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Fantastic Results from Jordan Reubin and SCD... But Got too Excited...

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/21/2011 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I should be post here more, but I am very busy with college assignments and exams as well as trying to keep a hand on my UC.

Anyways, until last October, my UC was fairly under control: 7 months remission, 2 week flare, repeat... The flares usually resolve with hydrocort enemas and low-res. Nothing too serious really for pan colitis!

Then last October things have been pretty on/off... at least a month of symptoms (at least 5x a day, bl, mucus the works). My enema + low res seem to take a lot longer than before for me to kick my symptoms... And they seem to come back much quicker. My remissions are fairly brief, a week to a month at most.

So I look into permanent diets. I stumbled upon Jordan Rueben's Gut's and Glory Program. JR allegedly cured his Crohns through diet, and now is a motivational speaker and makes a lot of money through his company The Garden of Life. Although I do not agree with how he has monopolized his illness, his guide to better intestinal health definitely works.

He recommends eating ONLY a homemade organic chicken broth for minimum one week to rest the colon. I have done this "phase" 3 times. I always get the same amazing results. The blood stops and I go less. Its truly amazing. However the real trouble comes when you start to add foods.

For this I am following the SCD. I have Breaking the Vicious Cycle and I don't agree with the intro diet. THe fruit juices are way too harsh. Elaine should have gone through more detail on why she has a soup in the intro diet and the true benefits of it. It truly rests and nourishes the colon with the gelatins obtained from the bones of the chicken. Also I don't think the yogurt should be introduced till your colon rests, as described in JR's G&G Program.

Anyway, Last week, after resting my colon with broth for a week, I started adding the almond flour bread with honey. Amazing results. Formed stools in three days!!! I could not believe I beat a flare without rectal meds.
So I start adding a banana with almond butter, and before you know it I try the pizza (loaded with roughage), and Larabars (not good for beginning SCD be warned) and man... Back on the can bloody D and my beautiful form stools are liquidizing...

It sucks facing a relapse. I know like many of us we get so discouraged when we see the signs of a flare. It really sucks.

I have all the faith in the world, that for some people, permanent diet change works. There is a reason why SCD works for some people and not for others. I am luckily the former. It is the darn self-control!!!

Anyway, I know I can beat this through diet, the signs are there, I just get so excited I introduce things way to flipping fast... So those of you who have seen good results through diet change, keep it up. Do not cheat this holiday season. Continue on your path to good health. I know you can do it, and I hope you think I can too.
Posted 12/21/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Awesome results! So glad to hear of these results as you've experimented with your diet, I've been meaning to add more soups to my diet. I really agree with Jordan Rubens diet, but like you said results vary from person to person.
Posted 12/21/2011 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm, we seem to be going through the same thing and have similar background sterofidelic89. we should keep in touch...

I also like how JR discusses different things (un)related to colitis that can help you, like sleep before midnight, breathing properly, and chewing your food much more. I don't really see these things in breaking the vicious cycle. Although I do agree with Elaine about the low carbs is the way to go for people with GI disorders.

anyone try combining SCD and rectal meds? I know if some people cheat on SCD they get back to their "norm" by using prednisone... Do you think if I tried night meds for a couple of days, I could get back on track?
Posted 12/21/2011 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
I've looked into the SCD diet from SCDiet.org and it excites me to think that this diet could potentially restore my diminished blood cells and get them working properly again to balance my immune system and my weight! Even though having UC or any other IBD is an internal disease that our friends, and family may never see, they can still notice our health externally. And, my weight has lessened no matter how much I eat and stick to a workout plan.

But I'm kind of confused on the SCD diet, because it mentions that sticking to the diet will help stop the over-production of mucus in our gut, but yet... from what I've learned is that when you have UC, its painful because the gut is diminished of its mucus lining due to high acidity levels. At least this was the case for me, and it would make sense for others, since any of us who got this disease started it out with horrible bowel pains.

Also, I question how they allow some of the foods in this diet to be sulfuric (which cause gas/bloating)... But i definitely would consider the diet for sure anyway.

mindoverbutter, just curious is Lialda alot like Asacol meds? Like a maintenance drug? We'll keep in touch for sure.

--Actually now looking more closely at the diet, its pretty much what I ate before seeing my naturopath 2 months ago when I was really active- for her recommended diet regimen (low fiber, no sulfuric foods). What sucks is that soy is in EVERYTHING. Which is not good regardless of UC because it gives off high levels of estrogen in our bodies that we don't need.

One thing I know is that I SERIOUSLY miss my favorite foods: Dark Chocolate, Annie's Cheddar Bunnies & Ben & Jerrys... ahhhhh!

Post Edited (stereofidelic89) : 12/20/2011 8:46:49 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/21/2011 6:51 AM (GMT 0)
@stereofidelic89

the colon overproduces mucus in inflammation periods. i suppose the good parts of the colon tend to overreact in order to cover the bad functionality of the affected regions. this is just my hupothesis, nothing scientific.
there is also some drug still on phase 3 trial - from Germany - who has given good results with pills that are supposed to add more mucous-like substance in our colon.

i also avoid high sulfur/sulfites foods. except dry red wine.

For those who do the SCD eating unprocessed food is best. Buy raw and make your own meals if you can. It's a sound principle for all people i guess...

Most of SCD users tweak their diet for their own needs, the book states some principles, but it's not some bible to be followed exactly.

Anyway, there are people who get good results from their diet plans, including me.

Good luck.
Posted 12/21/2011 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
For this I am following the SCD. I have Breaking the Vicious Cycle and I don't agree with the intro diet. THe fruit juices are way too harsh. Elaine should have gone through more detail on why she has a soup in the intro diet and the true benefits of it. It truly rests and nourishes the colon with the gelatins obtained from the bones of the chicken. Also I don't think the yogurt should be introduced till your colon rests, as described in JR's G&G Program.

You have named two things I had trouble with and failed the first time I tried SCD years ago: fruit juices (and fruit) and SCD yogurt. Because I followed SCD as closely as possible and didn't eliminate legal foods the diet did not work for me until I tried again years later.

Some of us have really cranky guts is all I can say. When I really, really, really paid attention to my gut's reactions and eliminated problem foods my symptoms began to slowly get better. After 2 years (!!) I can now have some fruit juices (small diluted amounts) and some fruit but not yogurt although small amounts of ice cream are OK and even small amounts of chocolate.

SCD is very challenging for many people because it is a radical change in most peoples way of eating, goes against 99% of American meals. Glad you found some relief and are taking charge of your health. That feels good, doesn't it?

anyone try combining SCD and rectal meds?

Yes, yes, yes. You will have much faster improvement using rectal meds. Try and avoid prednisone unless absolutely necessary.
The diet works from the top down inside and the rectal meds work from the bottom up inside and hopefully they meet in the middle :-)
Posted 12/21/2011 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
It is interesting that my son has had a j-pouch for the past 10 years, no colon due to UC and what works best for him is to eat a lot of overcooked veggies such as squash.  He believes that this sweeps bacteria from the

intestine/small bowel and his pouch function is muched improved. He tried scd years ago did not work, but this works.

Old Mike

Posted 12/21/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Alinus, sounds like you have your routine down, I especially like that your able to include swiss cheese, red wine and coffee in your diet, most of us cant even handle those three food groups. !
Posted 12/21/2011 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
the coffee is out of my routine :(
it does not bother my gut but i always get joint pain after having more than one per week.

the hard cheese was ok from the begining. and the wine too :) for which i am gratefull since i always loved hard cheese and dry red wine. i can live forever with those two.

i believe that the main problem is the high carb diet and the processed foods. eliminating those should show improvement for all.

the next problem is to find the foods that cope with your beneficial gut flora and your digestive enzymes, in this i've seem many of SCD users differ. what works for some does not work for others. it's a trial and error process. for example i know someone with UC and AS same as me who can drink 5 expreso's per day. if i do that i probably would not be able to bend and tie my shoes...

and yes, i agree with rectal meds and use them sometimes - 5'asa (not steroids since on the long run one can become dependent of them - but don't take it literally, for some people steroids are the only thing that works).
Posted 12/22/2011 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, wonderful feedback thank you very much for the support! It is honestly a blessing when you do not have to fart over a toilet and to have normal hard poop cramps, it is the most beautiful sensation in the world.

Alinus, dry red wine! Very good, glad you are enjoying it! Alcohol does not seem to directly affect my UC as well as it contributes to me making dumb food decisions when I drink, or, I believe it disturbs my GI tract a bit the next day. Therefore, the day after I drink, I need to be really careful about what I eat or else I may start seeing blood.

imagardener2, thank you for the response about the rectal meds! I actually tried a hydrocortisone, as recommended by my doctor, and I definitely think they will help my mishaps on the SCD. Right now I am at pretty solid stools, with pretty bright blood that passes at the end of a BM. Logically, this seems to me like I have some limited inflammation more towards the rectum, thus rectal meds would be ideal to calm this down.

Also, as far as starting the SCD, this is what I love about Jordan R's Guts & Glory Program. He divides your recovery into three phases. Google "brasco broth"

Phase 1 of this program you make this tremendously nutritious broth that you eat 3 times a day for a week. I am proof, that it will calm your diarrhea and bleeding. JR wants you on it for at least 7 days. I start Phase 2 at 6, and have done fine.
Phase 2 you add a natural probiotic yogurt, that is facsimile to the SCD homemade yogurt. However, JR makes it an extremely strong point to use GOAT milk, but not only goat milk but RAW GOAT milk. This is key. I was using store bought pasteurized milk for my yogurt at the beginning, and I did not notice much difference. Luckily I found a local farm who will sell me the Raw Goat Milk, and within a couple of days, formed stools. Could not flipping believe it.

And Phase3 gives you 3 categories of foods to eat for at least a year until your symptoms go away. Very very similar to SCD, except Jordan says wheat and grains that have been sprouted are ok. This entails sprouted sprouted multigrain wheat breads, and the like. He also says goat milk or raw goat milk to drink is OK. But this is where I tend to go to the SCD, making my own almond flour breads, honey as a sweetener, and nothing processed, and no milks.

Feel well everyone!
Posted 12/22/2011 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Very very similar to SCD, except Jordan says wheat and grains that have been sprouted are ok.

Coincidentally I am exploring sprouting seeds and grains at home after reading that sprouting makes grains become more vegetable-like organically and have very high levels of vitamins. I love new food ideas.
Posted 12/22/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Alveras Bakery has a sprouted multi grain bread that my local stop and shop has in their organic section. It is absolutely delicious, I tried the diabetic one. I am not diabetic but I believe high blood sugar causes inflammation, so why not keep my GI down?

Gluten has never been a problem with me. In fact my first couple flares were controlled by a week of peanut butter and jellys on white bread. It's wild how well your body response to no gluten, imagardener2. Anyway, staying gluten free right now for the SCD and going well.
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