Food Confusion
- Thread starter Civil69
- Start date
Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2012
- Messages
- 14,792
Foods are very individualized .
What works for one my not work for another.
Typically Crohn's disease needs more than diet to help control it.
Generally most avoid nuts fruit skins seeds and popcorn since they are hard on the intestine ( think sand paper ).
DS tried fodmaps , free of this and free of that diet -it did nada for him.
That said after keeping a food diary we know raw veggies will trigger diarrhea - which is huge for him since he is normally constipated.
Scd has been proven to work as a adjunct therapy for some .
What works for one my not work for another.
Typically Crohn's disease needs more than diet to help control it.
Generally most avoid nuts fruit skins seeds and popcorn since they are hard on the intestine ( think sand paper ).
DS tried fodmaps , free of this and free of that diet -it did nada for him.
That said after keeping a food diary we know raw veggies will trigger diarrhea - which is huge for him since he is normally constipated.
Scd has been proven to work as a adjunct therapy for some .
LewisS
Lewis
Hey. For me, I just seem to know what sets me off from past experiences. I usually give foods like two chances and if they cause me problems both times, they're out!
I seem to have a lot of problems with indigestible foods like sweet corn and peas. It also depends on how I feel too. If I'm flaring bad, I eat super low residue, but otherwise pretty normally.
Give the food diary a shot. It's better to take out foods one by one rather than a whole group and limiting yourself. You may only have issues with one or two things.
I seem to have a lot of problems with indigestible foods like sweet corn and peas. It also depends on how I feel too. If I'm flaring bad, I eat super low residue, but otherwise pretty normally.
Give the food diary a shot. It's better to take out foods one by one rather than a whole group and limiting yourself. You may only have issues with one or two things.
Do you have access to a dietician? Prior to my resection surgery I was having a lot of trouble with foods. My GI doc had me on a low residue diet and when that wasn't working he suggested low FODMAPs, as well. I was so frustrated and overwhelmed because I felt like I had about five foods I could eat. I finally called my insurance company to see if they would cover a dietician and was greatly surprised to find out they would. She was so extremely helpful. She customized a diet for me that was low residue and only eliminated the highest FODMAP foods, such as beans and apples. That brought so many foods back into my diet and still kept me fairly comfortable until surgery. She also recommended supplements, which I probably wouldn't have done on my own.
Other than that, I'd say that what you can eat will be determined by your own unique set of circumstances. For me, I don't think I've ever noticed that foods cause flares. It's more a matter of not compounding my troubles by eating foods that are going to ferment in my gut and cause gas or foods that are going to get caught in a stricture. Also, when I have inflammation I go low residue or liquids to give my intestines a rest so they can heal.
I wish you the best. I know how confusing it can be.
Other than that, I'd say that what you can eat will be determined by your own unique set of circumstances. For me, I don't think I've ever noticed that foods cause flares. It's more a matter of not compounding my troubles by eating foods that are going to ferment in my gut and cause gas or foods that are going to get caught in a stricture. Also, when I have inflammation I go low residue or liquids to give my intestines a rest so they can heal.
I wish you the best. I know how confusing it can be.
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2012
- Messages
- 4,557
I'd say none of the above. However, there are people claim to have success with all of those diets - different people respond to different foods.
One of my doctors recommended the FODMAP diet to me recently, but I didn't want to try it. I spent a lot of time in the past experimenting with various restrictive diets, and found them extremely unhelpful - some even made my symptoms worse. When I read about the FODMAP diet, it seemed to be very restrictive, and I didn't see any particular reason why it should apply to me. My diet's already restricted by not being able to eat foods which could block my stoma, so I didn't want to cut out any more, not without good reason that it would improve things for me.
The only way you'll find out if a diet can help you, is to try it and see, but I'd be wary of trying anything that has only anecdotal evidence. The diet that helps me the most is low-fibre. I believe this diet has more scientific backing behind it than the ones you mentioned. A low fibre diet is often recommended by conventional doctors, for various digestive medical conditions.
You need to consider your overall health at the moment before attempting any major dietary changes; for example, if you're very sick right now, or if you're underweight, restricting your food choices right now may not be a good idea.
Consider the time and financial cost you have to spare - if you want to try a new diet, do you have the time to learn about it? If you knew a diet would bring a lot of health benefits, then it would be worth putting time and effort into it, but if you choose to follow a diet with no idea if it will help or not, you have to consider that you might not benefit, no matter how well you stick to it.
I think the most important thing is not to expect too much. Don't get stressed over following rigid rules, and don't believe everything you read - just because one website tells you certain foods are bad, it doesn't mean they are.
If you do change your diet, look for consistent improvement in your symptoms - just because you feel bad after eating a particular food one day, it doesn't mean that food caused you to feel worse - look for consistent patterns over a couple of weeks.
I'd recommend steering clear of any overly restrictive or "alternative" diets. You may want to get tested for lactose intolerance and coeliac disease. You could also start by eliminating the foods from your diet that are most commonly causes of digestive problems - high fibre foods, very rich foods, spicy foods, alcohol, etc. However, again, remember that virtually every food has been labeled "bad" by someone, so make sure you don't end up cutting out too many foods.
Don't get stressed about it or let it confuse you, and don't worry if you make some wrong food choices while you're experimenting. Eating something which disagrees with you may make you feel worse temporarily, but it shouldn't do you any lasting harm. There are some circumstances where this isn't the case - for example, if I eat a food which blocks my stoma, that can have major, immediate health consequences, and I think the same can apply to strictures and other Crohn's complications. If you have any worries about this, check whether your gasteroenterologist has any advice about foods you should be avoiding.
One of my doctors recommended the FODMAP diet to me recently, but I didn't want to try it. I spent a lot of time in the past experimenting with various restrictive diets, and found them extremely unhelpful - some even made my symptoms worse. When I read about the FODMAP diet, it seemed to be very restrictive, and I didn't see any particular reason why it should apply to me. My diet's already restricted by not being able to eat foods which could block my stoma, so I didn't want to cut out any more, not without good reason that it would improve things for me.
The only way you'll find out if a diet can help you, is to try it and see, but I'd be wary of trying anything that has only anecdotal evidence. The diet that helps me the most is low-fibre. I believe this diet has more scientific backing behind it than the ones you mentioned. A low fibre diet is often recommended by conventional doctors, for various digestive medical conditions.
You need to consider your overall health at the moment before attempting any major dietary changes; for example, if you're very sick right now, or if you're underweight, restricting your food choices right now may not be a good idea.
Consider the time and financial cost you have to spare - if you want to try a new diet, do you have the time to learn about it? If you knew a diet would bring a lot of health benefits, then it would be worth putting time and effort into it, but if you choose to follow a diet with no idea if it will help or not, you have to consider that you might not benefit, no matter how well you stick to it.
I think the most important thing is not to expect too much. Don't get stressed over following rigid rules, and don't believe everything you read - just because one website tells you certain foods are bad, it doesn't mean they are.
If you do change your diet, look for consistent improvement in your symptoms - just because you feel bad after eating a particular food one day, it doesn't mean that food caused you to feel worse - look for consistent patterns over a couple of weeks.
I'd recommend steering clear of any overly restrictive or "alternative" diets. You may want to get tested for lactose intolerance and coeliac disease. You could also start by eliminating the foods from your diet that are most commonly causes of digestive problems - high fibre foods, very rich foods, spicy foods, alcohol, etc. However, again, remember that virtually every food has been labeled "bad" by someone, so make sure you don't end up cutting out too many foods.
Don't get stressed about it or let it confuse you, and don't worry if you make some wrong food choices while you're experimenting. Eating something which disagrees with you may make you feel worse temporarily, but it shouldn't do you any lasting harm. There are some circumstances where this isn't the case - for example, if I eat a food which blocks my stoma, that can have major, immediate health consequences, and I think the same can apply to strictures and other Crohn's complications. If you have any worries about this, check whether your gasteroenterologist has any advice about foods you should be avoiding.
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2014
- Messages
- 23
Thank you all so much!!!
Perspective, food diary and getting used to eating the same things day in and day out because they don't upset my apple cart <wink> sounds like the best plan.
I don't believe in elimination diets either and that is what a lot of these are. Hence the question from experienced peeps.
All I really want is to enjoy my life while managing the monkey on my back.
Thanks again
Perspective, food diary and getting used to eating the same things day in and day out because they don't upset my apple cart <wink> sounds like the best plan.
I don't believe in elimination diets either and that is what a lot of these are. Hence the question from experienced peeps.
All I really want is to enjoy my life while managing the monkey on my back.
Thanks again
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2013
- Messages
- 994
It's not a monkey it's a mountain gorilla on your back!these diets are so restrictive it must be maddening,far better to figure out the odd food that sets you off and avoid.i had a check up this week and asked about diets and was told that kooky diets when your basically ok are unnecessary blanding your diet out and liquid diets are only required if your flaring up badly or recovering from surgery.so says my consultant
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2011
- Messages
- 990
Hi Civil69,
The diets are not that hard and plenty of people find they help alot.
You won't know if they help you unless you try......
I know they sound daunting but it's pretty straight forward.
From the post i feel that you have already made up your mind ("I don't believe in elimination diets either"), and are searching for confirmation.
Strangely, avoiding potentially beneficial but "restrictive" diets and "getting used to eating the same things day in and day out because they don't upset my apple cart" sounds like having all the hardship of a diet without much of the benefit.
Perhaps an easier to follow diet like PHD[1], to see if you benefit and if so you might develop the enthusiasm to go further or find that you don't need to (unfortunately the central tenant of all the "diets' (SCD/GAPS/Paleo) is to eat 'real food' and many find that this is just too much trouble or that they miss the comfort of modern convenience 'food-like products".)
I would still recommend reading up on these diets so you understand the philosophy/reasoning/theories behind them and at a future stage you might decide that they are worth trying.
a talk by a gastroenterologist about paleo.....
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=48559
[1] Bowel Disorders, Part I: About Gut Disease (first of four parts)
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2010/07/ulcerative-colitis-a-devastating-gut-disease/
The diets are not that hard and plenty of people find they help alot.
You won't know if they help you unless you try......
I know they sound daunting but it's pretty straight forward.
From the post i feel that you have already made up your mind ("I don't believe in elimination diets either"), and are searching for confirmation.
Strangely, avoiding potentially beneficial but "restrictive" diets and "getting used to eating the same things day in and day out because they don't upset my apple cart" sounds like having all the hardship of a diet without much of the benefit.
Perhaps an easier to follow diet like PHD[1], to see if you benefit and if so you might develop the enthusiasm to go further or find that you don't need to (unfortunately the central tenant of all the "diets' (SCD/GAPS/Paleo) is to eat 'real food' and many find that this is just too much trouble or that they miss the comfort of modern convenience 'food-like products".)
I would still recommend reading up on these diets so you understand the philosophy/reasoning/theories behind them and at a future stage you might decide that they are worth trying.
a talk by a gastroenterologist about paleo.....
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=48559
[1] Bowel Disorders, Part I: About Gut Disease (first of four parts)
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2010/07/ulcerative-colitis-a-devastating-gut-disease/
