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Vegans with crohn's?

butt-eze

Superstar
I'm not. However I was wondering if you were implying you are. That would surprise me because many people try to attribute crohn's to poor diet. There's no way a vegan has a poor diet.
My doctors and I don't think diet is a cause. Although I've always eaten bland food. I don't have to avoid salsa and other spicy foods because I'm not a fan.
 
well butt from most of what I understand it seems crohn's is pretty genetic. I have been very for 3 years so its possible that before my diet led to activating it who knows?

i know that I used to have a lot of dairy and they say milk/cheese products may be the cause or irritate crohns.
 
E

ericajones80

Guest
I would love to go Vegan...don't think I could though
 

Kev

Senior Member
Farm boy, son of a farm boy. Love my veggies.. tho not a vegan or vegetarian. Do you know what the IBD nutritionist had me swear off? Fresh veggies, most can or frozen veggies unless they're cooked to a mush (ugh!). All gassy and most green veggies (like, I can have iceberg lettuce, shredded or minced, in small amounts). I exist on a low fibre, low residue, low lactose, hi protein diet... I do get protein from some veggie meat substitutes, since I limit my red meat consumption. I miss Caesar salad (romaign) or Greek (baby spinach).. Oh how I miss olives black, queen, manzanilla... or pickles, or hot peppars, etc.. I will stop now, else everyone is going to witness a grown man crying like a baby
 

butt-eze

Superstar
Kev

What is low residue? Also, do you think you can blog about your attempt to quit smoking when that comes along. It might help you and others???

Amy
 
I think there are some vegan-friendly foods that would also be considered Crohn's-friendly if you need to have a diet of soft, easily digestible foods. Silken tofu, applesauce, canned pumpkin, soy ice cream, jelly (NOT Jell-O, but the stuff made from fruit and pectin), bread, potatoes, pasta, soup, smoothies...

I think it would be possible to be vegan with Crohn's so long as the disease doesn't limit your diet too much. Because once you narrow the list of foods you can eat down to just a few, it's more likely that you won't get all the nutrients you need, even if you take vitamins. But if you don't need to watch your diet for IBD, being vegan is probably a very healthy idea. for anyone.
 

Kev

Senior Member
Oh, I dunno.. blogging while quitting smoking... sheesh. I won't make any hard promises... but if I can squeeze in the time, and controll my cravings, will do. It's a bit of a stretch, but there are connections between smoking and bowel diseases.
 
Being vegan can be very healthy, but being a strict meat eater can be similarly healthy too. Depends on if you know what you're putting in your mouth.
 
I love veggies and I love meat. During the work week my diet consists of chicken, turkey, veggie burgers and veggie sausage along with lots of veggies, pasta, beans and rice. Once the weekend is here..bring on the large chunks of red meat.

I live in the midwestern US and I have withdrawals if I don't have a KC strip steak every couple of weeks. It just melts in your mouth. The BBQ here is unbeatable. The ribs just fall off the bone. There is also a sports bar/restaurant (The Other Place) close to my house that I frequent and they have the best vegetarian pizza but I always have them add Canadian bacon and Italian sausage.

Of course all of this applies only when I'm flare free.

Btw, Isla carrots are very nutritious.
 
Isla said:
My mind went to a very dirty place....


mmmm carrots!
Yeah, dirty carrots.

Like the part in Old School when they used carrots in the "lessons" at the get-together. Great movie.
 
I

Isla

Guest
It is really I who can't handle -

It's like the old saying the one who smellt it dealt it...

I am the one with the dirty mind, so dirty that I had to instantly replace the "meat" with a carrot... it is better for me anyway
 

Kev

Senior Member
Ah, the job search. I was hoping to hear back from one yesterday. I interviewed, they loved my credentials, etc.. Then told me I had to write a psychological profile in order to be hired. It had to be sent off to the psychologist in the US, analyzed, and she would determine, training, experience, credentials aside, if I would fit in. Can you believe it? For a truck driving job? anyway, yesterday came and went with no response, so I sent off an e-mail. Still haven't heard, and its driving me bonkers. Didn't get to sleep til 3 AM last nite. Spent the whole day, in our heatwave, sitting beside the phone.
The only positive thing was another company I've been playing phone tag with the past week finally got thru to me in person. I interview for that Thursday AM
As for the psyche thing, either it was delayed by the July 1st/July 4th holidays, or I'm as crazy in reality as I think I am in spirit. I need to find something ASAP
 
sounds like that firm are the crazy ones, Kev - going to such extremes for a trucking job!! i wonder if they'll ever find Mr Perfect for their vacancy!

good luck with the interview tomorrow morning, i'll keep my fingers & toes crossed for you.
 

Kev

Senior Member
Well, it may be just the delay due to those almost back to back holidays.. Or they might use it as an out not to hire someone so... politically correct term would be.. distinguished looking... which translates as 'ancient'.. Who else on staff has any 'charioteer' experience? ;-) Funny thing is, they claim it's because they only want folks who will fit in.. Can you imagine me not fitting in, except in a chorus line...

Just, that's its pretty hard on the old ego right about now...
 

Kev

Senior Member
Hmmm, yeah... picture it... one of them head-dresses like the dancers in vegas wear... black fish net stockings, matching garter belt, a low cut merry widow.. and the piece de resistance ... black, stiletto high heels... size 14, EEEEE
 

Kev

Senior Member
huh... I figured with all the technical know how on this site, someone would PS a pix of me like that... Way easier than finding shoes my size. Least it kept me straight.
 
I

Isla

Guest
I got mad PS skillz - I am graphic artist... but boy lack of motivation is rampant in my house. I am definately one of those underacheiving computer nerds that is so pasty white from lack of sun my skin is almost see-through :)
 

Kev

Senior Member
Thanks pen.. They did call back, I passed the profile, they offered me a job, but I won't go into that here (covered in another post). As for the smoking clinic, if I don't try now, then I'd have to wait till the fall sometime.. Want to try it now, and if it did/does cause a problem, it probably won't be for 5 - 6 months anyway (just going by my previous history). Think if I stick with the nicotine patch I'll be okay. But thanks for the advice
 

mikeyarmo

Co-Founder
In regards to the forum topic...

I have actually seen a website say a vegan or vegetarian diet can cause IBD. Now the truth is the website was a religious one encouraging people to eat a diet that is consistent with what is written in the bible and it did not contain any scientific evidence or references to any other material. I have wondered where they got that from though (or did they just make it up out of thin air?)
 
R

Racer X

Guest
Hippie

I agree that the root cause of Crohn's is genetic. I had to call my brothers and sister because they are now in a high risk category. My doctor said that my siblings odds of getting Crohn's went up by a factor of ten when I was diagnosed!

I can see why being vegan seems like it would be the perfect all natural diet. However there are many things on the vegan list that send me into an immediate attack!

A month prior to starting any meds I went on the BRATTs diet. I was told that BRATTSs stands for bananas, rice, apple sauce, tea, and toast. After a week 80% of my symptoms went away! Over the months I have experimented with adding foods and supplements to the list of foods I can eat. This process has taken me five months but I finally feel like I have a handle on my diet now.

I suggest eating the foods you know are ok for you and doing your own experiments by adding on food at a time. Also you may want to talk to a nutritionist since the vegan diet limits your choices.


Best Wishes,

Tim
 
racer, the bratts diet sounds miserable. i think i will have to eat mild and high protein and cut things out and see what is working and what is not. its so hard and annoying.
 
I'm a seafood vegetarian. In most part due to the health benefits for my crohn's disease. The #1 problem for non-resected crohns diet-wise is fat. High fat content runs up the occurrences of most crohn's symptoms. Vegetarian diets are usually high-protein and low-fat. With most meat it's very difficult to get protein without ungodly amounts of fat. That, and meat is unmatched in extremely high calorie content per serving. I'll probably end up on prednisone again in the next month or two so that's going to become even more important. Last time I was on prednisone I gained more weight than I'm comfortable with (from 150->170). It would have helped if someone had warned me that I was going to have increased hunger the first time around too.

I've had no trouble whatsoever finding food. Yesterday I had eggplant parmesan (just plain good), PBJ sandwhich (creamy PB and no seeds in the jelly), fish and chips (Actually high fat and it did upset my tummy but it wouldn't have been a problem had I made it at home by baking), cocopuffs cereal (okay, it's sugary but all the non-sugary cereal is high-fiber), mango nectar (no pulp), and soda (simethicone on hand in case of carbonation trouble).
 
You aren't going to find too much fat or calories in chicken breast, egg whites, 95% lean beef or fat free cheese (which does okay with me), I think it all depends on the source. Besides, much of the unsaturated, like mono and poly (esp. the Omega 3's, which are poly's) actually have been known to carry anti-inflammatory properties. A meat eater can cater to a low fat high protein diet too, provided they're informed, that's usually the way I eat unless I need to focus on calories more for bulking (which is where the fats come in handy, so I'll focus on the unsaturated as best I can).

I respect your choice still, but just know that not all "meat" is classed the way it was a couple decades ago when it was known for being less healthy. Although I'll again state your choice in fish as your sole meat is probably the wisest (just not fried, of course).
 
I just read that high fats good or bad (so that includes omega 3's) might be a cause of chron's. all this research is making me nuts, I love to have high doses of flax oil to get omega 3's but now I read this, i give up.
 
You will go nuts if you give too much credence to everything you find, just as I began to go about 8 hours into my diagnosis 2 years ago after reading a million studies, I bet one could find a study proving Crohns was caused by human saliva and umbrellas....

if you're supplementing with flax I'm guessing you have to consume ungodly amounts of it to be on par with what is considered a "high fat diet"....the normal RDA for fat is like 65 grams, and unless you're consuming more than that in flax I'd say flax isn't giving you your disease. I wouldn't go anywhere near 65 grams of Omega 3's a day though.....

The important thing is the general consensus among the scientific community, not one singular study or report, and the general consensus is it's unlikely food gives one Crohns (but MAP still makes rounds though)
 
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BWS you are so funny, lol human saliva and umbrellas haha.

I am skeptical of the general "scientific community" because they say food has zero to do with Chron's and that might be the case with how we developed the disease but clearly what we choose to eat can help us to heal or can further irritate us. So to say food plays no part in my opinion is irresponsible on the part of docs.
 
I think any GI's you find stating food doesn't affect symptoms are in the minority, almost all reading and conversing I've had with docs has led to a universal rule that diet affects symptoms, but not the cause of the IBD. That's why they so often push the low residue diet and talk about low fiber diets, and say to stay away from dairy, spicy food, etc...

If you find a doc saying diet won't affect you at all, they're either delusional, misinformed, or have no clue how to express that diet doesn't cause the disease so it comes out wrong, and they accidentally state that diet has no affect, period.
 
Maybe they're trying to tell you diet didnt' give you Crohns and it's not coming out right? I don't know, but maybe you could see what he/she says if you bring up in a conversation "I've spoken to quite a few patients as well as many medical professionals, and they really state that diet can help manage symptoms, and so I tried it, and it seemed to help some" and test their reaction, I really don't know, but I do recall one portion of my medical records where my first GI doc suspected that when I told him I was getting worse about 18 months ago in my first flare, he put in the notes he "suspected dietary indiscretions" meaning he thinks it was possible I got worse in my flare simply by eating foods I shouldn't have.
 
Or simply something specific: I feel worse when I eat spicy food.

Your doctor is probably trying to make you understand that diet will not cure the crohn's but there are certainly foods that are hard to digest comfortably due to the symptoms of the crohn's disease.
 
yeah the doc could be afraid you'll run with an answer of "yes diet can affect symptoms" and not seek any further medical help, and try to modify your diet and that alone will be your control. Maybe?
 
O

Op.28/18

Guest
hippie4lyfe said:
I am skeptical of the general "scientific community" because they say food has zero to do with Chron's and that might be the case with how we developed the disease but clearly what we choose to eat can help us to heal or can further irritate us. So to say food plays no part in my opinion is irresponsible on the part of docs.
I agree with you that if a doctor says diet doesn't matter, that's irresponsible. My doctors, when I was diagnosed, said the same thing--and these were medical professors at the University of Iowa. (Weirdly, however, I was also advised to eat ice cream due to its softness, which, even if this were good advice--it's definitely not, I know now--it's logically inconsistent with "diet doesn't matter.") I don't think that--"diet doesn't matter"--is the consensus among serious doctors though. Doctors with degrees from third tier toilets, maybe. Doctors who became GIs only because specialists make more money, maybe. But doctors who actually have a degree of professional responsibility, doctors who care and are intelligent, I think they know better.

There was a doctor from the University of Chicago interviewed by The New York Times about a month ago. His opinion, which I think most serious doctors would agree with, was that diet can influence the disease and make us feel worse, but it doesn't cause the disease and there's nothing people with Crohn's or UC could have done to prevent getting the disease.

The Mayo Clinic also acknowledges that diet can influence the course of the disease and, on its website, even provides some useful advice.

If your doctor is telling you diet doesn't matter, I think finding a new doctor would be a good idea. If a doctor's wrong about something so basic, what else will he or she be wrong about? I don't think you can trust a doctor who doesn't even know basic information like this. That's really pretty pathetic.
 
Not sure if anyone is still watching this topic but I am vegan as well and looking for vegan specific advice.
 
good advice for vegans
"Even though I don’t believe strict vegan diets are optimal from a health perspective, I do think there are ways to make the best out of a meatless, eggless, and dairyless situation. I’d like to offer some of those ideas on this page so that anybody personally committed to veganism can maximize their chance of staying healthy, and hopefully avoid the most common pitfalls us annoying ex-vegans blather on about. " Denise Minger

http://rawfoodsos.com/for-vegans/
 
Sorry I should have been more specific, I meant advice regarding a vegan diet as it relates to Crohn's disease. Although I do think there is some good info in the article you linked. I have been thinking about going gluten free but haven't lasted more than a few days. I may try again for a few weeks.
 

DustyKat

Super Moderator
@lelu

My daughter is vegan/raw vegan and in remission. I don't know how much help I will be but if you have any specific questions I could ask her.

Dusty. xxx
 
In regards to the forum topic...

I have actually seen a website say a vegan or vegetarian diet can cause IBD. Now the truth is the website was a religious one encouraging people to eat a diet that is consistent with what is written in the bible and it did not contain any scientific evidence or references to any other material. I have wondered where they got that from though (or did they just make it up out of thin air?)
I'll have to go with the thin air theory.

Genesis 1:29
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Genesis 1:30
And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

1 Corinthians 8:8
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

Matthew 15:11
It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
 
Thanks Dusty :) Was she vegan/raw vegan when she went into remission? Any tips for achieving remission as a vegan?
 

DustyKat

Super Moderator
Sorry lelu, :(, no tips, Sarah was in already in remission when she made the transition to being vegan.

Dusty. xxx
 
I am 62, didn't get diagnosed properly until I was 32.

For the last 8 yrs, I have done really well.

My daughter and I decided to go VEGAN for all the right reasons you can imagine.

It has only been 3 months.

I have been in the ER twice with excruciating exacerbations.

I AM NOT ALLOWED TO BE HEALTHY.

Am extremity frustrated as there is nothing left I can eat that I can eat that is healthy.
 
I was eating what was on both of those sites and it put me in the hospital twice. Terrified to go back on a vegan diet. I never want to experience that pain again, would rather die now.

I was so weak at ill at work, that at lunch, I gave in and has thin slices of smoked salmon, half a boiled egg, tomatoe slices and some honeydew. OMS ( OMSELF!), I felt toooo much betttter!~~~~
 
I was eating what was on both of those sites and it put me in the hospital twice. Terrified to go back on a vegan diet. I never want to experience that pain again, would rather die now.

I was so weak at ill at work, that at lunch, I gave in and has thin slices of smoked salmon, half a boiled egg, tomatoe slices and some honeydew. OMS ( OMSELF!), I felt toooo much betttter!~~~~
Glad you are feeling better .
 
Thanks Ron



I mean really... Walnuts? Peppers?

Crohn's disease is one those oxymoron things

You simply aren't allowed to be healthy, if you try you suffer, they tell you eat things you CAN'T !!! I don't get it, after all these years....I don't get doctors ....they don't know what they are doing to us.
 
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