My Food Plan is So Different!

[Hazelbird]

I was diagnosed a month ago with LC after 2 months of WD and cramps. I was on a BRAT diet by that time (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) since I didn't know what was wrong. Since my colonoscopy prep and gradually returning to eating, I haven't had the WC, just frequency, urgency, and pain with cramps. Since learning more about LC and adjusting my food plan, I have more 'normalish' days than bad ones. The thing is: my food plan is not the Stage One or Two that's recommended! Am I jeopardizing my healing? (I'm 66 so healing the inflammation will probably be slower.)

I've been a vegetarian (vegan on and off) for 32 years and will never eat meat (for personal, health, and environmental reasons). I had recently added wild Alaskan salmon occasionally for the Omega 3 fatty acids. These are the foods I've been doing quite well on:

Oats, quinoa, brown rice, rice pasta, quinoa pasta, sweet potatoes, organic potatoes, cooked organic carrots, organic spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, chickpeas, red lentils, organic tofu, salmon, eggs, soy milk, wild blueberries, frozen mangoes, Greek yogurt, gluten-free bread, Mary's organic gluten-free crackers (Costco), and decaffeinated green tea.

I also take 1 T of psyllium, 1 T of freshly ground flaxseed, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and various vitamins including B12, B complex, magnesium, and a probiotic.

I've started to keep a food journal (because of your suggestion!) so I can figure out why I have occasional sudden cramps.

I've followed Dr Andrew Weil's Anti-Inflammatory diet for many years.

What do you think about my choices? Should I just go by my symptoms or are my choices likely to affect my healing?

Thank you! I love this forum! (Oh! 'Family'! )

[tex]

Hazel,

The key to whether a vegetarian/vegan diet will continue to work for you mostly depends on whether or not you are sensitive to soy, because of the heavy dependence on soy and other legumes for protein, with these diets. Most of us here are sensitive to soy and most legumes. And most of us are also sensitive to oats, eggs, and casein (in yogurt and all other dairy products). But of course that doesn't mean that you are sensitive to any or all of them.

If you want a definitive analysis, EneroLab offers some test panels specifically designed for vegetarian/vegan diets, the B2 + C2 Test Panels. But other tests (or other combinations) that might be useful are also offered. We have found the EnteroLab stool tests to be the most accurate and reliable tests available anywhere in the world, for pinpointing food sensitivities. Here's a link to a description of the B2 + C2 Panels, for example:

https://enterolab.com/StaticPages/TestI ... #PanelB2C2

I hope that this is helpful.

Tex

[brandy]

Hi Hazel,

It sounds like you are doing fairly well! Welcome! I'll make some general comments--

Oats--use certified GF only. Quinoa and Quinoa pasta--use certified GF and/or Kosher only. Oats and Quinoa are at high risk for G contamination.

Brown rice--I do better with white rice. I think the fiber in brown rice is problematic for me.

Chick peas and red lentils--I can eat about 1 serving of these per week when I am in remission. If I am not in remission eating these would slow healing (I think due to the fiber and the soy family)

Soy milk--most of us tolerate almond milk. Suggest switch to almond as safer.

Re: greek yogurt, tofu and eggs. The enterolab tests would be helpful here. Statistically more of us have problems with milk (casein), followed by soy, and eggs bother a smaller percent of us.

I ate a lot of fish when I was healing. My complexion looked better than ever from the salmon. I see you are in Canada. I like some of the northern fish like cod. The wild caught scallops from Maine are mild and sweet too. Short term consider eliminate the tofu, chick peas and red lentils and replace with low mercury fish. Retest down the road.

Bananas and avacados--a lot of us seem to tolerate them. (I never ate them before MC.) You might try them too.

Overall--it seems like you have a good attitude (that goes far) and a good way to approach things.

[brandy]

Hazel,

We get a fair amount of vegetarians and vegans on the forum. You might want to search some former threads.

I think some vegans eat the almond butter also. I think some of the vegans use hemp or rice protein powders. I've never had much luck with the supplemental protein powders and seem to do better with real food but thought I'd mention them.

Brandy

[Hazelbird]

Thank you so much for your replies! I'm just figuring all this out and value input of longtime MCers.

1. Greek yogurt: I've found a brand at Publix (I'm wintering in the States) that just has skimmed milk and active cultures, no additives. It does not use milk from cows given rBGH (growth hormones). I only have a Tbsp a day when I take my Align probiotic. So far no ill effects.

2. Soy milk: I use organic, unsweetened soy milk made in Canada. I wanted to switch to almond milk but can't find any without added sugar.

3. Tofu: organic again; no ill effects after eating.

4. Chickpeas, lentils: possible cramping if I eat too big a portion, so these I should cut back on for now.

5. Oats, quinoa: thanks for the warning that they may be contaminated with wheat. Finding a source for them is another matter.

6. Eggs: oh no! Eggs have helped me through the rough patches, always easily digestible. No ill effects, ever. ?????

7. Brown rice: I use converted Uncle Ben's and have no issues after eating it.

8. I DO enjoy avocados! (Forgot to add them to my food list.)

9. Fibre: It sounds like I may be eating too much fibre.....psyllium, flaxseeds, grains, legumes, veggies, fruit, bread. My research either says low fibre or fibre.......?????

So much to sort out for my particular digestive system! Thanks again for your input.

[brandy]

Hi Hazel,

It sounds like you have a great handle on things.

Yes, low fiber is best for us early on. (Despite what GI docs say.)

Sometimes the larger Publix have more selections. I find the selections vary by store location. You can also check out Hispanic markets/Asian markets/Indian markets and farmer's markets.

Listen to your body.

Brandy

[brandy]

I forgot to mention health food stores are a good resource.

[Gabes-Apg]

hi there
I am one that soy is worse for me than gluten. if you feel you are tolerating it ok then stay with it.
sometimes we see that people give up the major triggers like Gluten and Dairy and do ok for a few weeks, (or even a couple of months) and then the symptoms come back just as bad, they then forgo things like soy, or eggs and this resolves the issues.

I dont recall if you are taking any medication to help the LC? if you are this may be masking the reactions to the soy etc

ingredient wise, if there is no safe option being sold locally - there are loads of options available online. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy online and pay for delivery costs than to drive to another town to get certain ingredients.

best of luck for your healing journey and as Brandy has mentioned you sound like you have a good handle on things...

[Hazelbird]

Thanks, Brandy. I've always been a health-conscious perfectionist and even owned a fitness/health club at one time. Figuring out a new diet is a fun challenge and right up my alley.

Gabes, I'm not on any meds at all except for supplements/vitamins. I did take Pepto Bismol for a couple of weeks at the start. I've stopped the Greek yogurt just in case but soy and eggs continue to be fine. I really miss having raw fruits and veggies but I'm not going to risk eating them.

I'm still doing more fibre than recommended but my body says OK right now. My flare was only for 1 day after eating a treat (an organic Aussie Bite) with sugar and butter, and also canned crushed pineapple. I was lucky!

[Gabes-Apg]

for me, I have struggled to re-introduce any fruit or raw veges. (and before MC I lived on raw veges and fruit)
I am coming up to 7 years post Dx.

[Beeka]

I encourage any of you who are willing to try a very strict Lectin avoidance diet. Read book The Plant Paradox and you will find yourself there. I have had collagenous microscopic colitis (by biopsy) for 25 years... this diet has helped me more than I can express. No steroids, entocort, budesonomide.... you name it. Remission for 5 months.

Author: S Gundry MD

[dfpowell]

That diet is very similar to the Autoimmune Protocol diet that I followed and helped me get into remission.

[Erica P-G]

I encourage any of you who are willing to try a very strict Lectin avoidance diet. Read book The Plant Paradox and you will find yourself there. I have had collagenous microscopic colitis (by biopsy) for 25 years... this diet has helped me more than I can express. No steroids, entocort, budesonomide.... you name it. Remission for 5 months.

Author: S Gundry MD

Hi Beeka,
I just ordered this book....after reading the 'sample' I can't believe how much it really does point at us with a very distinct finger! I don't know how strict I can become about lectins....but just knowing can be very helpful, and another tool to continued healing. Thanks for the info