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What do you eat when in remission?

I'm just curious how many of you eat 'everything' when in remission and how many still play it safe. My GI's been telling me that I can go on and eat whatever I want, but I'm still skeptical and stay away from curries, all legumes and whole grains. My GI's recently also told me that my system is 'sensitive.'
I guess I'm a bit afraid since the last time I started going back to pre-Crohn's eating I found myself in a flare in less than a month. Do you still stick to your 'never again' foods in remission?

And of course, I know that everyone is different and I need to do what's best for me, I'm just asking out of curiosity.
Cheers.
 
I am currently in remission and maintaining a gluten-free diet. I strongly believe that IBD flares are triggered when there is an imbalance in the digestive system. I read a study somewhere that talks about people having different types of digestive systems, which would explain a lot as to why there are no hard fast rules for symptoms or treatment of IBD.
I have noticed a HUGE difference since I went gluten-free. I had been experiencing cramping, bloating, alternating C and D and general IBS symptoms, so I decided to give it a try. I was doing great since I started in May. This weekend I caved and had a cup cake and pizza and spent the next two days recovering. I think everybody is different in regards to what upsets their gut. For me it is processed foods and gluten apparently, so i try to stay away even when I'm in remission.
I have this personal (and completely unsupported so please don't attack me) theory that IBD parallels IBS, but the genetic component of the system attacking itself is present in those with IBD. But I feel like the triggers might be the same. A lot of people with IBD say that it makes no difference what they eat. And I found that to be somewhat true when I'm already in a flare, but not necessarily when I'm in remission. That's why I try to concentrate hard on eating what I know is right for me to prevent another flare up. Just my opinion.
 

Tesscorm

Moderator
Staff member
As my son has been on an enteral (liquid only) diet since his diagnosis and is just starting to eat food, I had a discussion with his dietician re what I can and shouldn't include in his diet going forward. So far, the doctors have told me repeatedly that there is no specific diet for Crohn's (only restriction being any kind of seeds), however, I have read over and over again that many people with crohn's avoid many different types of foods (and, to me, it makes sense that there would be certain foods that could/would be irritating...). Anyway, his dietician had an interesting perspective - while she does not have Crohn's, to personally experience the diets and their effects, she has followed many of the diets that her patients (not all Crohn's related) are asked to follow and diets that her patients themselves have claimed to help them. In particular, we discussed a gluten-free diet. She found that when following a gluten-free diet, there is much less 'prepared/processed' or junk food available as 'gluten-free'. Therefore, you are forced to eat a much healthier diet as you eliminate many 'bad' foods and begin to introduce and incorporate new 'healthier' alternatives, not necessarily related to being 'gluten-free' (i.e. you may incorporate more fruit as snacks because cookies or chips are no longer an option). Excluding those who have a 'true' intolerance for gluten, she believes that many people do indeed feel better by following a gluten-free diet but it is because they are generally eating healthier, not necessarily because it is gluten-free.

Don't know if she's completely correct but I believe there's much validity in her perspective.
 
Excluding those who have a 'true' intolerance for gluten, she believes that many people do indeed feel better by following a gluten-free diet but it is because they are generally eating healthier, not necessarily because it is gluten-free.
I agree with that as well. I have stayed away from most processed foods for most of my life because I knew they made me feel bad, not realizing that there was a gluten connection to many of these foods (e.g. prepared sauces, flavoring powders like on Doritos, etc). But it wasn't until i went totally gluten-free that I really started to feel well. It's hard to truly determine cause and effect, but I say if you find something that makes you feel good, stick with it!
 
Im in remission , i still avoid Curry too. Also avoid dairy, i believe im lactose intollerant but my GI said he didn't think i was and to try dairy again now im in remission. It didn't go well (was toilet bound for 3 hours) so i now avoid dairy again. Also Tomatoes. Recently had some nuts and seeded bread and was fine :)
 
Just high fiber foods. After my resection a couple years ago, the opening in my ileum is narrower than before. High fiber stuff has a hard time moving through. Other than that, I eat anything I want.
 
I eat pretty much anything... Foods I avoid and fear (and really miss) LOL
Corn
Peas
Ham
Smoke Sausage (full fat and cheese, I eat light)
Italian sausage (I eat in very very small quantities)
 
I have a difficult time with this. I found when in remission from my past flareups that I could eat whatever I wanted, apart from coffee (and even then, every once in a while I'd chance decaf coffee). I never really seemed to notice one particular thing bothering me. But, since I got my latest flareup (in May), and I'm now in remission, I'm really working on my diet at the moment in hopes that it will prevent me getting another flareup.

My GI too tells me that diet doesn't really make a difference, but I don't believe him, and I'm sure there's less research on diet affecting IBD because more money is going into pharmaceuticals (that's only my opinion though!).

At the moment, I am trying to reduce/eliminate gluten and dairy. I'm mainly working on reducing(as opposed to fully eliminating) both because it's incredibly hard to go out to eat and find food that doesn't contain either. I don't eat out much, but when I do, it can be a bit tricky. I agree completely with what Tesscrom said - the gluten free diet is naturally healthier, so I've also reduced my sugar intake as a result. I also stay away from caffeine, and trying to stay away from alcohol.
BUT...in light of changing my diet, my bowel movements still aren't "normal", so I don't know what that means!!!
 
For me I pretty much stick to a safe diet regardless of how I'm feeling.

Cream of rice, english muffin, one Ensure drink and fruit in the morning.
Yogurt for a snack.
Couple of deli-meat chicken sandwiches for lunch.
Another Ensure for a snack.
Pasta/fish/poultry, vegetable and maybe a small salad for dinner.

If I'm feeling wild, fast and loose I might get a fast food chicken sandwich for lunch. :p

For the first time in years I'm actually gaining weight by sticking to that diet.
 
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