I'm really stuck because my dietian said I need to start to eat more but I'm really scared in case they upset me. When I do eat something I can't eat I normally feel really scared and sad because I think it's going to upset me and it's the same when I've eaten a big dinner. Please help I really don't want to be scared of food. Even if I tyres a bit of somethings and see how they go I will constantly be worrying and probably bring on the pain myself due to worry and stress. Advice??
Scared of food!
- Thread starter Badtummy4
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Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
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- Nov 9, 2014
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I have been there too/ am there from time to time again/ am there currently (take what you like lol). It's not uncommon, my nutritionist said to me a few days ago.
For me, it resulted in loss of appetite even with very low signs of inflammation, so more or less a result of that fear.
I was on the Cambridge elimination diet (on elemental diet drinks only, before that), so I had to test one food by one, which is nonsense, according to the latest research (it's a barrier disfunction but not an allergy, the composition is what alters the gut flora and helps tighten the broken tight junctions, a crumble of whatever is NOT able to make us sick - apart from having a true allergy).
So, basically, believing in this for a long time added up on that mindset of food = enemy.
So please try to get rid of that idea, as it's NOT true. Food and nutrition is your friend, not your enemy!
Look into research, talk to those IBD patients who are in remission (and eat what they like now, do not consult those who always stick to unhealthy relations to eating), and - most importantly - do not do what I did, please: Eating one food at a time and concluding something that can not be concluded from that.
There is so, so much more than that single food passing the digestion system around us, there are stress hormones, there are relaxing hormones, there is water content that makes food go through the small intestine in different speeds, there is the quantity (large meal vs. small meal), there is the time of eating (large meal in the evenings might be more difficult to digest etc.) on the one hand.
On the other hand, there are all the processes on the biochemical level in our bodies: Absorbing some antioxidants from this food, for getting along with the "trouble" from that food. Or: absorbing some anti-inflammatory fats or vitamin d for starting anti-inflammatory pathways in the body (lowering anti-tnf by that for example) that in the end strengthens the broken tight-junctions in the gut in order to function in a healthier way.
In fact, what goes wrong in Crohn's is, according to current state of the art, that bacteria e.g. from food enters the mucosa and is present in a normally bacteria-free layer of the gut. Just because we lack of these so called defensines.
So, is there something that food can help us with?
Not directly.
What should food do then?
Nourish us, help us enjoying life and eating, offer enough macro-nutrients (enough protein, especially during inflammation, enough fats, rest can be carbohydrates from vegetables, bread or anything you like), give us enough micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace minerals) and - most importantly - taste good.
Please don't eliminate foods, especially don't eliminate dairy, animal protein (plant protein can not be absorbed easily and can hardly be used from the human body, particularly when the digestion tract has a hard time absorbing the nutrients while inflammation but - for some - also in remission) and healthy fats (so important for the brain as well).
Get more of the foods that are assumed to help with inflammation, offer a bunch of vitamins, are easy absorbable (please, don't google, there is so much junk and non-scientific pseudo-knowledge out there which is easy getting rid of once having read it, I know what I'm talking about; there is good literature in libraries, e.g. the local libraries or university libraries).
What really makes a difference for me, as well as for others (not only my current nutritionist says that):
Portion size, combination of food (!) (protein, fats and carbohydrates in each meal for slowing digestion a bit down and improving absorption) and consistency/ temperature/ acidity (smooth foods, blended foods first, low-acidic fruit such as banana but always with protein and fats, no seeds and nuts, no fried foods first, no raw food, no gas-producing because bacteria-feeding food such as cale, beans etc.).
In addition, plain yoghurt or, if you like, probiotics for good bacteria that help tighten the broken tight junctions again and competing with bacteria that has entered these junctions (and thereby leading to inflammation in IBD patients).
For upping calories and nutrients (our bodies need the nutrients more than anyone else to function properly and fight inflammation):
Ensure, Modulen IBD, Peptamen as drinks or other formula that can be added to soups, cakes, muffins, pan cakes etc.:hang:
Eventually, when the level of inflammation degreases, we should be able to eat a large variety of foods, but probably still (not everyone) be careful with fried foods, acidic foods, nuts and seeds, beans etc. :thumbdown:
To sum up, for now, try to eat smooth foods, don't forget protein, and add in enteral nutrition drinks or powdered formula until you reach a healthy weight and/ or can eat a variety of foods without issues that offers the required amounts of macro- and micronutrients. :thumleft:
If you or anyone else has questions or is dealing with this issue as well, feel free to send me a privat message anytime. I know how hard it is emerging from there again once having pursued that path.
