Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
I've now been gluten free since May of this year. While I have seen some good results, the D has not subsided. I have chosen to not try Entocort yet as I have had very bad reactions to steroids in the past. I do understand that Entocort works only in the lower intestines and may go that route eventually but I'm going to try one more thing first. I work with a gentleman who had ulcerative colitis so bad that he was to the point of facing a bowl resection. He then started a new diet regimen that has actually proven so beneficial to him that his health has never been better. I am copying and pasting an email he sent to me and would like some feedback from our community. Any input is very much appreciated. I'm sorry for the long post but I'm thinking this just might be beneficial.
I get my supplements from Vitacost.com. They have a search field into which you can type Garden of life.
Initially, the daily routine includes Garden Of Life products: Primal Defense, Goatein IG, FYI, Perfect Food and Springs of Life (Water supplement). All are tablets.
At the same time, take fish oil capsules, flax seed oil capsules plus a daily multi-vitamin (I take Centrum silver). Garden Of Life sell multi-vitamins, but this adds more cost.
Also, with each meal take Omega-zyme tablets - also a Garden Of Life product, which helps the digestive tract deal with the food going through, thus limiting the amount of undigested food from entering the colon. It is the undigested food in the colon that is decomposing and producing the huge amounts of gas that is experienced with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns.
Follow the directions in the "Patient Heal Thyself" book for the build up to the full dosage - get to full dosage as fast as possible to maximize benefit.
My daily regimen at the early stages of recovery were:
6 Primal defense - to populate your gut with the flora that has diminished from bad diet.
6 FYI - to combat the entire body's inflammation which occurs when it is ill.
6 Perfect food - to get the needed phytogens and omega 3 essential fatty acids
6 Goatein - to help rebuild the lining of the colon
12 drops of springs of life with each 8 oz glass of water - this is a nutrient rich formula to rebuild the body's cells that have deprived of nutrients.
2 flax seed capsules - short chain omega 3 fatty acids for the body and brain
3 fish oil capsules - long chain omega 3 fatty acids for cellular health.
These are taken twice a day at least 1/2 hour before eating or more than 1 hour after eating. Continue this for at least three months and then determine if you can reduce back to just once a day. I kept this regimen going for over a year. I am now down to once a day.
Also I take 2 Omega-zyme tablets with each meal.
Stay away from any chlorinated water, drink water only from reverse osmosis process (most bottled water is processed this way - check the label. Dasani is produced this way)
No grains, no grain products (rice, wheat, barley, oats), NO corn of any sort any time (Unbalanced 60:1 omega 6 to omega 3), no HFCS - High Fructose Corn Syrup, no processed or refined sugars, no bananas, onions or Jerusalem artichokes (these contain a specific natural sugar called FOS which is very bad for producing gas), no pasta, no potatoes, no shellfish, no farm fish (deep sea fish is what is OK), no pork or pork products (pigs, shellfish and any of the scavengers have particular enzymes that makes them resistant to putrefied (rotten) food. Eating these type of foods helps to cause the inflammation in the colon that creates the pain.
ONLY buy certified organic fruit and vegetables. All fruit and vegetables have a little sticker label on them, the labels that have the serial numbers starting with a 9 are organic, all others are chemically grown. Eat only meat from grass fed animals. Better Health now sell grass fed meats,, although the animals are fed hay during winter. The purpose of grass fed is to get the phytogens created by green plants. This is why deep sea fish is OK because they eat the green plankton or the larger fish eat the smaller fish that eat the green stuff. The same goes for land animals.
This is a lovely gentleman from South Africa who I look up to. He stops by weekly to check on me and is quite stern with me when I tell him I haven't followed this diet/supplement regemine. Especially when I haven't started eating only grass fed beef and chicken that hasn't been fed corn products. He stresses that grain fed animals have a very high ratio of omega 6 fatty acids and this is a large contributor to digestive problems.
Thoughts?
I'm going to try this!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Linda,
Please don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying that this routine won't work for you, because some people see amazing results from just about any treatment you can name. The placebo effect is real, and it can be very powerful, in some cases. This has been scientifically proven in trials where over half of the people taking a placebo have stated that their symptoms were successfully resolved, (in a few trials, the subjects taking a placebo actually had a higher success rate than the people testing the drug that was the main reason for the trial). According to Wikipedia, for example:
I'll never know, because I'll never try them. Some people swear by them, and some claim that they are worthless.
What bothers me the most is his claimed credentials. When you check them out, (as is noted in the article), they don't have any substance.
Tex
Please don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying that this routine won't work for you, because some people see amazing results from just about any treatment you can name. The placebo effect is real, and it can be very powerful, in some cases. This has been scientifically proven in trials where over half of the people taking a placebo have stated that their symptoms were successfully resolved, (in a few trials, the subjects taking a placebo actually had a higher success rate than the people testing the drug that was the main reason for the trial). According to Wikipedia, for example:
The red emphasis is mine, of course. Obviously, the claims made in the following article against Jordan Rubin's products do not prove that they do not work - they simply prove that he has not submitted evidence to the FDA that they work, even though he is promoting them as drugs, (products specifically claimed to resolve symptoms or diseases). I thought that you should be aware of this issue, though. He appears to have a long history of following a similar pattern, to the dismay of the FDA. Whether or not his products actually have any merit, I have no idea.Placebos do not work for everyone.[111][112] Henry K. Beecher, in a paper in 1955[113] suggested placebo effects occurred in about 35% of people. However, the response rate is wide, ranging from 0% up to nearly everyone. In a dental postoperative pain model, placebo analgesia occurred in 39%.[112] In research upon ischemic arm pain, placebo analgesia was found in 27%.[111] The placebo analgesia rate for cutaneous healing of left hand skin was 56%.[114]
Though not everyone responds to a placebo, neither does everyone respond to an active drug. The percentage of patients who reported relief following placebo (39%) is similar to the percentage following 4 mg (36%) and 6 mg (50%) of hidden morphine.[115]
I'll never know, because I'll never try them. Some people swear by them, and some claim that they are worthless.What bothers me the most is his claimed credentials. When you check them out, (as is noted in the article), they don't have any substance.
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/rubin.htmlRubin's press materials state that he has degrees in naturopathic medicine and nutrition and is certified as a nutritional consultant [4]. However, none of his "credentials" have any legitimate academic or professional standing:
His "NMD" (naturopathic medical doctor) is from the Peoples University of the Americas School of Natural Medicine, a nonaccredited school with no campus.
His "PhD" is from the Academy of Natural Therapies, a nonaccredited correspondence school that the State of Hawaii ordered to close in 2003.
His "CNC" (Certified Nutritional Consultant) comes from the American Association of Nutritional Consultants, whose only requirement for "professional member" status has been payment of a $50 or $60 fee. The CNC requires passage of a test based mainly on the contents of books that promote nutrition quackery [5].
Tex
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.
Tex,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I find I depend more and more on what you have to say as your research seems very thorough. I know nothing about Mr. Rubin or what his credentials are. One thing my friend Steve has stressed throughout his recovery is the importance of a proper Omega3 -vs- Omega6 fatty acid balance in our systems. Do you have any insight on this? My friend has hit on something. I know he has dramatically improved his health. Garden of life supplements may have nothing to do with that but there is something there. I just wish I knew what it was.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I find I depend more and more on what you have to say as your research seems very thorough. I know nothing about Mr. Rubin or what his credentials are. One thing my friend Steve has stressed throughout his recovery is the importance of a proper Omega3 -vs- Omega6 fatty acid balance in our systems. Do you have any insight on this? My friend has hit on something. I know he has dramatically improved his health. Garden of life supplements may have nothing to do with that but there is something there. I just wish I knew what it was.
Linda,
When you remove (or reduce) grains and seed oils like canola sunflower, sesame, etc. from your diet, you lower the omega-6 levels considerably. That means that much less fish oil can do a the job... which is good, since so many of us don't do well with high levels of oils while we are still reacting and healing. Unless you eat very large quantities of nuts, you probably have already made some steps toward balancing your omega ratios.
I also think that any regimen that requires such a long list of supplements is very risky - regardless of the source - just because, once you start down that path, if you don't get better, it's very hard to figure out the culprit.
I eat almost no grains of any kind - most weeks zero, and we use olive, coconut or avocado oils for cooking. I do take a modest amount of fish oil, not every day - I think it's possible that the very low n6:n3 ratio is one reason why I have so many fewer aches and pains, and am recovering well in general. I doubt I could have tolerated fish oil in the beginning, when I was still reacting.
What works for me may not be right for you, of course - I have always been a big fan of supplements but cut down to a bare minimum. I found I had to use a different brand of B-complex and Vitamin D, to avoid suspect ingredients.
As far as the dietary "nos" on that list, you may be already following many of the ones you need to for your health, and you will figure out the rest in time.
There is a lot of good info on the web about omega 3s and omega 6s, but I think you don't need to get a graduate degree in chemistry to eat well ;)
If you do choose to try fish oil, check labels for 'rogue' ingredients like soy, and start with a small amount and increase gradually. I like the liquid fish oil rather than the capsules, partly for this reason - I think I started with a quarter teaspoon, and now have maybe 1.5-2 teaspoons in my breakfast smoothie, several days a week. A friend is on a prescription-strength fish oil, and when I compared his pill with my liquid, we're getting a very similar weekly 'dose' (only his is paid for by insurance, presumably).
Hope this helps,
Sara
When you remove (or reduce) grains and seed oils like canola sunflower, sesame, etc. from your diet, you lower the omega-6 levels considerably. That means that much less fish oil can do a the job... which is good, since so many of us don't do well with high levels of oils while we are still reacting and healing. Unless you eat very large quantities of nuts, you probably have already made some steps toward balancing your omega ratios.
I also think that any regimen that requires such a long list of supplements is very risky - regardless of the source - just because, once you start down that path, if you don't get better, it's very hard to figure out the culprit.
I eat almost no grains of any kind - most weeks zero, and we use olive, coconut or avocado oils for cooking. I do take a modest amount of fish oil, not every day - I think it's possible that the very low n6:n3 ratio is one reason why I have so many fewer aches and pains, and am recovering well in general. I doubt I could have tolerated fish oil in the beginning, when I was still reacting.
What works for me may not be right for you, of course - I have always been a big fan of supplements but cut down to a bare minimum. I found I had to use a different brand of B-complex and Vitamin D, to avoid suspect ingredients.
As far as the dietary "nos" on that list, you may be already following many of the ones you need to for your health, and you will figure out the rest in time.
There is a lot of good info on the web about omega 3s and omega 6s, but I think you don't need to get a graduate degree in chemistry to eat well ;)
If you do choose to try fish oil, check labels for 'rogue' ingredients like soy, and start with a small amount and increase gradually. I like the liquid fish oil rather than the capsules, partly for this reason - I think I started with a quarter teaspoon, and now have maybe 1.5-2 teaspoons in my breakfast smoothie, several days a week. A friend is on a prescription-strength fish oil, and when I compared his pill with my liquid, we're getting a very similar weekly 'dose' (only his is paid for by insurance, presumably).
Hope this helps,
Sara
Linda,
Yes, the proper balance of omega-3 versus omega-6 fatty acids seems to play a huge role in health. That's one of the reasons why the paleo diet works so well - because it restores a proper balance of these essential fatty acids. A healthy diet seems to require a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, presumably because this is what the paleo diet provided during the hundreds of thousands of years during which our digestive system evolved.
Omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for human health but the body can't produce them - we have to get them from the food we eat. Both types play a vital role in growth and development, metabolism, etc., and in brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially important to us, because they tend to help reduce inflammation, whereas, some, (but not all), omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. A few types of omega-6 fatty acids seem to help reduce inflammation, (such as those found in certain types of animal fats). A typical American eats a diet that contains 15 t0 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and most of the omega-6 fatty acids are the type that are more likely to promote inflammation.
The way to get our fatty acids into balance, though, and keep them that way, is by by using the same means that the paleo people used - our diet. Use healthy oils, (not vegetable oils), for example. If you're interested in more details, here's a primer on this topic:
http://thepaleodiet.com/nutritional-too ... -a-primer/
As Sara illustrates, other members here probably know a lot more than I do, about using diet to keep fatty acids in balance.
Tex
Yes, the proper balance of omega-3 versus omega-6 fatty acids seems to play a huge role in health. That's one of the reasons why the paleo diet works so well - because it restores a proper balance of these essential fatty acids. A healthy diet seems to require a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, presumably because this is what the paleo diet provided during the hundreds of thousands of years during which our digestive system evolved.
Omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for human health but the body can't produce them - we have to get them from the food we eat. Both types play a vital role in growth and development, metabolism, etc., and in brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially important to us, because they tend to help reduce inflammation, whereas, some, (but not all), omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. A few types of omega-6 fatty acids seem to help reduce inflammation, (such as those found in certain types of animal fats). A typical American eats a diet that contains 15 t0 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and most of the omega-6 fatty acids are the type that are more likely to promote inflammation.
The way to get our fatty acids into balance, though, and keep them that way, is by by using the same means that the paleo people used - our diet. Use healthy oils, (not vegetable oils), for example. If you're interested in more details, here's a primer on this topic:
http://thepaleodiet.com/nutritional-too ... -a-primer/
As Sara illustrates, other members here probably know a lot more than I do, about using diet to keep fatty acids in balance.
Tex
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.
I read a book about this last year - it was good, but a little more time & mental energy on the topic (no knock on the author), given how many other issues I need to focus on. Tex's web site is much more concise 
For me, the take-home message is that this is yet another way in which the "rules" for eating with MC are supportive of health. Though the specifics of which foods are in or out do vary, we have a lot of general themes in common.
Thanks, Tex, for the clarity. I am really not wanting to have Paleo diet as a 'religion' - but pretty sure that it continues to be the right general direction.
Linda, please keep us posted as you navigate and heal. Somewhere in your friend's experience there may be something of value for you in this process - in addition to the kindness and care with which it was shared.
All my best,
Sara
For me, the take-home message is that this is yet another way in which the "rules" for eating with MC are supportive of health. Though the specifics of which foods are in or out do vary, we have a lot of general themes in common.
Thanks, Tex, for the clarity. I am really not wanting to have Paleo diet as a 'religion' - but pretty sure that it continues to be the right general direction.
Linda, please keep us posted as you navigate and heal. Somewhere in your friend's experience there may be something of value for you in this process - in addition to the kindness and care with which it was shared.
All my best,
Sara
-
mzh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 615
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:03 pm
- Location: Upstate South Carolina
- Contact:
Linda, you might want to start slowly by taking just omega-3 for a while and add in another, one at a time. Otherwise, how will you know what is working and what isn't?
A very good GI doc I had where I used to live suggested I take 3 grams a day. I've slipped and don't even take one pill - I never took the 3 grams - but I really should start up. I had trouble tolerating even one pill but I did better when I switched from fish oil to salmon oil. Some people have less diarrhea when they add a balanced B complex to their daily regimen. I'm not taking either at the moment; I got sick from taking so many vitamins but I may have stopped the wrong two!
FWIW, the doctor suggested buying the Carlson brand. He may have mentioned Vitacost too for good pricing.
A very good GI doc I had where I used to live suggested I take 3 grams a day. I've slipped and don't even take one pill - I never took the 3 grams - but I really should start up. I had trouble tolerating even one pill but I did better when I switched from fish oil to salmon oil. Some people have less diarrhea when they add a balanced B complex to their daily regimen. I'm not taking either at the moment; I got sick from taking so many vitamins but I may have stopped the wrong two!
FWIW, the doctor suggested buying the Carlson brand. He may have mentioned Vitacost too for good pricing.