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Hi everyone,
I'm still waiting for the results from my MRT testing - they're in the mail as I write!
In the meantime, I'm working on getting extra protein into my diet to help my gut heal. I have a feeling that rice is out, and I've been eating brown rice protein powder. Today I picked up some hemp powder, but then I saw that it has 14 grams of fiber in a serving. Yikes! It seems like the less fiber I eat right now, the happier my stomach is. I'm still getting daily cramping, even eating just chicken, kobocha, potatoes and zucchini, so I'm thinking this might bloat me up like crazy. Has anyone else tried out hemp powder?
Thanks!
Elizabeth
Hemp protein powder
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Elizabeth,
We use hemp powder 2-3 times a week in smoothies. We have tried a couple of different brands (and just ran out - will be re-stocking today, and will check both brand and fiber level, and let you know - I think it's the Tempt brand that my husband now likes best).
I eat much more protein now than I have in years, and believe that it's been an important part of my healing, so I hope you find the same benefits. I found the transition to meatatarian hard at first, but I can't argue with the difference it has made.
You may be right that hemp is not what your body is requesting at the moment. I think you should trust your instincts for now (even though our instincts are not always perfect). You could substitute turkey for chicken for a few days, to see whether that makes a difference. Other early protein friends were plain white fish and lamb... but you'll know in just a short time from your MRT results how to prioritize your next steps! I had to increase the size of the meat portion on my plate, which was a big adjustment at first.
I hope you don't "lose" potatoes, because they're very useful. I will be curious to see how potatoes come out for me when I do MRT (hopefully next month). I eat them much more now, but I had avoided them for years, and wonder whether my body was trying to tell me something. I strongly prefer sweet potatoes (and have been yearning for the kobocha squash to show up in our Greenmarkets!).
I look forward to hearing your about MRT results - and hope the cramping subsides soon.
Be well,
Sara
We use hemp powder 2-3 times a week in smoothies. We have tried a couple of different brands (and just ran out - will be re-stocking today, and will check both brand and fiber level, and let you know - I think it's the Tempt brand that my husband now likes best).
I eat much more protein now than I have in years, and believe that it's been an important part of my healing, so I hope you find the same benefits. I found the transition to meatatarian hard at first, but I can't argue with the difference it has made.
You may be right that hemp is not what your body is requesting at the moment. I think you should trust your instincts for now (even though our instincts are not always perfect). You could substitute turkey for chicken for a few days, to see whether that makes a difference. Other early protein friends were plain white fish and lamb... but you'll know in just a short time from your MRT results how to prioritize your next steps! I had to increase the size of the meat portion on my plate, which was a big adjustment at first.
I hope you don't "lose" potatoes, because they're very useful. I will be curious to see how potatoes come out for me when I do MRT (hopefully next month). I eat them much more now, but I had avoided them for years, and wonder whether my body was trying to tell me something. I strongly prefer sweet potatoes (and have been yearning for the kobocha squash to show up in our Greenmarkets!).
I look forward to hearing your about MRT results - and hope the cramping subsides soon.
Be well,
Sara
Elizabeth,
I've never tried the hemp powder, but hemp milk causes a moderate amount of bloating for me - no other symptoms, just some bloating.
Tex
I've never tried the hemp powder, but hemp milk causes a moderate amount of bloating for me - no other symptoms, just some bloating.
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.
Thanks for your responses, Sara and Tex. I think that hemp is going back to the store! Rice protein seems to be fine.
Sara, since I've been back on the board this fall, I've started eating a LOT more protein. I have to say, my body feels so much better. Stronger, less famished. Thanks for urging us to up our intake. Sometimes I worry about how much protein I'm eating in relation to carbs - it's usually around 40% of my calories/day, with fat coming in around 35%. I've read so much about how too much protein is unhealthy - leaching calcium from our bones, for example - that it feels strange to be eating so much more. But my body is obviously happier with protein than it is with carbs right now. What a strange process this is. Six months ago I was just coming off a 3-week juice fast after trying to do a raw food diet that sent me into a major flare. Today, with 10 more pounds on my body and a lot more muscle and my flare in check (Norman has been back for a few weeks!), I'd say it's hard for me to argue with less fiber and more protein.
Elizabeth
Sara, since I've been back on the board this fall, I've started eating a LOT more protein. I have to say, my body feels so much better. Stronger, less famished. Thanks for urging us to up our intake. Sometimes I worry about how much protein I'm eating in relation to carbs - it's usually around 40% of my calories/day, with fat coming in around 35%. I've read so much about how too much protein is unhealthy - leaching calcium from our bones, for example - that it feels strange to be eating so much more. But my body is obviously happier with protein than it is with carbs right now. What a strange process this is. Six months ago I was just coming off a 3-week juice fast after trying to do a raw food diet that sent me into a major flare. Today, with 10 more pounds on my body and a lot more muscle and my flare in check (Norman has been back for a few weeks!), I'd say it's hard for me to argue with less fiber and more protein.
Elizabeth
That's terrific news, Beth! If you're having Normans, then you've already figured out most of your intolerant foods. Use the MRT test as a guideline and avoid the foods listed as reactive to see if you feel better. You might be surprised at the difference it makes.Beth wrote:Today, with 10 more pounds on my body and a lot more muscle and my flare in check (Norman has been back for a few weeks!)
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Beth,
Looking forward to your MRT results. Be sure to post them in the MRT forum created for that purpose, if you are so inclined. I tested positive for the hemp family ("hops" on MRT) which explained why I was unable to tolerate hemp milk. You might not want to buy any more new foods until you have a chance to study your MRT results!
Love,
Polly
Looking forward to your MRT results. Be sure to post them in the MRT forum created for that purpose, if you are so inclined. I tested positive for the hemp family ("hops" on MRT) which explained why I was unable to tolerate hemp milk. You might not want to buy any more new foods until you have a chance to study your MRT results!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Elizabeth,
I think some of those protein recommendations are, um, wrong. I recently read about a study that showed that "about equal" amounts of fats, protein and carbs were optimal for several health outcomes. That means about 33% each... drastically less carbs, and more protein, than the standard recommendations. You're pretty close there - and being a little high on the protein side is, I believe, important for recovery.
If you eat a high-protein, low-carb *and* low-fat diet, that can cause problems... but that would be pretty hard to do, I think, without either being in strange and desperate circumstances (hunter-trappers who can only get their hands on squirrels ran into this problem - most of us would have to go out of our way to eat a diet with that profile).
I'm glad to hear that the protein is working for you, too. I haven't done the calculations recently - I'm going to restart that today, while breakfast is still fresh enough in my mind. I'll let you know.
I think some of those protein recommendations are, um, wrong. I recently read about a study that showed that "about equal" amounts of fats, protein and carbs were optimal for several health outcomes. That means about 33% each... drastically less carbs, and more protein, than the standard recommendations. You're pretty close there - and being a little high on the protein side is, I believe, important for recovery.
If you eat a high-protein, low-carb *and* low-fat diet, that can cause problems... but that would be pretty hard to do, I think, without either being in strange and desperate circumstances (hunter-trappers who can only get their hands on squirrels ran into this problem - most of us would have to go out of our way to eat a diet with that profile).
I'm glad to hear that the protein is working for you, too. I haven't done the calculations recently - I'm going to restart that today, while breakfast is still fresh enough in my mind. I'll let you know.