Vegan Protein Powder for SCD diet?

Hi Guys,

I would like to start off by saying a big thank to all that have contributed to all the posts in this forums regarding Ulcerative Colitis. When I was first diagnosed I was truly lost and didn't have a clue but since reading many posts I have now been given hope - Thank You

I am allergic to milk fish and chicken. But I do eat lamb, beef and in the last 3 years have reintroduced egg. I used to use one scoup of Vegan blend protein in my morning banana smoothie (no milk, just water) as a replacement for cereal.

But since I got hospitalized I haven't touched it and been living off cornflakes, mash potato, carrots, egg, rice and banana's for the last 10weeks+

The medication has stopped the flair, but now I am weak and tired most of the time.

I am about to start the SCD diet and probably start weight lifting in a hope to regain the 1.5 stones I have lost in weight. I'm 5ft 10 and now weigh a disturbing 9 stones.

I wanted to ask the members what they thought of vegan blend protein from myprotein - http://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/vegan-blend/10637445.html

I understand that brown rice is on the illegal list of SCD, but as its protein, could it be ok?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Ps Any advice re diet will be welcomed as I really am very new to this.

I don't think it's SCD legal, but I also don't think you should jump into a very restrictive diet right away, especially if you're trying to gain weight.

Give your body a chance to bounce back, regain some strength, etc., first. Once you have finished the Pred taper it then takes a period of months for your adrenals to work correctly.

Bump your daily smoothies up to two and make them very nutrient rich and calorie dense. Coconut milk will give you some extra fat. I use a pumpkin seed protein mix that includes all the amino acids.

Why were you hospitalized?

Welcome to HW and please take care of yourself.

Funny I had kind of the reverse. Meat really sucked in my guts, fiber, once out of a flare, worked wonders. It's quite individual. You might want to try resistant starch: cooked and cooled potatoes for example in potato salad.

The goal is remission, an absence of uc symptoms. Typical uc symptoms are one (or often multiple) of the following: blood, diarrhea, urgency, frequent feeling of needing to empty but passing nothing (tenesmus), pain, mucus, fatigue, etc. I got them all, lucky me, lol.

Thank you Imagardener2, that's really helpful.

In the last few weeks I have been putting extra virgin olive oil into my meals. I have read so much about it and the benefits many with UC have been experiencing. Infact my GI recommended me to start using extra virgin olive oil.

I intend to start reintroducing pasta and salad back into my diet so hopefully I should get some better nutrients in me help me gain some weight (I make a stick insect look fat right now).

As ipoop kindly informed me, I don't think that my flare is over because I still get fatigue and a load of wind with the odd cramp. Thankfully the blood and diarrhea seem to have stopped (for now).

My parents are originally from India, my mum has taken charge of cooking for me (Me & my wife are useless at cooking). What's fascinating in India is they have specific mild curry's for people with stomach/digestive problems, these have been used for thousands of years. Nearly all the ingredients used are on the safe list of SCD, also whats really interesting is that it has to be made fresh and consumed at once. Ps I too love potato salad with mayo :)

I am following SCD and that protein powder would not be legal. According to the author, the diet must be followed 100% or don't bother. I would be weary of taking any protein supplements anyway. They are completely unregulated and could contain anything as nobody is checking.

I somewhat agree with the previous posts that now may not be a great time for you to start SCD. I've lost about 15 pounds off an already thin frame while trying to GAIN weight on SCD. I don't see anything wrong with trying it out 90% though, then eating some healthy "illegal" foods to help you gain. It is a very healthy way to eat, as long as you don't eat hamburgers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you will be eating good, natural foods that will be easily absorbed by your damaged digestive system. Once you've gained back some weight you can go with it 100% or decide that its not worth it.

I could go on more about it but don't want to write a novel here.

Long story short, I like it.

I started after my first flare was 90 percent better and can say now that I'm basically in full remission. I have dropped my Lialda down from 4 pills daily to 2. I don't find the diet to be all that tough to follow as long as I plan ahead. The only way I "cheat" is by drinking full strength coffee 1 or 2 cups a day. I lost a lot of weight but I can't put 100 % of that on the diet...I think my body was not absorbing food very well after my flare. As far as bulking up, I go for an apple with 6 tablespoons of natural peanutbutter or an avocado with cheddar and nuts. High calorie, easy snacks are key. Those two snacks together get me about 1000 extra calories per day. I also always cook the entire family pack of whatever meat we have for dinner so there's always food to grab in the fridge. Its 2 steps forward, one step back but I'm slowly gaining on the 10 pounds I'm trying to achieve.

The author of "Breaking the vicious cycle" says it can take up to 2 years to work and that 30% of people don't respond to it at all. She also says it takes the longest for UC of all the intestinal diseases so its a real commitment and leap of faith.

A Dr. posted a case study here on it that found 90% of people who followed it BELIEVED it helped their UC or Crohn's. It was a pretty big sample size. This was self-reported so you have to take that into account and it did not measure success in any scientific way. Stanford University is doing a large scale clinical trial on SCD as we speak so we should definitively soon.

My own anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness is that after following it for 5 months, I decided to cheat on Thanksgiving. I did not have a flare but I had a perianal abscess come roaring back three days later (my second one this year) that I just had incised this morning. Abscess/fistula is covered in the book. Take that for what its worth. Over the 5 months I've been on SCD I've had one or two periods of "almost flaring" (cramping and blood) that disappeared after 2 days. My "brain fog" disappeared days after starting. I feel great and find that I have to work out less to get the same results I used to, although I'm not as strong as I used to be weightlifting wise. I have learned a lot about nutrition and about my body from SCD so even if its bogus I feel it has been worth my time and effort. Good luck and if you have more questions, ask away.

I would focus more on a healthy body at this point as opposed to a strong one. UC is a full body illness, not just a colon illness. Heal your colon first, and your body will follow.

Not to say you should just lie around all the time. Just think and feel what your body needs. Right now all your energy should be put into getting better. Physical activity should be based on how you are currently feeling, not on what your mind wants.

Good luck with the SCD.

ninarka said...
I was wondering how did you get better to 90%, after your flare? I have now Ulcerative Proctitis( severe flare up), doctors said its really hard to put in remission, the most stubborn part of the colon. I've noticed your diagnosis is Ulcerative Proctosigmoiditis. ANY ADVICE?

I was lucky in that I caught it early. I went to the doctor after 5 days of pain and D. I responded great to rowasa enemas and oral mesalamine after diagnosis. Sorry your flare came back. It makes me question SCD when people flare so badly while following it. Although I don't expect it to be a miracle cure, in the back of my mind I want to believe it limits the severity of flares or at least does something, although I'll admit I'm sort of a skeptical follower of it as it relates to IBD. I like the overall health aspect of it though.

I see a lot of people with rectal inflammation on here that can't find relief from cortifoam. This is just from lurking on this site, but lots of people swear by the mesalamine enemas, even those with severe cases. The remaining 10% that took me so long to clear up was the rectal pressure and inflammation. I'd say I had full control of my bowels back/no bleeding within a couple days of starting it but I had that feeling like I had to go all day for a month or so after, eventhough there was nothing there. Then it was on and off rectal pressure/discomfort and a feeling like I really had to go as soon as I woke up for another month or two after. Maybe you could try switching?

@Deen, I agree with UShipped, don't go crazy with the weightlifting. But definitely exercise. Maybe just some light stuff on one muscle group per day if you want and build up. Definitely don't workout to the point where you're run down the next day...very bad in my experience...makes symptoms worse. I got back into team sports and it has helped a lot. Endorphins and all that. I just do hockey once a week and light/moderate weights once or twice a week. Good luck everyone.

Deen said: I was given asacol suppositories but told to use them only when I bleed. According to the IBD nurse, suppositories are the most effective type of medication.

You got somewhat inaccurate advice from the nurse about using only when bleeding. First of all mesalamine (asacol) enemas treat much more area than suppositories so if your insurance covers them get a months worth (28 actually) and use them every night. You will see improvement. After 30 days if you see great improvement you can switch from enemas to suppositories as maintenance, only as needed.

Bleeding is indication of inflammation so bad it bleeds. Just because bleeding stops does not mean inflammation is gone, using mesalamine enemas reduces inflammation. Waiting until bleeding to use rectal meds is letting things go too far before treating.

My opinion about potatoes and curry is "eat them" and bet you feel better.

No idea if Orgain fits the bill (no idea what SCD is), but it's the vegan protein powder I often supplement with.

http://orgain.com/products/organic-protein-powder/