Crohns and Colitis

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on April 1, 2009 at 12:38pm

bumping hoping for a few replys ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Monique on April 1, 2009 at 1:42pm

Hi.. sorry I don't have an actual experience to share with you. I have, however, done quite a bit of research with it within the past 6 months. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of people w/IBD choosing this path, I assume because it is strongly not recommended due to the lack of enzyme production in a compromised digestive system. Quite a few 'normal' people even have trouble digesting raw - resulting in excessive gas - so those w/IBD have an even greater challenge.

But anyway, there are a few who have positive results. Recently I read this article http://crazysexylife.com/2009/life-with-crohns/ from a semi-raw person w/Crohn's. There is also the Paul Nison book: Healing Inflammatory Bowel Disease AND the book Self Healing Colitis & Crohn's by David Klein.

One issue Nison does not address fully is the role of colonics for those w/IBD which I am under the impression are an integral part of cleansing in a raw food lifestyle and can be/are very beneficial for most. The issue being that colonics are not recommended for those w/IBD due to the risk of puncturing damaged intestinal walls. Reputable administers won't give one w/out a prescription from a traditional Dr.

The Klein book relies fairly heavily on fruits (not recommended w/Candida of course) and is a little more complicated than necessary.

To be honest, I'm a bit burned out by it all and when I've tried in the past to get this going just by having about 10-12 ou of simple green juice in the morning, for instance, the entire rest of the day I'm making even more trips to the bathroom because my colon is totally spazzing out.

I hope there are others here though who can add some helpful input. I too would be interested in what they have to say.

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on April 2, 2009 at 3:30am

Thank you so much for your reply Monique :-)

Thanks for that link. I can totaly relate to her story as the last 12 years have been one long trail and error for me. But the vegan diet and eliminating dairy and gluten has made a HUGE difference for me. Raw is a healing for my colon and entire body.

I have read past posts of people having Colitis and/or Chrons here so I know you are out there ;-)

From my own experience I dont belive the thing about that people with IBD cant eat raw fruits and vegies. As David Clein and Paul Nison both recomend is to start out with juicing and soft fruits. Everything will get better from there.
I have been 75-80% for over a year now and did do a 100% for a month and a half this summer, but I lost to much weight so I aded a little cooked again. My husband turned 100% raw just after being diagnosed and skipped the meds after a week. He is doing great.

Well my goal is to find the "cure" for this disease. I cant belive it is a "life time" thing. There has to be a cause and a cure. Anything elses would not be logic. The docs just dident find the answers yet, but they will in time, I know it :-))
Im a bit more on to this as both me and my husband having this put my daughter in a 50% chance of getting it too. I have to find some answers. This might be a life time mission who knows but one im willing to do :-)))

So any imput would be great :-))) im here to soak up your experiences :-))) Lets share and learn :-)))

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on April 3, 2009 at 2:25am

Ok last try, anyone ???

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Permalink Reply by syd on May 5, 2009 at 4:22pm

Im here! I have ulcerative colitis, and my raw food journey basically frutarian has helped majorily! I take prednisone still and colzol, but I will be looking forward to curing myself and getting off my death meds! shoot me a line whenever you wish Im always down to network about this condition and try different things! banana, papaya, coconut water, cherimoyas, and mangos are my staple food! OH and raw manuka honey, seems to be helping!

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on May 5, 2009 at 5:23pm

Wow Syd that is great :-) I love your menu all my favorites :-)
Yes I also found that fruit is a great healer of the colon. Som theories say that to much sugar will of the balance in the intestine, but how come fruits just feel sooooooo good for a sufering colon ? because it is a natural food for us to eat.
Im shure you will get of you meds. I never been taking any meds for the colitis as I got so pissed of at the the last doc. I saw about it. And I decided I dident need the doctores and went of on a quest to finde a solution. It took quiet some time but I belive I have found a big part of it: Raw food :-)
My husban went of his meds shortly after he got his diagnose as the side effects werent so great and the docs dont have a clue what to do with this condition. So he went 100% raw from one day to another and still is. He is doing great and have practicaly almost no symptoms anymore, and doing better day by day.

I have found that flaxseed oil is really important for me as the omega 3´s is anti-imflamatory. I can really feel it if I dont take it, I also cant do without my great probiotics. But fruíts fruits fruits, specialy bananas cant live without them lol
I have tried local honey but never manuka honey, maby I should try it out. I do finde honey way to sweet thoug, but soooo tasty.
Great to hear from you Syd :-))

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on May 14, 2009 at 2:32am

Wow how do you do that ? do you have recipies ? that sounds really nice :-)))
No I havent tryed the manuka honey yet, as I have to find a place where I can buy it. No that easy as im in Europe. But I deffently will :-)))

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Permalink Reply by RawChefDan on May 5, 2009 at 6:11pm

Paul Nison is victim and an expert in this aria. Curing himself he is the one to chat with.
http://www.paulnison.com/

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Permalink Reply by dragonFRUITladyPAISLEY on May 5, 2009 at 9:08pm

My BFF developed Chrohn's at 12. She seems to only be able to eat Taco Bell refried beans, not fresh. She is super sensitive to milk, but not nonfat. She's also had two major surgeries. Is she doomed for a diet full of preservatives and dead food?

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Permalink Reply by Kasey on May 5, 2009 at 9:28pm

David Klein's way seems to get consistent results. I and several other people on this site have healed from UC or chron's using his approach of soft fruits, green juices, and lots of rest.

I went up and down with healing for so long because I would start to feel good then think... alright!!! I can eat pasta and cheese!! lol... never works. It always caught up to me, even if the reactions were delayed by a few days. That's what makes this kind of illness so hard to figure out. It's not like you eat a meal and know instantly that it bothered you. You feel fine the next day, then think, ok that was fine, I'll add something else today! Then a few days later your in pain and wondering what the heck it was that irritated you.

That's why it's important to get a staple diet down of the fruits you know for sure don't bother you, then add 1 new item at a time and see how that new ingredient makes you feel. Test it for a few days or even a week. Discipline is the key.

The last cooked thing I eat now is some steamed zucchini with flax oil or avocado. I used to have huge cravings for all the old stuff I used to eat. It takes time to get over some of the mental afflictions with old favourites, but once your getting enough calories from fruit, you really don't have physical cravings anymore. Oh how many times have I heard durianrider say that lol... I was always like, ya ok man, not true!! I can't take anymore fruit!! But as long as your eating fruit you LOVE, and getting plenty of greens (in juice untill you can handle the fiber) there is no feeling of deprivation. I used to force myself to drink banana smoothies even though I hated them. Then one day I was like... you know what? screw this... I'm not looking forward to these bananas at all... From now on I'm only going to eat food that I love and look forward to. Obviously my body is telling me something about bananas, and I should just avoid them.

Right now I have a total ataulfo mango addiction and I often eat 1 or 2 large meals of them a day. Until I get sick of them, I will continue eating them! I also really look forward to my green juices. I learned how to make my own saurkraut and it's amazing! I just throw it in the ol juicer with my greens and it's a really nice salty drink! Plus, I think fermented foods really help with this kind of illness. I take a probiotic and notice better digestion while taking them. Primal defense by garden of life is what I use.

So yea, David Klein and his book self healing colitis and chron's is what I recommend. Then, might aswell go right for 80/10/10 ; ) There is a lot of fruit paranoia around, but I'm just going to continue with what works, and what my body is asking for. Takes awhile to even develop that ability, but it comes!

You can message me anytime if you just wanna talk or have any questions.

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Permalink Reply by Shanti on May 6, 2009 at 2:57am

I really agree with kasey. Fruit and juicing is the key + eliminating what upsets the colon.

Dragonfruit.. I think that starting to eliminate dairy and then gluten (and meat ?) might be a good step for your friend. when she gotten used to that then move on to other stuff that might not be the bedst for here health like refined sugar, highly procesed foods a.s.o. Taking it slow might be a good idear unless she is one of thouse people who can go 100% from day one. No one is doomed to anyhting unless they chose to.

Kasey im totaly crazy about mangoes too, cant get enough of thouse :-))

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Permalink Reply by Mellifera on May 6, 2009 at 3:15am

Hey, IBD person here. I won't say IBS sufferer anyone because it's not true :) I guess the secret of my diet is avoiding things that are harsh on my digestive system: nut/grains/seeds in particular. Fruits and greens work great for me. When I do have nuts I have nut milk made of soaked nuts that are carefully strained. I buy my nuts shelled because rancid oils are the last thing people like us need! Coconuts and avocados work great for me.

I eat a few cooked things occasionally: homegrown sweet potatoes, very lightly cooked. They don't seem to affect anything. My diet is inspired by the Kitavan Islanders, who have a very low rate of all diseases.

I think the inclusion of raw fish made a big difference for me. If you aren't comfortable eating raw fish or you don't have a good source, I suggest fish oil pills. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are strongly anti inflammatory. Raw vegan sources simply are not processed by the body as well as those in fish. If you are using a vegan source, it's a good idea to watch your intake of omega-6 because they compete for the same receptors. I'd say successes come from either eating low omega-6 with a supplement or high omega-3

I don't have flare ups, but I do occasionally get little bouts of indigestion during holidays when I sometimes end up eating crap. In that case I eat lots of fruit like papaya. I also occasionally have some coconut kefir. I haven't been on steroids for years.

I don't do colonics or enemas or anything like that. For IBS sufferers, I feel like that's playing with fire. Our digestive systems are pretty delicate.

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