Why do certain foods flair up IBD?

I know someone that can eat anything and it doesn't bother her. The only thing is that she can't do anything with cow's milk. The rest of it doesn't bother her. Get this, she is now 17 and she got it when she was in third grade. That's early!!! She told me that she has Ulcerative Colitis, but no rectal bleeding or mucus. She's lucky!!!

As for me I can't eat:

Nuts or seeds, gluten, cow's milk, corn, high fructose corn syrup, pepper, ketchup

This doesn't make sense and I am kind of bothered by it. It's like you were normal at one time and then the next day, you can't eat a lot of foods.

Certain medications I can't take either.

Why is this problem growing?

Is it something in our diets?

Cookie,

Most of those foods you mention on your can't eat list are very common problem foods for people with IBD. Why? Nobody really knows. My own personal theory is that we've all gotten into eating processed, unreal food and our bodies aren't cut out for it. Over the last 10+ years of living with Ulc. Colitis and IBS I've gone to a completely whole foods diets. If I can see it in its original form I don't eat. And I have to say, I'm now off all IBD medication, having normal BMs, living well, and quite happy about it.

Even though we want answers to things, sometimes there just aren't any. Sometimes things are just what they are.

In a few weeks I'll be posting a Sharepost on this site about doing an Elimination diet, you may want to read it and consider embarking on it. It can be a bit difficult at first, but if you figure out what really triggers your symptoms and eliminate it, then start feeling better, it really makes all the effort truly worth it.

Believe me, I'd love to not have to think about what I can or cannot eat, but that's not my reality. And I'm just grateful that I've been able to figure out what makes me healthier vs. what makes me sicker. I really feel that the fate of my gut health is in my own hands, not the hands of a doctor or nutritionist, or anyone else. It's my body and only I can really know how it's working.

Best of luck,

E.

EDIT: I meant to say, "If I CAN'T see it in its original form I don't eat it.

Give me some examples of your foods that you can't eat. Oh, I just found out that Black Pepper is a big no no for me.

What is a whole foods diet?

Hi Cookie,

What I mean by eating a whole foods diet is eating foods like fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, meat, fish, grains (rice, quinoa, buckwheat), nuts, seeds, legumes, etc. Think of the foods you find in the outside circumference of a grocery store. Once you start walking down the aisles of a grocery store you tend to find foods that are packaged, pre-made, processed, etc. These foods have many preservatives, MSG, artificial sweeteners, fillers, etc. These are what give me the most problems.

In the past six months I've found that I am now sensitive to gluten. Why? I have not idea, but I am. So I no longer eat breads, pastas, cakes, deli meats, etc. that have gluten in them. Also out are spicy foods, even those made with just pepper, soups or gravies made with cream or cow's milk, processed meats like sausages with fillers and luncheon meats. No beef. No soy. No cow's milk. No yellow corn, but white corn is okay (again, I don't know why, but if I eat yellow corn I don't feel well). Fried foods, fast food, junk food, sugary food, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners (found in anything diet, no fat, etc.).  

The list probaby goes on, but telling you what I don't eat is hard because I haven't eaten these things in nearly 10 years. I've gotten onto auto-pilot and just know what to steer clear of.  I eat whole foods. Breakfast will usually be brown rice with black beans and a poached egg, or steel cut oats with nuts, honey, and berries. Snacks include foods like bananas, peaches, yogurt with berries, walnuts or almonds, etc. Lunch might be tuna that comes packed in water (not oil) on rice or nut crackers and a small spinach salad with mushrooms; or homemade soup. Dinner is typically a broiled or baked protein such as chicken breast, salmon, white fish, natural pork or lamb with quinoa, brown rice pasta, buckwheat, or potatoes. And a steamed vegetable - brocolli, asparagus, carrots, snap peas, etc. I don't use sauces or gravies on my food. I cook it by steaming or broiling or baking and maybe add some olive oil and salt or herb for seasoning. I enjoy how I eat very much and find it quite tasty and satisfying.