HI All,
I wanted to briefly tell everyone about my struggles with Crohn's and what I did to overcome it. It has been about 4 years since the diagnosis and prior to my finding the diet I was in rough shape. I was about to be hospitalized and I pleaded with my gastroenterologist to let me try a special diet prior to hospitalization. I also had contacted my disability insurance provider to see about how to apply and use my long-term disability benefits.
I was on steroids, maintenance drugs, and about to be put on Humira (which really scared me when reading up on all the side effects).
The book I read is called restore your digestive health by Jordan Rubin. Now before you go out and buy the book and try and do everything he describes, I will give you the highlights. After many years of altering my diet and figuring out what works, there are very few things that made a huge impact. So, although the book has good best practices for overall health, from a management of Crohn's perpective please read below.
After three weeks on the diet (lifestyle change) I was off all meds and no symptoms at all. It was amazing. These are big changes, but it is worth it to be normal again.
The main dietary changes I will rate in terms of the most impact. (substitutes below)
Sugar – I stay away from everything that has processed sugar in it. It can be named many different things like high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, evaporated cane juice, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and many more. If it has that on the label I don’t eat it ever. This is the biggest rule not to break and is also the most difficult as many things we consume in America has it in it.
White and Wheat flower – Crackers, breads, sandwiches, pasta, etc. This is also items to stay away from. Again, the diet will not work if you eat these items at all. Stay away and never go back.
Highly processed foods. So, I do infrequently eat these items like lunch meat, ham, premade meals etc. If 1 and 2 are followed this one isn’t so bad, but more as a treat than the norm.
Lifestyle changes
Sleep seems to make a big difference. It again can be broken occasionally but most of the time you should get regular sleep.
Lots of drinking. I do drink alcohol. Apparently, the fermentation process helps process the sugars so it doesn’t affect the Crohn's, however in moderation. Excessive, repetitive drinking will cause issues.
Being sick seems to cause flairs at times. No one wants to get sick, but I go out of my way not too.
Tylenol only. Tylenol affects your stomach differently than ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. So, use Tylenol and only deviate if necessary.
Substitute foods
Everyone needs something sweet occasionally. Raw unheated natural honey is a good substitute as well as plenty of fresh fruit. Frozen fruit is okay without any additives. Fruit I eat daily but the honey is once a week or so.
Instead of regular bread I eat Ezekiel bread. It is made from sprouted grains and that seems to be fine without issues. Sometimes I will eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich. The peanut butter ingredients are just peanuts and salt and the raw unheated honey. Not bad.
I do eat steak, chicken, pork, fish, shellfish etc. I have not restricted myself there. Eating out is easy, I typically have items that I can eat at just about any restaurant. Italian is usually the hardest, but I still find things to eat there.
I hope you give this a try. It has made a very significant difference I my life and hopefully yours too.
Jonathan Freed
I wanted to briefly tell everyone about my struggles with Crohn's and what I did to overcome it. It has been about 4 years since the diagnosis and prior to my finding the diet I was in rough shape. I was about to be hospitalized and I pleaded with my gastroenterologist to let me try a special diet prior to hospitalization. I also had contacted my disability insurance provider to see about how to apply and use my long-term disability benefits.
I was on steroids, maintenance drugs, and about to be put on Humira (which really scared me when reading up on all the side effects).
The book I read is called restore your digestive health by Jordan Rubin. Now before you go out and buy the book and try and do everything he describes, I will give you the highlights. After many years of altering my diet and figuring out what works, there are very few things that made a huge impact. So, although the book has good best practices for overall health, from a management of Crohn's perpective please read below.
After three weeks on the diet (lifestyle change) I was off all meds and no symptoms at all. It was amazing. These are big changes, but it is worth it to be normal again.
The main dietary changes I will rate in terms of the most impact. (substitutes below)
Sugar – I stay away from everything that has processed sugar in it. It can be named many different things like high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, evaporated cane juice, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and many more. If it has that on the label I don’t eat it ever. This is the biggest rule not to break and is also the most difficult as many things we consume in America has it in it.
White and Wheat flower – Crackers, breads, sandwiches, pasta, etc. This is also items to stay away from. Again, the diet will not work if you eat these items at all. Stay away and never go back.
Highly processed foods. So, I do infrequently eat these items like lunch meat, ham, premade meals etc. If 1 and 2 are followed this one isn’t so bad, but more as a treat than the norm.
Lifestyle changes
Sleep seems to make a big difference. It again can be broken occasionally but most of the time you should get regular sleep.
Lots of drinking. I do drink alcohol. Apparently, the fermentation process helps process the sugars so it doesn’t affect the Crohn's, however in moderation. Excessive, repetitive drinking will cause issues.
Being sick seems to cause flairs at times. No one wants to get sick, but I go out of my way not too.
Tylenol only. Tylenol affects your stomach differently than ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. So, use Tylenol and only deviate if necessary.
Substitute foods
Everyone needs something sweet occasionally. Raw unheated natural honey is a good substitute as well as plenty of fresh fruit. Frozen fruit is okay without any additives. Fruit I eat daily but the honey is once a week or so.
Instead of regular bread I eat Ezekiel bread. It is made from sprouted grains and that seems to be fine without issues. Sometimes I will eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich. The peanut butter ingredients are just peanuts and salt and the raw unheated honey. Not bad.
I do eat steak, chicken, pork, fish, shellfish etc. I have not restricted myself there. Eating out is easy, I typically have items that I can eat at just about any restaurant. Italian is usually the hardest, but I still find things to eat there.
I hope you give this a try. It has made a very significant difference I my life and hopefully yours too.
Jonathan Freed
