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I am new to having Crohns and from what I am finding out is that diet is very important but its also a trial and error on what you can and cannot eat. My problem is some foods I am okay to eat, then Ill eat the same ones and feel like crap. Its getting really tiring. I keep seeing a lot about the GAPS diet and Im wondering if anyone has tried it and has had success? Any tips or anything? Thanks.

 Reply posted for Amanda9813.

Thank you for everyone's feed back. I found an amazing solution for what has been working for me. I'm going to post about it in a new post here. :)

 Reply posted for Crohnsnewbie.

In regards to Newbies post about the expense and bad tasting GF foods:)

Hi! I've had UC for 6 yrs. Just recently tried cutting out Cheese and Wheat and it really has made a huge difference for me. I'm on Remicade every 6weeks and no other meds. When I cheat and have regular bread or cheese I feel sick and it takes going back to the strict diet for a few days, then I feel better. It's very restrictive, but when u've been sick and hospitilized...Enough is Enough!!

Fresh and Easy (hope you have one near you) has a good selection and they take an EBT card. The bread made by Schar, in the GF section, is good toasted. At Sprouts (used to be Henrys and take EBT) they carry awesome GF donuts in the frozen section.

Have you tried juicing veggies and fruits? Anything with a lot of fiber (which is what the food industry pushes!) hurts my tummy. Try a change in your diet for 4 days and see if it helps. Hope you feel better soon!!

Jen

 Reply posted for mojojojo.

Hey there...just sent you an email...let me know if you dont get it.  :o)

 Reply posted for mojojojo.

Hey there....I will get that email to you soon.....been crazy busy...have not forgotten.  Have a great day. 

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

I'm fairly positive Omega 6 are not the good fats. Infact the American diet is composed  of way too much process/fried foods that result in Omega 6, which causes inflammation. I was eating Farmed Tilapia for a year and a half straight (as a cheap college student) sautayed in oil every day, little did I know farmed tilapia contains a type of Acid that causes inflamation. Fish oil with just omega 3 is great.

 Reply posted for Amanda9813.

Yes gaps is good and scd  gives very good instructions for starting diet changes. I have used scd type diet for 5 1/2  years with a lot of success. At first it is very confusing and many things seem to cause problems which doesn't make it easy to continue, especially without  medical enthusiasm. You do need to be very strict.

 I started one day/one week at a time but it was only looking back over several months that I was really sure the diet was helping (uc). Small improvements in more minor health problems were the best clues at the start and I had quite dramatic weight loss for some months (helped by increasing the good fats). It's not difficult to stick to like a conventional slimming diet is - I can eat as much as I want to and my weight is more stable than it has ever been.

Alan's advice is great and do stay well clear of ANYTHING with carageenan in it (just Google ibd and carageenan).  Also  I think it is best to avoid supplements except the few recommended as scd legal at the start. Later on their effects are much easier to gauge.

Alan, thanks for the refs. Your information is very much appreciated.

 Reply posted for mojojojo.

Hey there....I will send you some information.  Please read my last post to Alan.  My daughter is thriving....everyone has an opinion and Alan has no explanation for why she is thriving and improving....I do get frustrated with his responses.  My friend has had stomach issues...not crohns but issues her whole life....it helped her too.  I will send you an email tonight.  Have a great day.  

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

She is being fed by a tube because she is a high school basketball player and athlete who is being recruited by Div I colleges and I have requested her receive the best treatment they can offer.  This is new to the United States but very effective treatment for Crohns and used in Toronto.  I am surprised that someone with your knowledge of treatments is not familiar with this treatment.  It has kept her off the stronger medications and by your last post you obviously have NOT really read what I have posted.  That is disappointing to me especially when your opinions are SO strong.  Your advice to take a different path is comical to me as she is thriving....maintianing her weight and her symptoms are improving.  Perhaps you should educate yourself on this before you are so quick to judge.  

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

@alan

thank you for ur opinion also.
thats something i will look up as well :)

 Reply posted for Manzos.

@manzos

my emails moraj21@gmail.com

and thank you for your quick response.

im really hoping this works
im trying my best to stay off medications but idk if its gonna be possible
im to the point where im down to try anything (almost lol)

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

I am very surprised again at your response.  You seem very knowledgeable on this subject, however I question your strong opinions.  I would ask you why my daughter is getting better and thriving.  Based on your opinion she should not be getting better at all but getting worse.  That is not the case.  I caution you on stating such strong opinions on treatments as they have been, and are successful in treating this disease.  Perhaps you are not familiar with the treatment for crohns with Peptamen 1.5 which is specifically made for crohns patients.  I would hate to see someone discouraged from looking at other treatments that have success because of your strong opinion.  

 Reply posted for mojojojo.

Forgot to give you the formula....Peptamen 1.5....:o)

 Reply posted for mojojojo.

Hello....it is called Body Balance.  It is an aloe and sea vegetable liquid supplement.  I know it is helping my daughter.  She has been on it for almost three months.  We will do more blood and other tests at the end of February.  Her last test for inflammation in her stool was at 211.  I am excited to see how much more it has gone down.  The supplement has a black cherry taste.  It has been around for 27 years.  She is also taking vitalic which is from the same company.  The combination is helping.  You can find it at www.mylifeforce.net/beatingcrohns .  If you would like more information on ingredients, etc I can email them to you.  Have a great day.  :o)

 Reply posted for Manzos.

@manzos

what is this formula u speak of?

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

If I couldn't eat carbs what could I eat? I'm on food stamps and I eat healthy foods but carbs make up most of my daily food intake. I haven't tried a "diet" yet because I heard 50-60% of people don't benefit from it that have crohns. I can't just eat meat all day it adds up to a lot of $$$$ on my food stamps card lol. I find very few "gluten free" items that taste good. Hardly anything gluten free tastes good. I really don't know where to start with a diet when it comes to buying everyday foods.....

 Reply posted for Amanda9813.

I heard that for any given Crohn's Diet there's 50-60% of patients who didn't benefit at all from it. Should I even try anything different? I've been keeping a food journal but a lot of outside things make my symptoms act up and not just food so how do you tell if it's the food or your stress?

When I go out I get nervous because my Crohn's isn't under control yet. I might go more when I'm out but then some days I go to the restroom more and can't go outside of my apartment. So how do you tell? I'm really curious and I want to get better quickly! I lost everything because of this disease. 

 Reply posted for Amanda9813.

Hello.  Learning about this disease is a process...and a long one.  My daughter was diagnosed with crohns about 3 months ago....it was rough in the beginning.  We had no idea what we were dealing with and we are still learning.  She has not been able to figure out what her trigger foods are....and she on a formula especially make for crohns and ibd patients.  Alot of her nutrition comes from this formula which allows her body to heal.  She is healing and thriving.  She is 15 and plays varsity basketball.  She is getting a little better every day.  Cant wait to have her in remission....and that day is coming.  In addition to the formula she is taking an all natural aloe and sea vegetable supplement that I know is helping her.  She has gotten off three medications and is only on mesalamine.  We are amazed at her progress.  If you are interested in hearing more let me know.  Some on this site will tell you to avoid this product and will give no credit to the many people it has helped with the disease.  There are many natural ways to heal from this disease.  It just takes time.  :o)