New to the forum...Does diet really help?

Hello new member Ontario-Girl from a fellow Ontarian. Welcome!

I've had UC since 2000, and just now having my 3rd flare. Seems to happen every four years?! As Christine1946 suggested to me, try a low residue diet, check on internet for suggestions on it. But I found it definitely helped me. Yes, it is very boring, boring bland food, but it seems to agree for the most part. Sounds like the spicy foods might be doing that to you as well, (I still love them as but have to stay away otherwise bad bathroom action for a day or two). I still make very boring chicken soups, boneless, skinless chicken, I try to get protein. I am still trying out various items to eat. But for me, it was trial and error for the longest while. Also, yes, I know, sounds also boring, but try slowing down on sugar, I found that it helped me as well. also the drinking part might do that as well, I used to love my 2 or 3 beer on weekends but haven't had any yet.

Yes, it is very scary to see what comes out, I get like that too, it is still happening too but not as much these days. And yes, we all have a life to live, but we have to find the balance to get our bodies to keep working. With Asacol, I found that keeping a schedule to take it played a very big part in slowing this UC. Before, I kept missing the time to take it and would vary. (ie., supposed to be 2 pills at 1 & 7 o'clock but would forget or be sleeping) Now I used alarm clocks at home to remind me. I haven't bought a watch yet to set with 2 alarms.

I couldn't help but notice you're taking Flora-Smart Extra Strength Probiotics, mine is still in the fridge at the moment although I purchased it about three weeks ago, how is working for you, if you don't mind me asking? I see in the fridge but haven't the "guts" to try it yet! (bad joke?, LOL)

Gluten free has helped me.. AM in my first flare ( been 14 months ). Tried gluten free living, been that way 14 days and bathroom trips are at least in half. As for the occassional.... they make gluten free ones. Heineken doesn't advertise they are gluten free, but when contacted they said that their gluten livels were well below what the government states they must be to be gluten free. And Captain Morgan (rum) is gluten free. Captain and ginger alle is not bad together. My doc says these are okay and may even help (in moderation ) (a drink or 1-2 beers ) a day. Because alcohol is a numbing agent. I have to agree, as I stated in another forum... I believe they are helping me also. I can be having a horrible day... let me have that beer or drink, and my bathroom trips stop. And symptoms are no worse the next day. I'm sure though that each of our bodies is different. Some here may have had adverse reactions.

Since Colitis is an inflammation of the colon, I would recommend avoiding foods that are pro-inflammatory and eating foods that are anti-inflammatory (at least the ones that don't bother you). There is a good article about pro- and anti-inflammatory foods here:

http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm

Some people with Colitis (like me) can't handle fructose well, others can't handle lactose, and even others can't handle gluten. Keep a food diary to see what foods bother you. There is no reason to give up something if it's healthy and it doesn't bother you.

Spicy, I can do! Family find it hard to believe, but it's true.
But learning I should go gluten/wheat-free made a bid difference. Note that also sensitive to tomatoes, and Naturopath says I should not eat cheese(but I do, a little). Those are just some diet highlights. Otherwise, low fiber.

I recommend getting tested for food sensitivities, then you KNOW. It was $300, not covered by insurance.

Eating as healthy as possible and cutting way back on refined sugar (or cutting out all together) as well as animal fats, processed foods/beverages, fast-foods and caffeine can certainly have a positive impact on symptoms...taking a good probiotic daily and indefinitely as well as fibre supplements (also daily and indefinitely) can also bring relief.

:)

Yes, different foods affect us differently. There does seem to be a common theme though. For some of us, food doesn't really matter. For others, we can't handle fructose, or lactose, or gluten. I can't handle fructose. Perhaps because I had so much high-fructose corn syrup in the past, too much for my body to handle that it now refuses to. Besides high-fructose corn syrup is relatively new. It's not something that our bodies are used to digesting. It was not until the 1970s that manufacturers began substituting it for cane sugar. Silly me, seeing "corn" in the label thought it was better than cane.

I'm not gluten-sensitive, and fiber is good for the colon. So I make sure I get plenty of fiber in my diet. I know there are quite a few people who have Colitis that are gluten-sensitive. But what about vegetables? Can you eat those? There are a lot of vegetables that are high in fiber. Can you eat them when you have a flare? When you don't have a flare?

I agree with the alcohol in moeration thing specially. AM not suggesting we go out and get drunk all the time. But if a couple beers or a drink a day helps, then enjoy them. Or at least have the ability to enjoy a beverage in a social situation. And I'm sure there are some of us who just can't handle the alcohol at all anymore. In this instance I think I am one of the lucky ones.
As for the earlier question... I notice No difference in my diet with veggies. Except salads. Salads are bad for me. But raw carrotts or green peppers don't seem to change me much. Of course I am still in my intial flare. Getting better. but not in remission YET. LOL. Still hopin though. I just try to live by the symptoms day by day. Something helps... then I make note of it. SOmething makes things worse then I make BIG note of that.