The Effects of Diet on Ulcerative Colitis

angy · Post by **angy** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:15 pm

I think this is an interesting uk site guys!!

Even though it refers to ulcerative colitis, the foods we should and should not eat are pretty similar to mc...theres other info there as well..

heres the link..

http://www.ulcerativecolitis.org.uk/dietarychanges.htm

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:02 pm

Interesting.. It does seem to be similar to our diets.

I'm curious about the broccoli. I eat it a lot because I can't eat legumes anymore. I've always felt that it's been good for my gut. Are others here avoiding it?

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:09 pm

One reason why it's similar is because the two diseases are apparently connected - IOW, it is now known that MC can progress into UC. I have a hunch that risk applies only to untreated cases of MC, but that issue has not been researched, at this point.

The reason why I have that hunch, is because I am aware of at least two cases where this has happened to members of this board, but neither of them was following any treatment program for their MC.

FWIW, I believe they are wrong, (the authors of that site), when they say that

there is little connection between poor diet and Ulcerative Colitis/Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

They simply haven't done their homework. Have there ever actually been any appropriate studies done on this concept? I don't recall coming across them, if they have been reported. It is probably true that an improper diet does not initially trigger UC, but once the disease is triggered, diet can clearly make a difference in the symptoms.

Also, IMO, this statement is only a half-truth:

Soluble fibre is very helpful for colitis and differs from insoluble fibre in that it is broken down/digested in the large intestine/colon.

While I don't believe that soluble fiber is detrimental to IBDs, I'm not sure that it is particularly helpful, either. (We're not talking about the starch in these foods - we're talking about the fiber). The part about soluble fiber being broken down/digested in the large intestine/colon is very misleading. Since no chemicals, or enzymes are added to the contents of the colon, the only way that the colon has to "break down" or "digest" anything, is by fermentation, and fermentation is not a particularly "appealing" way to break down food, since it has to be done by bacteria, which results in gas, odors, etc. I don't see how fermentation could be considered to be beneficial for someone with an IBD.

I never stopped eating broccoli at any time while I was recovering, and while I will agree that it often caused some gas, I never felt that it caused any adverse reactions, nor did it seem to interfere with my recovery in any way. I think that they're giving it a bum rap, by including it in that category. For me, at least, the other items on that list did indeed cause problems, but not broccoli.

Tex

angy · Post by **angy** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:06 am

I agree with you tex!!! i cant seem to eat most fibres and i have read that its supposed to be really for helping irritable bowel syndrome not ibd..or mc.

Gloria i used to eat a lot of veggies before i got ill. Especially cauliflower and broccoli..but i Have the same reaction with broccoli as tex...lots of gas and wind but no apparent mc symptoms...I only eat these veggies when i know i dont need to go out or work for the next couple of days...

NJ · Post by NJ » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:37 pm

Hi, I'm new to the boards, but as someone w/ Ulcerative Colitis I can definitively say that diet is most definitely connected to the disease. I'm not sure if a poor diet directly causes Ulcerative Colitis, but I do know that in my case I can control the symptoms of colitis by avoiding foods I react to poorly (gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, etc.).

Unfortunately, it took a vast amount of research and effort on my part to realize that these foods were making me sick and that I could remain in remission strictly through diet. My doctors were no help in this regard and generally stuck to the party line that says 'diet has no known association w/ colitis.' Without the Internet and the wealth of information it provides, especially supposedly 'alternative' information, I'd probably still be suffering through horrible symptoms, taking multiple prescription drugs, and dealing w/ doctors who have no idea of the disservice they're doing their patients by telling them diet is irrelevant.

I'm still constantly tinkering w/ my diet, but I'm a lot better off now than I was in the past. I'm so happy to have found this website and all of you because I feel like you speak my language and won't think I'm crazy when I question anything and everything about my diet.

Post by **tex** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:39 pm

Hi NJ,

Welcome to our internet family. Yes, we definitely speak your language here, because most of our doctors tell us the same thing, (that diet has nothing to do with our symptoms).

Being able to compare notes here, definitely makes it a lot easier for each of us to fine tune our individual treatment programs.

Your food intolerances seem to fit right in with what many of us have found, and many of us here, also remain in remission by diet alone.

Most discussions take place on the Main Message Board, so you may get more responses by posting there:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2

or the Discussions on Treatment Options forum:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=27

I've long suspected that UC could be controlled by diet alone, but you are the first to confirm that for us, by personal experience, so we definitely appreciate the insight you bring to this board.

Again, welcome aboard.

Tex (Wayne)

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:10 am

NJ, we're so glad you found us. I will be printing our your post for my doctor. Thanks.

angy · Post by **angy** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:17 am

Nj welcome to the board.......I got to say I agree with everything you mentioned here....I am still juggling My diet and discovered the same attitude with docs....did all my own research. Found this forum to guide me and I I don't know where I would be now....probably out of my skull on meds and constantly suffering d to which eased when I went gf. Writing this thread with my I touch. Lol...tricky

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:50 am

Hey NJ-

Glad you are taking advantage of the site (I believe we talked through emails for a while).

Angry- I was originally dx'd with ulcerative colitis and really the only relief I have found is through diet. I think everyone is a little different in what they can and can not handle. I found remission through diet almost 2 years ago now and all my DRs said it wouldnt happen. I would always be taking meds. Crazy how stuborn they can be! Anyways good link.