Need dessert, but what's better for us.

Judy2 said...
To me the bizarre feature of this forum is the idea that, if you deny yourself enough, your UC will miraculously go away. If this is the case for you, you're very lucky. In my case, what I eat has never made any difference in my UC.

Anything in excess is going to be bad for you. If you don't eat sugars, your body will create them from the complex carbs in your diet. Or break down muscle tissue to make them. If you eat too many, you can develop a host of problems.

But good luck with the magical thinking. I hope it works for all of you, because this condition is a b*tch.

My magical thinking has me pooping normally, walking 7-10 miles a week, eating everything *in moderation* (moderation isnt referring to yourself as addicted to something) but wheat which is just a very unsmart idea for anyone with gut issues due to its effects on zonulin and the tight junctions of your gut. And doing all the things I wanted to do all those years I acted like I was a victim to a disease. All this with no liver destroying meds. Imagine that.

Ill take it. In the words of Macklemore, this is effing awesome.

So true, NCOT.

Sue

Diet is only part of the puzzle, but it's alot more important that it is made out to be by some here. I find it very interesting that most of the people who say it isnt important.. if you search their posts or pay attention you will see that their diets are really uncontrolled or they are actually pretty sick.

Ive never had symptom free remission in 30 years so this sure as heck isnt spontaneous. Yeah, I have experienced times where things didnt leave me house bound and anxious. Some people call that remission on this forum. Some people call remission just D and manageable stomach upset. Some people even on this forum call remission just a little blood.. none of that is remission to me. Remission is normal stool, no pain, no d, no urgency, no blood.

Minimize all you want. I consider the sources here and suggest as I always do on these forums, before you take people's advice too much to heart (including mine) when it comes to something like.. oh just a little x cant hurt or , NO FOOD MATTERS, eat what you want, you are victim to disease out of your control... learn their backstory if possible and dig deeper. And at the end of the day.. think about what we know about healthy living.. Its pretty much the same as it's been since time began.. Eat a healthy diet consisting of few processed things ( and non inflammatory things, when you know INFLAMED ALL THROUGH YOUR COLON) and refined things like sugar.. move your body.. detox your body..

I dont have it all figured out. But I do know that sugar is no good for people who have ulcerated intestines. If you consider that depriving yourself of the good things in life then you know what? I say, value your life more then food. Your stomach is more then a waste basket or a gratification system.

To the original poster.. and then Im out..

Keep watching your diet. Your desire to do so is not a mirage.. its a part of the journey back to health. Best of luck to you on your travels. You can heal well. Our bodies only attack self when self is unbalanced.

Post Edited (PathogenKiller) : 8/12/2013 10:41:31 AM (GMT-6)

Well I have to chime in only cause I love to bake and my friends, family and coworkers all love it when I do as well! And I just made some Orange Creamsicle cupcakes yesterday that were pretty darn tasty, if I may say so myself.  Last week I made 2 different types of bars. Next week, Rolo cupcakes (caramel filled cupcakes). 

I eat dessert every week. Not everyday, mind you, but at least once a week I'll indulge on whatever dessert I want.  The rest of the days I find something sweet to snack on at night, something not so high in calories. I did this even while I was in a flare and I'm back in remission now. Oh, and I don't have depression at all. 

If I couldn't eat sugar, well, I'm pretty sure I would have depression! :)  I guess I get it from my dad, he loved the sugary sweets.  He always loved when I brought my baked goods home too! Go figure :)

There's a BIG DIFFERENCE, though, between high doses of sugar and a bit of something sweet, even if it is every day. I really enjoy having a sweet treat every now and then and I don't see much of anything wrong with it, since it's in moderation!

@PK - You still haven't explained why strict diets hasn't worked for loads of people who've tried them.

My brother is in genuine remission nearly all the time without having to live like a monk to sustain it, ie he drinks wine, has the occasional dessert, etc. To me, that's the most desirable type of remission. I'd rather be on meds than the SCD to sustain remission in all honesty, because I like to have a cold beer on a hot day or the occasional meal out with a dessert at the end of it.

Bet I live as long as somebody who follows the SCD all their life as well, because I'm not morbidly obese and now that my colon is gone I have no other health issues to complicate things.

PS: I did try a few diets and not one of them made the slightest difference.

If there's one thing I've noticed about UC and this forum it is that something different works in everyone. It would just oh be such a simple world if we elimated sugar, gluten, dairy, meat, and processed foods and our UC would just magically go into remission. I am totally glad for those where that works but the average UC'r will see little or no difference. Many have tried with no success. That doesn't mean that patients shouldn't try it but those that preach on these things with the attitude that it will help everyone are just blind to the real facts. UC IS a bizzaro world where one can eliminate meats and go into remission while another one can go paleo and go into remission. For gosh sakes, smoking is good for UC'rs! There is no rhyme or reason to any of it. If there was we would all be cured now.

"You can heal well. Our bodies only attack self when self is unbalanced"

No..nononononon...you HAS to prove it's unbalanced. Maybe there's a bacteria strain that we are now susceptible to for some reason. Or there's an infection still undetected. The cause itself is unknown.

So diets, and other stuff is just speculation. You HAS to prove it beyond resonable doubt to stand in a court of law. You can't go ...guys guys, it's dem gluten thingies....they will ask: ORLY ? where is proof.

You'll say: Well, I don't have proof but I feel better.

They: roll eyes.

Even, EVEN is there is some truth to what you say, still we need concrete proof and has to be approved by the clinical world that it's indeed what is happenning.

True story.

Raw cocoa beans do have sugar in them.

Double Stuff Oreos anyone? Haha

To the OP: good for you trying to help your wounded colon by being kind to it.

I LOVE chocolate and all desserts but "good" chocolate is greatly disliked by my colon. Cheap chocolate is better tolerated, the kind that cheap chocolate bars use as coating like Reeses's cups, etc. My husband eats the good dark chocolate for health and every time I sneak a piece there is blood in the toilet. Cranky gut, all I can say. Wish it wasn't so but for me it is.

I'm with PK. Too much refined sugar causes a multitude of medical issues, costs billions in healthcare. Do you see all the fat kids around you? Honey BooBoo on TV? I truly believe our genes are being changed by our diets and we might be evolving into different forms of Homo sapiens (that will take a few 10,000 years so don't hold your breath).

Dessert ideas: don't buy anything more than one dessert at a time or bake a cake, too much temptation to eat too much. A spoonful of honey on top of rice pudding with a couple crushed walnuts is my current fave. Or a single scoop of vanilla ice cream if things are going well (I keep milk products low in my diet).

Every now and then I have a candy bar with no ill effects, girls gotta live. Refined sugar is out in my diet. But I also hate sugar-free products and all types of sugar replacements except honey or maple syrup.

How about cooked fruit like sliced apples with honey and cinnamon? Saute in a pan with butter, yummm.
If you can eat fruit you always have dessert.