Dietary changes

[DaisyB]

Hi all,

I'm interested to know what (if any) dietary changes people made after diagnosis and whether these changes helped in any way?

I have UC and I've just been put on a short course of pred to hopefully get my flaring under control and think this is the kick I need to finally get my diet under control. I unfortunately have a love of junk food and a lack of self control!

I'm going to have a go with the Paleo diet and see if that helps control my symptoms. I think dairy and wheat are bad news for me personally and think that diet (although difficult!) may help me.

 

[LindaS]

For me, it was a trial and error process to find out that certain fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as brown rice and some other high fiber foods, were no-nos for me. I did an elimination diet to find out what was causing problems, starting off eating food that was really easy on me.

 

[2thFairy]

During my UC flares, I had to give up raw veggies and lettuce due to pain. Other foods didn't bother me for the most part.

 

[theOcean]

When in flare I always go on a low-residue diet, but otherwise never did SCD/Paleo/etc and don't particularly believe in them. I found out my trigger foods mostly from trial-and-error and trying to be very conscientious about what I was eating, and eliminated those things from my diet. They're different for everyone so it's really up to the individual.

 

[khan-cc]

Hi,

new to the forum

Although I dont have crohns disease but do have colitis of the whole colon (both which suck) cutting out any fried food, wheat, dairy and reducing the amount of red meat has helped a lot. I am a big eater, so tend to get hungry a lot, I found that dates especially berny and ajwa dates help me keep my apetite in control

I am currently studying radiotherapy and was diagnosed in february 2014 a week after my bday

 

[DJW]

Hi. I'm much like theOcean. I found the foods that didn't agree with me and stayed away from them. I had a wonderful 20 year remission without fancy diets, special supplements or medication.

 

[JMDCA]

I am on a combination SCD/Paleo and it's working for me. I also avoid spicy or greasy. I have 1 or2 cups of coffee a week cut with homemade coconut or almond milk. and I keep my wine consumption down to a minimum. I feel great and am on no meds.

 

[Magnolia24]

I have been on SCD for about 4 months and am in remission. I was on prednisone and started SCD and Imuran around the same time. Before Imuran reached a therapeutic dose I felt an almost immediate improvement with the change in my diet, and was able to taper off of prednisone succcesfully. It is a challenging diet, especially at first, but I really believe it is worth it. Check out Breaking the Vicious Cycle, scdlifestyle.com, and the SCD/Paleo Threads on this forum!

 

[DaisyB]

Thank you all for your replies.

I am fairly newly diagnosed - khan-cc, I was also diagnosed in February! - so it's interesting to hear about other people's approaches to their diet, something I am just beginning to take seriously. I have just started reading a book about Paleo and it's made me think for the first time about what I put into my body - factory produced rubbish!!

Thanks for the links, Magnolia24, I'll check out the SCD diet and consider combining the two like JMDCA.

There was a period a few weeks ago when I almost gave up, thinking 'absolutely everything makes me ill and have horrendous symptoms, so I may as well just eat whatever I like'. Has anyone else felt like that? I feel like cr*p about 95% of the time I'm awake!

DJW and JMDCA - that is my ultimate goal - to get off meds, feel healthy (for the first time in years) and get on with living my life.

 

[Tamera]

Daisy wanted to say welcome! I have only joined in the last week but I feel the love from everybody! I am here all the time! I to was a junk food junkie but let me tell u your body will react like u ate some poison! I can't eat chesseburgers, hot dogs, French fries, candy and my favorite coffee!

Trust what your body tells you!

 

[DaisyB]

Thanks do much Tamera I know what you mean about this place, it's wonderful! Don't know what I'd have done without it.

I love junk food so much Tamera - why do they have to make it taste so damn good. Even when it's making me unwell I feel like I'm addicted and get cravings for it. My biggest vice is chocolate. But I have to start being strict with myself and putting my health first. Worried about getting sugar withdrawal symptoms but like you say, once I start eatin healthier I hope my body will make it easier to find out what specific foods are causing the worst symptoms.

 

[vonfunk]

When I was not actively flaring I could eat anything, except pizza from a specific chain. When I was was flaring, I stayed away from insoluble fibre.

In theory the food restrictions needed for UC are less strict that CD because the colon acts solely as a reservoir for waste and to reclaim water.