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Dietary Changes
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 03/25/2010 490 posts
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ms (Scottsdale, Arizona) on 03/24/2010
★★★★☆
Has the world gone looney or what! I don't know if most of the posts here on UC are from folks who actually have IBS or have self-diagnosed because most of this info will actually HURT UC SUFFERERS not help them.
I was diagnosed with UC in 1998 through colonoscopy and biopsy, and then again in 02, and 04 follow-ups. My worst was 40cm up from rectum. At one point I lost 3 pints of blood with a hematocrit of 28. And during an 8-hour period I used the toilet 27 times all for blood loss with mucus and the debilitating pain where I couldn't walk back to the bed.
I've kept a food diary since 1999, every single day of my life, every item I ingest and my bowel responses. I have learned the following:
AVOID FOODS:
-Flour and sugar combos like cookies, cakes, etc.
-Rice...this will make me bleed within hours! Rice is "sticky" and the worst thing any UC sufferer can do is to put "sticky" foods on their colon.
-Glutens...again, sticky.
-Syrups
-Yellow Cheese...this will bring any UC sufferer out of remission...causes me to bleed by the next day.
-Lunchmeats and prepared meats with nitrates, nitrites, etc.
-Flour tortillas...again it's gooey and sticky on the colon.
-Raw vegetables...I don't know how people say a raw veggie diets helps...what brought me out of my first remission was raw broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.
-Some dark colored fruits like Blueberries, Cherries...it has something to do with the element that gives the fruit its "blueness" or "redness" that the UC feeds on...I'll bleed by the next day with these fruits.
-High toxic fish and high pesticide fruits and veggies. The chemicals just aggravate the UC and will bring it out of quiescence.
-Soy...if it works for others, that's a new one, because it ravages my colon, whether it's milk or product, it's just no good for my UC.
-Red meat...you never if the cow is corn or grass fed, what it was fed, and the meat is too hard on the colon.
-Iron Supplements...even pharmaceutical grade will cause bleeding instantly. There is only 1 iron supplement I can tolerate and it is a liquid, made in Germany but sold here in the U.S. It has other B vitamins too, and I tolerate it okay to help with my anemia.
-Pasta, especially imported pasta from Italy because of the iron enrichment. It rips up the colon and I'll bleed instantly.
THE GREATEST ENEMY OF ALL TIME IS..."Guar Gum"!!!!
It is found is just about everything, and will cause bleeding within a day...it is the most evil additive! Xanthan Gum which is an expensive alternative is okay though.
APPROVED LIST FOODS:
These items work for me and help me control the UC.
-Chicken...I usually grill my chicken in bulk, freeze it, and take a breast to defrost so I can always eat at home.
-Cooked broccoli, cauli, asparagus, even corn on the cob is fine for me.
-Corn tortillas...as long as they are just corn, lime, water with no chemical additives.
-Tomatoes, cilantro, onion...a good salsa is very tolerable.
-Organic apples (unfortunately most bananas will cause problems if I eat them every day; once in a great while only on the bananas).
-Avacados
-Most breads...I can tolerate one brand, but several others cause problems...it's all about keeping track of what you eat and how you react to determine what you can tolerate.
-Eggs
-Salad with homemade dressing...once you get UC under a good control you can enjoy an Organic salad now and then with a homemade dressing...store bought dressings have chemicals that will bother the UC.
-Milk...I have no problems with milk at all and I'm a heavy milk drinker at 1/2 gal. per day.
-Some chocolates...unfortunately most chocolate will bother UC, but find which one works for your system. Most will just pull me out of remission and cause bleeding.
-Mozzarella and white Mexican Cheeses...they won't hurt in moderation. Stay away from yellow cheeses, and even White Cheddar must be enjoyed sparingly.
HIGHLIGHTS
-Avoid Guar Gum at all costs.
-Avoid all things sticky including rice.
-Cook your veggies.
-Stick with chicken, and fishes sparingly.
-Keep track of your diet in a diary and write down what works, your reactions, so you can determine for yourself what helps you or hurts you.
I have much more info to give, but wanted to keep it simple. This is a good start.
Aloe Vera Juice, Boswellia
Posted by Colitis (Atl, Ga) on 03/19/2010
so do you still have to take prescription medications with the boswellia or can you take it along with the aloe vera juice?
Dietary Changes
Posted by Josephus (Seattle, Wa, Usa) on 03/10/2010
Hi Paul;
Answers:
How am I doing now? Absolutely great! I eat what I want and have had no UC symptoms for over a year.
Did I do the 7-day diet again? No, but for insurance I did three more days in February 2009. I don't think it made any difference.
Was it difficult? I hope this answer doesn't discourage you but yes it was about the hardest thing I have ever done as an adult. I live in an area with a lot of restaurants and just the smell of food was driving me nuts. You won't starve, you can eat as much brown rice as you want, but it sure is bland.
There is a cure. Go for it!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Paul (Boston, Ma) on 03/10/2010
Josephus,
You said you did the water and brown rice in December 2008. How are you doing now? Since 2008 did you have to do the 7-day diet again? Was it difficult to follow this diet for 7-days?
I have been suffering with UC for almost 10 years. I have done probiotics, diets, aloe vera, acupuncture, kinsiology. Natural treatments and just about every prescription drug that was approved. I still have a hard time accepting the "there is no cure".
Dietary Changes
Posted by Josephus (Seattle, Wa, Usa) on 03/09/2010
★★★★★
Check out what Dom in Austrailia has to say about curing ulcerative colitis:
http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/IBD/index.htmMy experience: I am a 70 year old male diagnosed with UC in 1996. I tried a lot of natural remedies and finally achieved remission in 2004 with megadoses of probiotics - about 1.2 trillion CFU/day, some store-bought and some from my home-made kefir. When I tried lowering the dosage, my symptoms returned within 10 days. During this time I eased off and quit taking Asacol.
In December, 2008, I did a 7-day diet of nothing but water and brown rice: water - 1 glass in the AM plus enough to cook the rice rice - 2 tbls raw, soaked overnight plus 4 quarter-cup servings throughout the day.
I only did stage 1 of Dom's protocol. Right away, I quit taking the store-bought probiotics and after a few months stopped the kefir. I feel that I am still healing but I have had NO symptoms of the UC. Hope this will help someone.
L-Glutamine
Posted by Macky (New Iberia, La) on 02/17/2010
Barley Grass Capsules and Slippery Elm Capsules are very helpful for colon diseases. They helped me with crohns disease from the bleeding and diarrea. Please read about these herbs. I also quit drinking cows milk and caffeine.
Acupuncture, Turmeric, Aloe Vera Juice
Posted by Vanessa (Las Vegas, Nv) on 02/12/2010
How exactly did you use the turmeric? What was the combination that worked best for you? Do you take the aloe vera juice and turmeric everyday?
Baking Soda
Posted by Warren (Perth, Australia) on 02/09/2010
★★★★★
try bi carb soda for ulcerative colitis! It will corrrect bad flora in the gut and reduce symptoms quickly. 1 teaspoon in a glass off water 3 times per day.
Baking Soda, Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Hilary (England, United Kingdom) on 01/15/2010
★★★★☆
i found your site yesterday and would like to ask ted or anyone how and what do i take to put my ulcerative colitis in remission and stop bleeding. i was in so much pain straining and my stomach was turning over when i saw this site yesterday, the doc wanted me in hospital at xmas but iwas not going there again or takin the steroids that gained me three stone, so ive been trying naturally. as i say yesterday i found your site took bicarb half teaspoon and same of milk of magnesia, i had no apple cider vinegar so left that out but within 15 minutes my stomach had settled, sooo please can you tell me as this is so great , how do i put the colitis into remission and stop the bleeding ? and what can i eat too that helps, what do i stay away from? please help again your humble servant thank you from the bottom of my heart my stomach is so much better already. Ted HELP. THANKS
Coconut Oil
Posted by Brenda (Indianapolis, In) on 01/09/2010
★★★★★
I've been suffering from colitis for several months. I used an over the counter pro-biotic which helped but I still had problems that were both uncomfortable and embarassing. I tried taking coconut oil softgels and in one day's time, I had significant improvement. It has only been 4 days so too soon to tell, but so far it seems to have resolved my colitis completely.
Ashitaba Tea
Posted by Jeannine (Merrimack, Nh) on 12/31/2009
★★★★★
I have ulcerative colitis and was taking Lialda until I discovered Ashitaba powder. I make a tea using 1 tsp of Ashitaba powder and 8 ounces of hot water and drink it every evening. I haven't had an attack in three weeks even though I stopped taking my prescription medicine. The powder isn't bad tasting; however it looks like swamp water and there are little pieces of the Ashitaba that don't dissolve but the person who grows this claims that's the part of the Ashitaba that causes the healing. The Ashitaba also comes in capsule and liquid form but the grower says it's not as effective as the powder.
EC: Ashitaba is a Japanese tea grown on Hachi Jo Island, Japan.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Mohamed (London, Uk) on 12/21/2009
Hi Judy i am curious how your daughter doing now after having the blackstrap Molasses! i am willing to start it as well.
thanks
Mohamed
L-Glutamine
Posted by Andrey (Moscow, Russia) on 11/03/2009
I'm suffering from UC for a 5 consequtive years with few short remissions due to hydro-cortison and salofalc therapy. However, it does not help for last year or so. I've read your notice about L-Glutamine. I checked over internet and has found lots of it, in pills, powder and something else. But it all refers to some fitness and bodybuilders's sites. Is it the same remedy that you meant? If yes, what type is better - pills, powder or any? Please advise.
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Tamara (Valencia, California) on 10/16/2009
Mohammed, I am sorry it took so long to get back to you. I haven't been on the website for quite a while. A raw foods diet has worked perfectly for me. As long as I continue to eat whole foods (fruits and vegetables) as the majority of my diet, then I am free from any symptoms. When I try to incorporate other foods into my diet (bread,sweets,any fast foods,etc.) my symptoms reappear. Staying on this raw foods diet is quite a challenge at times, but it is truly worth it. I can almost guarantee that your symptoms will disappear if you stick to it! Happy eating and God bless!
L-Glutamine
Posted by A Roper (Sydney, Australia) on 10/13/2009
Just wanted to update: I have not had a flare of ulcerative colitis since February 09 and as much as I believe L-glutamine has helped, the main thing for me has been avoiding antibiotics. I realised they were causing my colitis. Change of season, sinus infection, antibiotics, flareup.... I picked up on the pattern and isolated the issue. I'm perfectly healthy now and don't think I ever had ulcerative colitis - just a reaction to antibiotics.
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Joseph (Lawrence, Ks) on 09/08/2009
★★★★☆
I decided to try the raw vegan diet after years of nothing else working. Mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, sometimes steamed. Salads, smoothies, nuts, seeds, berries, srpouts... I'm pretty sure we're all talking about the same author, the one that comes up if you search for vegan and ulcerative colitis.
After a few months it was like I never even had UC. It was crazy, I hadn't felt so good in years, if not better. I only ate like that for about four months, then I adopted it into my own diet. It's been a year and a half and I'm still doing great. UC doesn't really affect my life anymore. No more medications, no more pain, no more being confined to an area with a nearby bathroom. If I do get a flare up, it's because I ate something I knew I shouldn't have. There are rare occasions where I will suffer for a food I miss eating (like fried stuff). I still eat a vegan diet, but maybe 60-70% of it being raw. I just love cooking too much. I see the raw vegan diet as a great way to heal your body, but I don't think it's sustainable for most people. You can use it to let your ulcers calm down and then incorporate large amounts of fresh, raw, organic produce into your own diet, which is much more doable for most people.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, West Midlands, england) on 08/08/2009
hi there judy could u tell me how ur dauhter eat the black strap molasses thanks
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, West Midlands, england) on 08/02/2009
hi there tamara could u plz tell me if ur uc has gone compelety and if raw food diet really wrks thanks
Probiotics
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, West Midlands, england) on 08/02/2009
hi there brad wht probiotics did u take could u let me knw plz
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, West Midlands, england) on 08/02/2009
hi there judy i wner knw if ur daughter is completely well with black strap molasses because i got uc for abou 3 years could let me knw plz
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Lori (Delta, CO) on 07/23/2009
Judy, I'm curious, is your daughter off meds and taking the BSM? My daughters Dr. doesn't want to take her off her meds since she's been in remission for 7 months. I would like to get her off all meds. How is she doing now?
Fruit Enzymes
Posted by Debra (Bradenton, FL) on 07/06/2009
I must agree with the fruit enzymes. I was diagnosed with colitis over 8 years ago & suffered everyday around 4 pm with severe cramping & diarrhea. I tried many remedies & cut out certain foods. Nothing really changed. 4 years ago, a frozen custard shop opened in my neighborhood. I was hooked. 5 nights a week I would get a vanilla custard with strawberries & rasberries. A week after I started eating it consistantly, I noticed my symptoms subsided. Today, I may get an episode once every 3 or 4 months. And that is usually due to going out of town for a week & not eating my berries.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by vandu (Silver Spring, MD) on 06/30/2009
Hi Judy, I'm also curious, as I'm having a bout of colitis. I wanted to do a liver flush series after reading Andreas Moritz's book "Amazing Liver Cleanse." But since I've been having colitis symptoms, I'd like to first give my body a chance to heal from this.
Please let us know if the Black strap molassas is still working. I'm wondering what would happen if it's mixed with or eaten with Turmeric? Wow..that may be a great affect no?
I usually have some turmeric in my food (i'm indian), but now adding more, and I may get the supplement, plus aloe vera, and try to the black strap molaassas. Also read in Ayurveda book that Licorice Root enemas are great to do for colitis symptoms.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Joseph (Boston, MA) on 06/09/2009
Hi Judy, This is an amazing story. I have tried just about every natural and prescription treatment to get my UC under control. What is the update on your daughter? Is she still in remission? Does she take the blackstrap molasses daily? I just bought a bottle and figured I would give it a try.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Kathi (Huntington, New York USA) on 05/24/2009
★★★★☆
I have had ulcerative colitis for 46 years now. For much of that time I have not had medical insurance and therefore through necessity had to investigate naturopathic remedies. I have had great success with a combination of diet (avoiding most white flour and sugar products when I can and adding vegetables, fruit and I still do not get along except for apples and cantalope) and 1/4 cup aloe vera juice (I use one formulated for digestive problems) with 1/2 teaspoon of l-glutamine. When I had attacks I used the formula 3x daily. I have to avoid milk and milk products but I use soy milk for calcium along with copious quantities of steamed broccoli. Surprisingly I can eat cruciferous vegetables without the problems most people have. I try to eat only organic meats and in season grow my own vegetables. The foregoing has given me a real measure of control for the last 15 years before that it was on and off. Purported remedies would work for a while and then stop working. Last year I discovered probiotics in an over the counter preparation forumlated for crohns and colitis sufferers. I can now say that I feel normal. I was interested in some of the suggestions in the posts and will try them. There is no cure for colitis, but it can be controlled when you pay attention to what you are putting in your body. Reducing stress is ideal but not practical in our society.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Fred (Vancouver, Canada) on 05/19/2009
★★★★☆
How can I tell which type of colitis is which? My diagnoses was ulcerative colitis 10 years ago. I ate spinach and sunflower seeds to get to about 80% remission, but rectum still inflamed so still urgency present. What can I do for final push? Need to be healed of urgency 100%. Please advise.
L-Glutamine
Posted by Michael (LA, CA) on 05/15/2009
You mentioned that is took a lot longer to get your digestion back on track, what was your key to success with that??
Thank you thank you,
Michael
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Allison (Houston, Texas) on 05/12/2009
★★★★☆
I have ulcerative colitis (UC) and have to take mesalamines everyday to keep it under control. I agree with Ted from Bangkok that UC is caused by bacteria related to the acidity or PH in the intestine. Thus, I am trying to increase the PH of my gut by increasing intake of magnesium. Things that I find helpful to minimize loose stools include: 1 tablespoon L-glutamine on an empty stomach first thing in the morning along with a capsule of B-complex vitamin and vitamin C to help increase absorption of the amino acid. 1 tablespoon of sweet dairy whey (this is different from whey protein) that some health food stores may carry. The sweet dairy whey helps me to be able to take magnesium supplements without getting the runs or diarhea everytime. I don't notice any difference when I take prebiotics (i.e.: FOS, Inulin) and probiotics (yogurt, acidophilus), but I take them nontheless as I figure it doesn't hurt to supplement them.
L-Glutamine
Posted by A Roper (Sydney, Australia, NSW Australia) on 04/18/2009
★★★★★
I recently had a flare of UC, got home from hospital feeling about 50%, kept taking the steroids (50mg), salofalk (2 grams), colifoam twice a day and wasn't seeing any improvement... so, after doing some research I added 5mg 3 times a day of L-Glutamine to my routine 30 minutes before meals and saw improvement almost immediately. I'd say I'm 90% to remission and I've only been taking the stuff for a week. I haven't felt this good in 2 years.
I also take a probiotic once a day, 5mg metamucil at dinner and 25mg aloe juice first thing in the morning, but I've been taking those for awhile and although they help, I don't believe they resonsible for this major improvement.
It should be noted that my UC is so bad that traditional medicine has not been effective at keeping me in remission and my doctor said if I have another flare I have to have surgery. L-Glutamine may just save me yet.
Sweet Whey
Posted by Joseph (Boston, MA) on 04/02/2009
Hi Greg,
I am curious to hear more about sweet whey. How much did you take when you started seeing results? How are you doing now?
-Paul
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Judy (Toormina, N.S.W. Australia) on 03/18/2009
★★★★★
I would like to tell you for 7 years we have been trying to find a cure for our daughter Natalie with chronic ulcerative colitis, she was just about to have her colon removed when a friend told us about black strap molasses. Within a week of taking 1 teaspoon daily she has been in complete remission and said she has never felt better am so grateful. I have been taking it too and have found a big improvement in my well being and nervous system. regards Judy Harrison
L-Glutamine
Posted by Carol (Toronto, ON) on 02/09/2009
★★★★★
L-Glutamine (high dose): Upon the suggestion of a nutritionist I went to see, she claimed she didn't have a single ulcerative colitis patient to a L-glutamine. The one she gave me has a high dose of L-Glutamine along with other herbs like Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Root and not much else (sorry I don't have a bottle here). It's a powder you mix with water every morning 1/2 hour before you eat anything and you need to do this for 3-5 weeks before you see results. And let me tell you I was shocked in 3w when it finally went away after over a year of daily attacks.
The premise of how it works is that when you have impaired digestion, your body doesn't break down proteins efficiently causing you to become deficient in amino acids. L-Glutamine is the amino acid necessary for rebuilding you intestinal wall which sheds itself every 5 days or so? and without that amino acid becomes damaged. By giving yourself pure form, in liquid (requiring no digestion of pills etc) you give your intestines what it needs to make a healthy lining. It was really mad at the time that something so simple recommended by a nutritionist of all people cured my colitis when I had spent huge $$$ seeing naturopathic Dr's, chinese herbalists and acupuncturists, some of which helped temporarily but the L-glutamine was the magic ticket for me.
It took a lot longer for my digestion to return to normal but the L-glutamine totally took care of my diarrhea, spasms and bleeding in 3w of faithfully drinking it every morning.
I just wanted to mention to be wary of psyllium fiber. The first ND I tried gave me a supplement so close to the one that worked but it made me worse and I know now that I can't take psyllium fiber AT ALL, but I can handle the flax fiber in this drink. And I also discovered that multi-vitamins cause me to bleed. I can only take whole food vitamins. Two things you might want to watch out for.
Food Allergy Tests
Posted by Susan (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 01/19/2009
I was interested in Marie's response about the allergy testing. I have severe colitis as well. I do believe in the allergy testing. however, I was curious how she did for 10 years without meds before the testing. I could not possibly do that without getting very very sick. I am curious to know how she did that.
Aloe Vera Juice, Boswellia
Posted by Robbie (Hobbs, NM) on 01/06/2009
★★★★★
My Colitis has been a problem for many years. I've done the aloe vera and it worked for a little while. I feel it helped jump start my road to better living. What really works for me is Boswellia. I take it twice a day and I don't have anymore "runs" to the bathroom.
