazon.ca/Everyday-Grain-Free-Gourmet-Breakfast-Dinner/dp/1552859185

Get both if you can afford them. Life on SCD becomes awesome after this and easy to stick to. I actually have many relatives (non UC or Crohns people) that borrow them to cook things for themselves because the stuff tastes so darn good! In fact one was borrowed just yesterday again for the English French Salad Dressing. It;s a new staple everywhere I go... its pretty funny actually. This is becoming an issue though - I've had to tell them to go buy their own darn copies of the books! I wish I knew about these from when I started 8 years ago though.

Almond flour is a common ingredient - it's the substitute for wheat etc as I'm sure you're aware by now.

Here is a link from the same person that wrote the cookbooks: http://www.jkgourmet.com/

Go to her site... Jodi's pre-mixes are a life saver, along with her Granola which is out of this world! Here's the thing with almond flour - I've tried many over the years, but the kind I used to get at Whole Foods etc was very ummmm chunky or gritty I guess is the way to say it. Her almond flour is extra super fine ground lol... seriously though. When making waffles, crepes and/or muffins the taste and texture is insanely good when compared to the health food store stuff. It'll make it a gazillion times easier to stick to if things taste good. If you can afford it get this as well. I order it in 10lb bags. So you'll need some freezer room!

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have - i.e. what are some good things to cook and stick in the freezer to start out with - or about the intro diet and all that. I'll update my contact info on here so you can just send me an email.

I found all the Paleo Cook Books have some pretty good stuff in them as well. So now that these are out things are easier for those starting out. It's not hard to adjust those foods to be 100% SCD legal as well if that becomes you're intention now or in the future.

As far as thirst or the craving for electrolytes and hydration mentioned below this makes a lot of sense. I always have carb/sugar cravings as well when coming down off, and during Prednisone. I found coconut water mixed with Welches Grape Juice or Tropicana Pure Premium Original (Both SCD Legal) to be a go to for thirst quenching/carb craving moments. Sugar free - or refined sugar free more correctly Gatorade is what it becomes basically when mixed. Lot's of electrolytes, plus some healthy vitamins. No bad stuff.

I never thought about it till now either but when a craving hits downing one of these get's rid of the carb/sugar craving really fast. I've done this for some time now without realizing it! In fact I just did this about half way though this post - This darn Prednisone... I tell ya! haha. It's killer.

Anyway - Any other questions i.e. about making yogurt or what kitchen appliances you'll need etc just ask or email away...

PS - Follow the waffles, crepes, and maple syrup (honey, water and vanilla extract) recipes in these and make a ton and freeze them. Breakfast and lunch becomes a quick easy meal after this.

All the best! And I hope the above helps somewhat.

Mark

Canada Mark
Thanks for the book recommendations.
I found both available through my library system and was able to request them. Will give me a chance to review before buying.

CanadaMark,

Thanks for the tips. I've been slowly trying to incorporate more SCD type meals into our routine. I can also get the books from my library. I did check out the website you listed and tried making the pizza today. It turned out good, all three of my kids liked it. Thankfully, my husband will eat just about anything, it is the kids who are critics. I have been paying $12 per lb. for almond flour at my local health food store. It is good, very finely ground but too expensive. Will be ordering some from the site you listed. Thanks!!!

Minners said...
I've really been struggling with diet the last few weeks.. The harder I try to be good, the more I binge! I love food and have always eaten loads and big portions etc and never put on weight - I'm quite slim. The past few weeks I've eaten so much I shouldn't - take away, popcorn, onion, chocolate, crisps, sweets etc etc! I just end up feeling crappy and bloated and it must be doing harm to the inflammation! I'm convinced I have a food addiction Ha.. ive read food addictions are a sign of inflammation! I'm planning on going cold turkey off all bad foods tomorrow! Anybody else struggle with heir diet or find certain foods aggravate their symptoms?

As members of a group with a less than an ideal functioning colon it would seem reasonable to assume that our ability to gather all of the nutrients from the food we eat is compromised. When we are flaring it is further compromised in which case the body craves even more food in an attempt to get all of the necessary nutrients to survive. Every time I have flared I became voraciously hungry and it only subsided once the flare was well under control.

I ran into the following series of articles yesterday by the author of Perfect Health Diet that I found very interesting. The third in the series discusses supplementation.

Bowel Disorders, Part I: about Gut Disease

I have been mostly following the diet since about last September after checking the book out of the library. I got his most recent book as a Christmas present. I just started some of his recommended supplements this past week and this week is the first week where I have all of his recommended supplements available.

Yep, when I eat sweets like cakes, cookies, candy, etc. it makes my symptoms flare up almost immediately. If I eat a cookie or candy bar, my symptoms will show up in just an hour or so sometimes. It's weird. I find I do better when I don't allow any junk food in my house. When it's not at my house, I won't be tempted to eat it. Since I've been vegan, it's easier to avoid junk at work because all the treats co-workers bring in aren't vegan. However, I just got some really good vegan cookbooks that have amazing dessert recipes in them and I love to bake so that isn't helping!

Like someone else said, I would also suggest adding in as many fruits and veggies as you can. Especially the fruits will help you get over any cravings for sweets. The more fruits and veggies, the better!