Are you on an IBD specific diet? I want to help!

[leloupaccroupi]

So!

My name's Keenan, I'm presently undiagnosed (pending this thursday, yay!) however my scope revealed a good amount of deep ulceration and inflammation cohesive with severe Crohn's. Now I've read up on treatment options, the big pharma way, the natural way with diets and medical cannabis and such like and im looking forward to trying to achieve remission with a combination of the two.

That brings me to the focus of this thread, IBD specific diets. I'm at work this morning brainstorming with Chef (I'm his Executive Sous) over our spring menu and I can't help thinking in the back of my mind that instead of cooking I should be doing something to aid in the fight against IBD. And so continued the train of thought until I asked myself 'why can't I do both?'.

So I want to know your diet limitations, I want to know if you hate what you have to eat, what your favourite diet items are, and what your favourite cheat day treats are. Recipes, techniques, lay em on the line!

Here's where the giving back comes in; if you're curious about techniques, or simply how to treat certain ingredients to maximize your gains or flavours from them, or even if you're just looking for a new way to prepare an old favourite, drop me a line! Let's get creative and make some UNREAL food together!

I REFUSE to let something like IBD take away from my ability to enjoy food and render it nothing more than sustenance and a lifeline.

COOKING and eating to enjoy is one of the most human things we've developed for ourselves throughout our evolution as a species.

Let's take it back.



Keenan

:soledance:

:dance:

 

[scl]

Wow, no responses thus far. First of all, did you receive a diagnosis and/or test results?

Slowly over 30 years my diet has evolved. I ate my fair share of processed foods as a child and teenager, but my mother always cooked relatively healthy meals. It was the "typical" American diet. Meat, starch, vegetables, and salad.

I developed chronic diarrhea somewhere between the age of 18-20 years old. At age 53 I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I went to the ER with severe abdominal pain. I had surgery after strictly following the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) which did nothing to heal my stricture or reduce my symptpms.

A year ago as a result of helping an ill neighbor with grocery shopping and meal preparation, I joined her in a vegan diet. I have no symptoms or signs of disease.

The two things that formerly triggered more pronounced symptoms was over-eating and high animal fat. There were times when I did not digest lettuce well.

I eat a wide variety of foods and use spices liberally. At least 90% of what I eat is organic.

I feel great, have been a long distance runner and triathlete for many years. Three years ago I started doing yoga, and strenuous hikes and less running due to foot issues.. Since I live in Hawaii, I can be active outdoors year round. In the past month I've started to run again, but for much shorter distances.

Love to hear your ideas.

 

[leloupaccroupi]

Hey Scl,

I did receive a diagnosis (severely active CD), just failed my Imuran full dosage trial week, wound up in the hospital with pancreatitis and a C-diff overgrowth.

On the mend now, eating relatively plain has helped quell symptoms, aside from bowel movement inconsistency I don't really have any symptoms of Crohn's or c-diff right now. I can't decide if that's exciting or extremely disconcerting.

Symptomatic talk aside, I'm hugely excited to hear that diet has helped your disease and ultimately your quality of life! I'd like to see a naturopathic or Chinese medicine doctor to see if there's a natural element I can add to my biologic therapy. I've heard nothing but good things about using multiple methods and approaches of treatment, and I find the science behind both fascinating.

There's so many approaches to vegan diets that can be very tasty, the ability to draw flavours out of vegetables with technique, especially when you're not confined to a restaurant and a limited selection of ingredients presents a unique challenge and is very exciting. Is there any specific foods or areas of your meal plan you're looking to spice up so to speak?

 

[scl]

Aloha,

So sorry to hear about your health issues. You've got the right attitude and ideas to take control of your disease yourself with advice from a variety of health practitioners. I stay away from foods that are known to be inflammatory - meat, dairy, sugar being the most important (at least for me).

I've always been a good cook and prior to my vegan diet, could put together all sorts of yummy meals on the fly. When I started cooking vegan, I had to rely on cookbooks because I didn't know how to create a creamy vegan sauce rather than a milk based one, for example. It drove me crazy and I spent far more time cooking than previously.

Little by little, I can create meals without a cookbook, but I still use recipes much more than I used to. It's a work in progress.

The cookbooks that helped me the most are Thug Kitchen and the any by Ottolenghi. Thug Kitchen is littered with profanity and delicious recipes. I also find it entertaining.
Ottolenghi's books are filled with Mediterranean/Turkish flavors that I love more than any other.

I'd love to hear whatcha got in regards to vegan recipes.

Best of luck to you in finding the right treatments for your disease. For over 30 year with this disease, I've treated it exclusively with diet. I can't complain.

 

[leloupaccroupi]

That's amazing! I'm a little apprehensive to give vegan a try just because I don't always have as much time to prepare things as im sure I'd need, and the idea of too much fiber scares me a little. However I'm sure there are ways to eat vegan and limit fiber intake harmoniously.

I try to stay away from cookbooks for little more than inspiration but Thug Kitchen is probably one of the best I've seen, and yes, quite entertaining! I'm off work until im fully healed which is expected another 8 or so days so I'll do some research into vegan recipes and see what I can round up for you if any that you haven't already discovered! Hope all is well in Hawaii!!

 

[scl]

I've been avoiding fiber ever since my surgery because that's what I read everywhere. Someone on this site said one must only avoid fiber if they have a stricture which makes perfect sense. So, fiber it is and I feel great.

Thanks for the help.

 

[leloupaccroupi]

Ohhhhhh! Very interesting, I always assumed it was something that aggravated symptoms. I do suppose it's very much a personal reaction to it. My food journal has been dwindling lately, I think I'll pick it back up and experiment a little on the healthier side of cuisine!