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Can anyone give me good info on anti inflammatory diet?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/18/2012 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am considering going off my lifesaving Remicade because my insurance won't cover it :(

The nutritionist at my GI's clinic told me to start by preparing my body on the anti-inflammatory diet. Can any of you direct me to useful sites or books I can order?

Thanks :)
Posted 10/18/2012 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Spinach and sunflower seeds. It CURES!ONE11!

The thread is here on the front page. Here, I'll even link it for you, for convenience.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2540295
Posted 10/18/2012 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know for sure, but I think there is a program for people-- something like the Remistart program. I believe this helps people who's insurance won't cover it. You may want to look into this. It is a shame to go off of it if it is working for you. Good luck -and sorry about the insurance thing....I do hate the whole insurance thing.
Posted 10/19/2012 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
You can try an autoimmune protocol. It's anti inflammatory.

A book called Practical Paleo by Diane SanFilippo outlines it. It's nutritionally sound, takes a bit of time, not a miracle but based on human physiology.

I'm trying it and feeling cautiously optimistic. I've been having increasing blood, D and frequency since mid August. I've been going 10, 12, 15 times a day sometimes. On day 8 of this auto immune diet and I've had some form, less frequency and less blood. Some BMs have had no blood! Could be coincidence for sure but I don't think so. I so much needed a change, I'm pooped out, literally and figuratively.

There's meal plans and recipes if you have troubles coming up with ideas. She has a section on Digestive problems too which is really similar to the autoimmune diet.

Good luck
Posted 10/19/2012 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I was also going to recommend Paleo. There's also a nice cookbook out called "Everyday Paleo" and a blog with the same name with recipees.
Posted 10/19/2012 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
another plus for paleo. i am following robb wolf's paleo solution. it's a book, but he has a website, too, with lots of good info. i am also doing SCD which is helping.
Posted 10/19/2012 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
google it -

do a forum search for anti inflammatory foods -

eat less inflammatory foods -

eat more anti-inflammatory foods -

feel better -
Posted 10/19/2012 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks.

I'll look into Paleo

The thought of giving up sugar makes me want to cry, but... oh well...

Hateuc: thanks, but I live in Guatemala. Apparently since I live in a third world country I'm not good enough to receive help from the Remistart program (looked into it when I started with this mess) but thanks for the reminder. I'll look into it again. It's a real shame to have to go off Remicade. Trust me it's a real hard decision which I'm still debating.
Posted 10/19/2012 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Gluategirl, I'd like to give you a nudge and say "You can do it!" but this depends on your current condition; how many bowels a day? blood? cramps? fatigue? etc

An anti-inflammatory diet consists of foods high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids, so, sockeye salmon, sardines, mackerel, chia seeds, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil (cold press), flaxseed. Try to get wild caught of all of these. Farmed fish is grain fed and INFLAMMATORY.

Go low on insoluble fiberous foods, sugar especially, and grains. Choose sourdough bread, white basmati rice, not brown, leafy greens if you can tolerate, stay away from onion + garlic (sulfur causes alot of gas).

Maybe even try going Gluten Free for a few weeks to see how you are feeling. All you have to do is look at a nutrition label and look for Contains: Wheat. If it does, avoid the product, otherwise you should be fine.

Some great supplements:

Inflaguard (turmeric, boswellia, devils claw) highly anti-inflammatory combo
L-Glutamine powder - 5-15g a day mixed with water away from food. Coats the intenstines and rehydrates the cells.


I can't remember if your on probiotics are not, but alot of us really need these! VSL#3 is specifically designed for those with ulcerative colitis.

Good luck to you! :)

Post Edited (stereofidelic89) : 10/18/2012 7:24:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/19/2012 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
There is an IBD-AID(Anti Inflammatory Diet) that was used as part of a trial at UMass Medical.

http://www.umassmed.edu/uploadedFiles/MBD_Poster59_EDITED_5-15-2011.pdf

http://works.bepress.com/barbara_olendzki/46/

I am seeing Barbara and following her diet. Email me if you are interested in the details.
Posted 10/19/2012 9:44 AM (GMT 0)
anti-inflammatory diet and pyramid

www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet
Posted 10/19/2012 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was browsing in the www last night looking up anti inflammatory diet, paleo diet, etc.
I'm already familiar with the SCD and GAPS diets, which are pretty similar.

Choosing anti-inflammatory foods certainly makes sense for us.

I just find it sooooo interesting, the differences between these diets:

Paleo, SCD and GAPS are HIGH on meats, and no grains.
Paleo says no to beans.
I printed out the Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflam food pyramid and the basis for this one is veggies and fruits, with lean meats only 1-2 per week, but 3-5 servings of whole grains per day (yikes!).

I did some more reading about gut bacteria too, and found a bunch more research on it that I hadn't found in my earlier readings... it seems there's a lot of evidence for bacterial culprets (after all the fecal transplants, probiotics, SCD/GAPS diets are all about changing the bacterial loads in our guts).

It certainly takes a lot of experimenting to find what works for your individual gut terrain.
Posted 10/19/2012 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I too would recommend Paleo, as it is an anti-inflammatory diet.

And you could add probiotics to it as well.

I had tried SCD initially, but found that I did much better on Paleo.

Posted 10/19/2012 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
"It certainly takes a lot of experimenting to find what works for your individual gut terrain"

exactly - diets, drugs, herbal supplements, all very individualised -

i've always wondered about twins - if they have the same problem, is the fix the same ?
Posted 10/19/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
I second the Spinach and Sunflower Seed diet.  I just posted about it - I've been in remission for three years because of this diet.  Check out the thread on the main page.   If you also want to be on an anti-inflammatory diet, there are plenty of books on the subject at the library. 
Posted 10/19/2012 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Weils diet is pretty much science based except for the use of supplements(which he sells) and magic asian mushrooms. I ignore both of those.

I saw the movie(forget the name) and have been reading the China Study. I think there is mounting overwhelming evidence that the western lifestyle causes autoimmune/inflammatory problems and that these cause most chronic disease including heart disease, cancer and UC. Both Dr. Weil and Dr. Campbell expand on that conclusion beyond what is justified to come up with a nifty diet. Lack exercise and basic overeating( more calories than needed) are just as important as what you eat. I do think the recommended foods to exclude in both diets are a good idea. I do think that a major reason meat and animal products are bad is how we breed, feed and serve these animals. Unhealthy animals are not healthy to eat. Fat , sick, and out of shape cows for fat, sick, out of shape people.
Posted 10/19/2012 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for this fantastic information! I've got my homework to do.

Stereo: it's ridiculous how great I feel, just got back from my power yoga class, the third one this week. I feel better, healthier, stronger than when I was in my 20's. It's such a struggle to decide whether to go off the Remi, or not. But knowing (thinking) that I can somewhat control the outcome by modifying my diet is very empowering. I don't know if I'm just deluding myself, as when I was flaring I felt so powerless.

Unfortunately for me, other than fish (specifically mahi mahi) caught off our local shores, all our fish is imported from Chile (salmon) or China (tilapia): YIKES!!! There is very little organic chicken, and no grass fed hormone free beef. This will be my biggest challenge: sourcing the food.

AZ: I'll look into the China study. An interesting fact my GI told me was that they are starting to see cases of UC in the local indigenous population (as far from WASP as you can get). These people eat mostly black beans, corn tortillas, rice, chicory coffee and very little meat. They don't eat vegetables. I don't know how that fits into the study, but I find it interesting, as UC was thought to be mostly a WASP/ Jewish/ european disease for so long. It certainly seems to be creeping up throughout the world.
Posted 10/20/2012 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
AZYooper - Are you talking about Forks Over Knives?  I loved that documentary and I follow a plant-based diet.  The spinach and sunflower seed method works well within a plant-based diet.  I really believe it's the healthiest way to eat. 
Posted 10/20/2012 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
guatgirl, try to cook with turmeric spice, it's powerful and bitter so u need to sprinkle a little like 1/4 teaspoon in food while sautéing in a pan. also fresh ginger try to use it as much as possible. I make Indian food so I use bay leaves, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cumin seeds, cilantro powder etc. these are all good anti inflammatory.use olive oil for cooking. stay away from gassy beans, lentils, gluten, corn , caffeine. ope you get better soon!
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