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Spicy food, oily food, food poisoning

I would like to know if extremely spicy food, oily food, or food poisoning is supposed to trigger a "flare" of Crohn's disease for someone who has a diagnosis of Crohns but is on ZERO medications for Crohn's.

Are foods typically supposed to trigger "flares"?
 

Pwndkake

Hark! A Lurker!
I'm going out on a limb and saying 'yes', simply from a common sense standpoint that spicy food and oily/greasy food are two main 'offenders' that 'should' be avoided, however it helps to define 'flare'.

From personal experience, it has caused flares for me in the sense that I get really bad acid reflux and it feels like I just tried eating a bag of thumbtacks. Not to mention all of the bathroom unpleasantness.

It totally sucks too, because I LOVE spicy food, especially since my friends just introduced me to the magic that is Indian Cuisine.
 
It totally sucks too, because I LOVE spicy food, especially since my friends just introduced me to the magic that is Indian Cuisine.
I know what you mean. There's a huge South Asian community where I live, with many terrific Indian restaurants. I love the food, one of my favorites, but I haven't been able to eat any in months. :(

Especially terrific with a some Belgian beer, which I ALSO can't enjoy anymore! :(:(:(:(:(
 
For me spicy foods have always been a go to food when I wasn't feeling well. It seemed the spice would just clear me out and I'd be better again. We are all different so you will have to go trial and error.
 
Not all spicy foods have a negative effect. As Jeff said, everyone has to find out what does not agree with them. It really varies a lot.

Indian food has a lot of spice, but many times it is Turmeric which has anti inflammatory properties. It is also what gives it that Orange color. It may have other spices that do not agree with you, so it is still trial and error. In general, Turmeric is going to help you out.

I can eat Mexican and Chinese food without any problem. Spicy foods do not generally bother me, but large amounts of greasy food will. Particularly deep fried food other than french fries. Deep fried Fish will be sped through my body at light speed for whatever reason. Only after it has given me a sick feeling in my stomach. It may also be a ingredient in the batter that my body hates. I never figured that out completely.

I have never eaten much Indian Food so I really do not know if that would bother me or not. In general, if it is not deep fried, does not have Onions or large amounts of Hot Peppers, or Malt, I am going to be able to tolerate it without a problem.

Dan
 
I find fried/greasy foods bother me, but not spicy foods. I'm South Asian and grew up eating spicy foods (as a child, I longed for 'exotic' foods like tuna casserole and macaroni and cheese!) and Indian food is my 'comfort' food. The only difference has been that I can't add chilli peppers to my food as that messes me up.

As Dan says, turmeric is a good anti-inflammatory, and the masala which is added to Indian foods usually contain cinnamon, cardamom, fennel seeds, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, and black pepper. Indian food also has lots of garlic, ginger and onion. Some of these spices may react poorly for some people (I find that I can't add coriander to my masala mix as that has an effect on me).

I tend to drink chai (Indian tea) after dinner to soothe my stomach---the fennel and ginger that I add seems to really calm my stomach.
 

Dexky

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Dan, what is the brand of Turmeric you use. An Indian friend suggested T to me because of EJ's liver condition.
 
I take Turmeric in a capsule form that I buy from Puritans Pride. If you are using it to try reduce inflammation, and want the most effect from it, you should use Curcummin. This form is refined and has way more active curcumminoids. The curcumminiods are the active ingredient in Turmeric that is anti-inflammatory.

This form costs more, but will give you more of what you need to reduce inflammation. I have no active inflammation, and can get by with just Turmeric.
I am actually taking it for other benefits that Turmeric and Curcummin have to offer.

Just a few of those benefits are reduced Cancer risk, thins the blood slightly and makes it more difficult for pathogens to break into cells. Antibacterial action, and prevention of arterial plaque, prevention of Alzheimers Disease.

The list goes on and on. Ginger has many of the same benefits.

Dan
 
For me spicy foods have always been a go to food when I wasn't feeling well. It seemed the spice would just clear me out and I'd be better again. We are all different so you will have to go trial and error.
I totally agree! When I was in the process of diagnosis I lived off salt and chilli prawns and egg fried rice from our local chinese take away. I used to eat it at least 3 times a week.

I usually eat indian food at least twice a month and love to cook the stuff.

You may find that you go to the toilet in the night or that its soft/runny but to be honest that happens to most people if they have eaten curry.

I have been told never to completely exculde anythign from my diet just eat those foods that may cause problems when you are having a good day. This has worked for me for the last 7 years as there is nothing I CAN'T eat. Odd things upset my system for a day or two but sometimes its worth it! I love my food, even more so since being diagnosed.
 
I can't even remember WHEN I last had a nice hefty plate of Indian food. I vaguely remember crouching over in agonizing pain, but I try never to remember that experience. If that tells you how horrifying spicy foods are for me, then I guess that answers the initial question.

On a more positive note, the food was positively delicious. :p
 
until my ilium healed up I had to stay totally Bland. anything else would stimulate too much bile production and I could not reabsorb it all before it hit the colon. That = a messy few hours in the bathroom. But it is important to understand that it is NOT a sign of disease activity. It is simply a physiological reaction due to rehabilitating my intestine. There is a key difference to be understood there.
 
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