So what the heck do I eat?

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Summer S
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So what the heck do I eat?

Post by Summer S »

I'm a tad overwhelmed with this.

I cannot afford the Enterolab testing unfortunately. Forced out of my full time job last year, I have a few part time gigs but not earning enough for basic bills, retirement funds are are almost gone, too young for Soc. Sec., juggling credit cards until I turn 60 next June and get some Aussie funds tax free. The budesonide was only $3 with my insurance, Tex. I am weaning myself off it. I had a fuzzy head, C, chest tightness, edginess. dry mouth and coughing within 5 days of taking it. I have a call in to the Administrator of the GI practice I went to, to see another one. The gal I spoke to initially understood about me not liking my initial GI, seems he is not well liked. She told me to speak to the administrator to get a quick appointment with a well liked GI to discuss other treatment. I'll be off the Budesonide by the time I see another GI. Not that they will have an open mind. ;-) Is there a possibility my insurance would pay for EnteroLab testing if they ordered it?

I saw the A & C testing that a few of you recommended, what it covers. The foods I have increased since starting The Gabriel Method are baby spinach (at least one salad per day, some in fruit 'n veg morning smoothie, in chia wrap with chicken), raw cashews and other nuts for in between to stave hunger (also chia and flax seeds). The foods I have decreased, dairy (just some organic butter on toast, a few slices of cheese every few days) and wheat (eliminated). If I don't eat all the things they test for, the things that can aggravate like raw vegies and fruit. What the heck can I eat? Most days if I didn't get hungry I wouldn't bother eating, I don't enjoy cooking, live alone.

Then I reintroduce them one by one? I will stay wheat/gluten free. I had D for 6 weeks and it was lessening by the time I had my colonoscopy and LC diagnosis. I guess I am in denial, hoping it is all a mistake... ;-)
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Welcome to the group,

Your current eating plan appears to me to be a bit inflammatory for someone with MC.

I have never done enterolab testing. I started with low inflammation, well cooked bland meals, gooey rice and chicken. Let the gut heal a bit and then introduced well cooked vegetables, namely the ones that most MC'ers did ok with.
At the beginning I eliminated gluten, yeast, then dairy. It wasn't long before I knew soy was a big issue.
I have not had salad for nearly five years, the only uncooked fruit I eat is a small peeled apple. My eating plan is well cooked proteins and vegetables, cooked in home made bone broth and protein shakes (rice protein)

If you eliminate the common triggers, gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, get some stability and good healing, at that point it is not hard to test things like soy, eggs etc to see if you react.

I have been unemployed for the last 7.5 months. I go to farmers markets each Saturday morning and get free range eggs and my safe veges, (Half the cost of organic shops) and look out for my meats etc on special. The protein shake works out about $2 per serve.
I am 44 so need to get myself well and fit and get back to work, few years yet before I can get pension.

Hope this helps.
Gabes Ryan

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Summer S
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Post by Summer S »

Thanks, Gabes. You have such a cute face!

BTW I lived in Australia (Sydney and Perth) for 30 years, '71-'01, always been a very proud American so had to come back eventually. ;-) Jon Gabriel (The Gabriel Method) moved from from NY to Denmark, WA, also seems to live in Noosa.

My symptoms came on 'all of a sudden', so it seems that nuts may be the culprit, but can it be, if something else, my body finally just said ENOUGH and revolted? Hopefully others will chime in and tell me the vegies I can eat, not fond of them, prefer salad where I can cut up vegies I don't like, small, and put salad dressing on them. I don't like eating rice, it sticks in my esophagus too often.

Yeast? What does it come in? Soy? I thought I did read somewhere somebody said it is in a lot of things which I found amazing, didn't realize. I have almond milk on my home made (nuts 'n seeds) granola/muesli. I've had bacon 'n eggs at least twice a week for years.

No salad? No fruit? Yikes, you are severely restricted.

I've never been to a Farmers Market, always seem crowded to me which turns me off I must admit. I tried rice protein, it was AWFUL! I can't give it away, too bad you live so far away... ;-)

Just so weird I decide to do something really healthy for myself finally and this bites my butt.

Summer
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Post by Spline Girl »

Hi Summer,

two months ago I started the diet. I went gluten, dairy (no cheese, no yogurt!), soy (read the labels! it is everywhere!) free and significantly reduced the fiber (no salads, no fruits - other than bananas and avocados).

So here is what I eat. Hopefully it will give you some ideas to try.

I was very conservative for the first couple of weeks: rice, apple sauce, bananas, mashed potatoes, soups, etc.

After 3 weeks (also as I started to taper Entocort) I was able to introduce fresh juices (not much fiber left) - and it helped me tremendously, since I missed flavors of fruits and wanted to ensure proper intake of vitamins. I started conservative: one new fruit/veggie in a few days. And I diluted it with water. First I would put 1 portion of juice, and 2 portions of water. Now, I am off steroids and I put half juice/half water. I try to buy organic and make juices myself - though I am ok with store bought orange juice. I bought a new juicer and now I everyday make (on rotational basis!) juices with: apples, carrots, beets, pineapple, greens, celery, melon, kiwi, oranges, limes, cucumbers etc. I am also adding (1 mo into the diet) ginger and turmeric - they are supposed to be good for GI tract. My body took it well.

I make simple smoothies: almond milk, peanut butter, bananas, and protein (Vega brand from Whole Foods are plant based).

When possible I also try to not have the same food two days in a row - I rotate to avoid my body developing new intolerances.

Avoid alcohol. Avoid any artificial colorings and spice mixes.

I also avoid Nightshades (to see if my ostheoarthritis feels better), so for me the choice of the chips have been "Food should taste good" Sweet potato chips I get from Publix. Before I eliminated Nightshades I would make a lot of tomato sauces to go on my rice or fish - now I just make onion/mushrooms sauce and it is very tasty. I would eat mashed potatoes (now instead of potatoes I substitute cauliflower). I would sautee cabbage, sourkrout, carrots and potatoes (yum!). Before I went off Nightshades, I would also make stuffed peppers (oh, so good and flavorful! stuffed with rice, turkey meat, carrots, and tomato sauce) or sautee eggplant with carrots and tomatoes (classic in our home).

My current breakfast menu choices: certified gluten free oatmeal with homemade preserves (my cholesterol went up recently), rice with preserves or honey, gluten-free cereal (I like Honey Nut Chex) with almond milk, buckwheat (super nutritious) with almond milk, omelet (if you can eat eggs) with cauliflower, ham, and mushrooms, peanut butter sandwich (Udi's bread from TJ is very good).

Snacks could be smoothie, diluted juice, fruit bar (I found TJ GF froot bars that my body takes well), banana, avocado (I take it well). Baked apples or pears (add a bit honey) or - if no time - just apple sauce. No nuts for me other than in the “creamy” butter form. Ham and turkey slices sandwiches (with GF bread).

Lunch/dinner: there are so many stews and soups to make! combine it with rice/quinoa/buckwheat. I also steam or grill asparagus (tolerate very well), and sometimes other veggies (but avoid soy beans, peas, corn etc.). I sautee kale, spinach and other greens with olive oil and garlic. It does not have to be all "mushy". For instance, put asparagus with olive oil and garlic and roast it. Do the same with sweet potatoes, mushroom, zucchini etc.

What did not work well for me was the bone broth. My cholesterol went over the roof. Though possibly not only because of broth but because I was eating a lot of meat and eggs in general – chasing to meet my protein intake. I stopped the broth, and went back to the lighter chicken soup and borsch.

I am on a liquid diet now (after jaw surrey) - that is when I get to eat "mushy". But "mushy" does not mean "tasteless". I made chicken soup, took out carrots, celery root and chicken meat - put in Vitamix to puree - very flavorful!

There are GF flour and crumbs (I get them in Publix) - so I make delicious schnitzels and juicy (with onion) chicken kotlets. Turkey meatballs with rice pasta. Slow roasted pork with onion and garilc (Heaven!). Chicken livers with buckwheat (one of my favorites).

All these recipes, by the way, are very simple and fast - I can't afford to spend too much time in the kitchen :)

As I said in my other post. My diet did not become dull. It just took some adjustment. Yes, in the beginning it might be more restrictive - while inflammation calms down and you learn to listen to you body and read the labels in the store it is a good idea to start conservative, but it does get better and you can bring some of your favorite flavors back in the diet quite soon.

Try not to a lot in the beginning and then introduce one by one. Don't try to reduce gluten or dairy or salads - eliminate it
and be conservative until you learn your triggers. This way inflammation will calm down faster than if you would eliminate particular foods one by one.

Best of luck!
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Post by Spline Girl »

Oh, one more little thing I have to share! :):)
My most recent addition is “Banana green curry”, recipe courtesy creation of my turkish friend. Mash bananas and fry a bit in coconut oil. Add green curry. Roasted cashews (it gets cooked, so my body was ok with it). Sautee some veggies and meet mix (I usually put grill leftovers: some steak, some brussel sprouts, really could be anything: chicken, oinions, peppers, potatoes, etc.) Add mashed bananas, coconut milk or cream, and sautee all together. Put on rice. SO. MUCH. FLAVOR!
:cat:
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Post by Summer S »

WoW, Spline Girl (what the heck does that mean?),

You are good at this. I am grateful for your suggestions though some sound a lil iffy, chicken livers with buckwheat. ;-)

My mind is still so stuck on The Gabriel Method, was so determined, but I guess I have to eat the way I have to eat and still do his visualizations and high impact exercise and me extra weight will release itself still.

REALLY appreciate your long blog and ideas very much!

Smmer
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Post by Spline Girl »

Spline in math is a piecewise polynomial function, useful in many applications, though term comes originally from engineering :) Splines are one of my professional expertise areas :):)

I looked up The Gabriel Method. It simply has different goals which don't always align with ours (to reduce colon inflammation) - if I understand correctly.

What I can tell that after a month of the mentioned diet my sugar went from 99 (borderline high) to 80 (normal). Also, in two weeks I lost 8 pounds (all those bloating).

If you like positive visualizations (did not dig deep what they do in TGM) - I really like Reiki. It helps me tremendously with my overall energy level.

As for chicken livers :) - it is sure a question of taste :) But they are delicious! you probably eat pate, right? most likely it was cooked with livers :)
The way I cook them: fry some onions, add tomatoes and peppers (optional, I don't add them now - since I am avoiding Nightshades), add paprika, salt, pepper. Rinse livers and add them to the sauce. Pour a bit of red wine. Sautee (first cover, then open) for 10-15 minutes in tomato (or just onion) sauce. I personally love it :) Especially with buckwheat (but whole grain, bought in eastern european stores).

Good luck!
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Summer,
I will have to update my pic, I have lost 10-15kg since it was taken. Albeit the new pic will still be in my orioles cap!! Aus is a pretty good place if you have to live with multiple food intolerences.

I admire your passion to the Gabriel method. My suggestion is you don't have to ditch it forever. If you don't take the right approach with the mc now, you will have multiple health issues for years. MC is for life.
Figure out your mc management plan, then tweak the Gabriel method to suit what works.

With the rice protein, I put a bit of stevia, cocao powder, coconut syrup in it. Mix it with coconut water and rice milk. Since the MC, one of my theories is 'make it work'. We don't have a myriad of choices, I had to be well enough to keep working and support myself. Hence why I stuck with the restrictive eating plan. Due to other health issues, my gut and body was not well enough to start having salads and fruit etc.

5 months ago I confirmed the root cause for lifelong health issues, including the mc. Since starting the right supplement corrections my digestion has been awesome!! In the past month or so I have tried salad, and meals with gluten, soy, dairy. Reactions were minimal almost none existent. I have added a few extra ingredients to the eating plan, but will stick to being GF DF SF, low fibre, low inflammation eating plan for life.

Once you know your safe ingredients, get some healing happening, then you can expand the flavours and cooking methods. In MC world we are all different, we all have differences with our major triggers and treatment wise, what works for one person, can be a nightmare for another, which is why a set diet or eating plan; gaps, or Palao, or fodmaps doesn't always work. Each person has to find what works for them, what ingredients work best, are affordable and an eating plan that is sustainable for your lifestyle.

Spline - the livers are an awesome food. They are full of CoQ10 amongst other things. All part of finding what works, what is affordable and going with it!!!
Gabes Ryan

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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Soy,

A lot of people with non IBD health issues are reacting to soy. The demand for soy free foods, medicines and supplements is on the increase. 4 years ago people frowned about me avoiding soy, now it is a very common thing. My compounding pharmacist has removed all soy based items from their shelves.

The forms of soy that is put in mainstream foods is filler, cheap filler, it is a waste product of soy, that Asian cultures would never consume. Genetically we are not built to digest large amounts of soy. So this makes it a high inflammation food item to our gut.

Because it is cheap, a lot of gluten free manufacturers use soy.

Main places you will find it;
Gluten free products
Dairy free products
Vegetables and fruits in supermarkets are sprayed with it to make them last longer, do not consume/cook any peel.
Eggs, even free range eggs are sprayed with soy vegetable oil.
Pre prepared foods/meals snacks, chips, crisps - vegetable oil
Takeaway
Moisturisers, lip balms, lipsticks, makeup etc.

As soy is grown 'organically' it is used with a lot of 'organic' items. Organic does not mean MC safe.
Gabes Ryan

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tex
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Post by tex »

Gabes,

Excellent info on soy! :thumbsup:

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Marcia K »

Summer, have you purchased Tex's book? Cashews are on the don't eat list...there is a lot of helpful information in his book.

Marcia
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Post by Leah »

Summer, I think denial is the first reaction for all of us. Then anger. Finally, when you get to acceptance, you can really dig deep and do the elimination diet until your gut heals. This process takes patience and also trying very hard not to feel sorry for yourself. I couldn't do the Enterolab test ( actually, i paid for it and then found out I don't produce the IgA antibodies that are tested!), so I am one of us who had to do this by trial and error.

I just wanted to heal as fast as i could, so i took out most foods that MAY be a problem. Gluten, dairy, fiber…later, soy . My diet mostly consisted of various freshly cooked meats, eggs, cooked veggies, rice and rice products, corn tortillas and corn chips, GF Chex cereals with almond milk, a little apple sauce, cashews and almonds, avocados, olives and I only used coconut oil and olive oil ( and bacon grease).

After 6 months and feeling so much better, I started testing foods back in one at a time for three days straight. Potatoes were first. Since they were successful, I had a feeling that nightshades ( tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) were probably OK for me. Beans were next. I found that I can eat white, black, and kidney beans…. but not split peas and lentils ( they must look like soy to my body because they are closely related). And so on. The longer you give your gut time to heal, the more likely you will be able to add fiber back in. I can now eat salad and saw veggies. Even popcorn and spicy foods. I still have an issue with fruit, but it's not because of fiber. My body doesn't break down fructose very well. This is a learning experience. Two steps forward, one step back.

Once you commit to the process, you will feel more in control. Make your meals as simple as possible for now.

Good luck
Leah
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Summer S
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Post by Summer S »

Oh, you guys are BRILLIANT! You have NO idea how helpful this is.
I just bought a Kindle book 'The Virgin Diet - Yummy light meal ideas', with recipes without soy, corn, gluten, dairy, sugar, artificial sweeteners, eggs and peanuts. I am curious now.
I'll write more to each of you individually when I get an chance.
Thank you,
Summer
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Summer S
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Post by Summer S »

Spline,

The banana green curry does sound very nice. I tend to buy a bunch of chicken breasts, beef patties and porkloin (all organic if I can) and BBQ it all and freeze it in small portions to add to something like this.

Ah, I see, about your name, all Greek to me. ;-)

I think I can stick with most of the principles of TGM. Their used to be a Reiki circle near me, but the whole facility closed down. I did the first level of training, but just didn't feel any benefit.

I have had Pate', some is stronger than others. I don't mind Braunsweiger, I'm sure it is full of all sorts of 'crap' though. I dislike bell peppers, they are so pretty. I thought I would try one after many years, but just walking near them I get a lump in my front, the smell. I gave up tomato based things a few years back also, change of taste or something, can't stand it now. Pizza would be creamy based, love Dominos Cali Bacon Chicken Ranch pizza. I shall refer back to some of your choices of other meals, some good stuff there.

Thanks!

Summer
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Summer S
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Post by Summer S »

Gabes,

You have done so well with your adjustments! Phenomenal really.

The info on where soy is 'hidden' is AMAZING, I really appreciate that. The dastardly deeders... Dang, soy lecithin is in my fav dark chocolate berry drops from TJs.

Thanks,

Summer
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