SCD or Paleo diet for Ulcerative Colitis

JAT74

My other half suffers from UC and I have been reading about the SCD diet, and also people who follow a Paleo diet in order to cure this disease without medication.

He currently takes a lot of drugs for his condition and they aren't working very well anymore (he's had UC for around 20 years). He's never really tried dramatically changing his diet and his doctors in the UK tell him that it will make no difference but I've read otherwise in books, on forums and dedicated websites and he is now willing to give it a try as the next step would be stronger drugs which he really doesn't want to have to take.

He usually eats whatever he wants, even during a flare up and he also eats a lot of sweets, chocolate, ice cream and wheat, rice, potatoes etc. so we both know it will be hard. I am planning on joining him to a certain extent and I've recently discovered that I feel very bloated/uncomfortable if I eat a lot of grains myself so it might be good for us both.

Has anyone had success eating this way for UC and I also wanted to know how it's affected your weight. In my case I am hoping it will make it easier for me to get to my goal weight, as it will also mean I'll be going lower carb naturally and will cut out processed foods and sugar.

The main concern he has though is that he will lose his muscle tone and lose weight too and end up very weak. He has managed to do weight training throughout his time with UC and feels this is why he is still well enough to lead a fairly normal life compared to others with the condition in a worse position than him.

I'm also interested to know if anyone who has followed these diets and had success for their disease has been able to modify what's recommended at all as there are some things which I think it will be impossible for him to avoid forever as we tend to eat out a lot. I've already told him that we will have to change the places we eat out and the things we order when we do go out etc.

barbecuesauce

JAT74 wrote: »

My other half suffers from UC and I have been reading about the SCD diet, and also people who follow a Paleo diet in order to cure this disease without medication.

He currently takes a lot of drugs for his condition and they aren't working very well anymore (he's had UC for around 20 years). He's never really tried dramatically changing his diet and his doctors in the UK tell him that it will make no difference but I've read otherwise in books, on forums and dedicated websites and he is now willing to give it a try as the next step would be stronger drugs which he really doesn't want to have to take.

He usually eats whatever he wants, even during a flare up and he also eats a lot of sweets, chocolate, ice cream and wheat, rice, potatoes etc. so we both know it will be hard. I am planning on joining him to a certain extent and I've recently discovered that I feel very bloated/uncomfortable if I eat a lot of grains myself so it might be good for us both.

Has anyone had success eating this way for UC and I also wanted to know how it's affected your weight. In my case I am hoping it will make it easier for me to get to my goal weight, as it will also mean I'll be going lower carb naturally and will cut out processed foods and sugar.

The main concern he has though is that he will lose his muscle tone and lose weight too and end up very weak. He has managed to do weight training throughout his time with UC and feels this is why he is still well enough to lead a fairly normal life compared to others with the condition in a worse position than him.

I'm also interested to know if anyone who has followed these diets and had success for their disease has been able to modify what's recommended at all as there are some things which I think it will be impossible for him to avoid forever as we tend to eat out a lot. I've already told him that we will have to change the places we eat out and the things we order when we do go out etc.

I haven't followed those diets, but as long as he gets adequate calories/protein, he should maintain muscle tone.

As for feeling weak, well, a keto-er will be along to oppose me in a minute, but I feel strongest when I have a lot of carbs.

Good luck to him. I hope he does find something to fix his UC.

elphie754

JAT74 wrote: »

My other half suffers from UC and I have been reading about the SCD diet, and also people who follow a Paleo diet in order to cure this disease without medication.

He currently takes a lot of drugs for his condition and they aren't working very well anymore (he's had UC for around 20 years). He's never really tried dramatically changing his diet and his doctors in the UK tell him that it will make no difference but I've read otherwise in books, on forums and dedicated websites and he is now willing to give it a try as the next step would be stronger drugs which he really doesn't want to have to take.

He usually eats whatever he wants, even during a flare up and he also eats a lot of sweets, chocolate, ice cream and wheat, rice, potatoes etc. so we both know it will be hard. I am planning on joining him to a certain extent and I've recently discovered that I feel very bloated/uncomfortable if I eat a lot of grains myself so it might be good for us both.

Has anyone had success eating this way for UC and I also wanted to know how it's affected your weight. In my case I am hoping it will make it easier for me to get to my goal weight, as it will also mean I'll be going lower carb naturally and will cut out processed foods and sugar.

The main concern he has though is that he will lose his muscle tone and lose weight too and end up very weak. He has managed to do weight training throughout his time with UC and feels this is why he is still well enough to lead a fairly normal life compared to others with the condition in a worse position than him.

I'm also interested to know if anyone who has followed these diets and had success for their disease has been able to modify what's recommended at all as there are some things which I think it will be impossible for him to avoid forever as we tend to eat out a lot. I've already told him that we will have to change the places we eat out and the things we order when we do go out etc.

This has absolutely nothing to do with weight loss. You can lose weight while eating carbs, you can also not lose weight while not eating carbs. It all comes down to calorie deficit.

Also, this sounds like something you are trying to force him to do, not something he wants to do. That won't end well.

ShootingStar72

Check out cookbooks by Danielle Walker, I think she has a website as well. I have "Against All Grain" which has great recipes, and lots of info about UC and food choices. The crockpot orange chicken is fantastic!

JAT74

Nothing to do with forcing him to do it, it's either that or take dangerous drugs which have worrying side effects. He is not happy about changing his diet but he can see it's preferable to the alternative if it works. In my case I think it would affect my weight loss and lots of people have better results on low carb diets than they do on low calorie higher carb diets and the results I've had for going on 7 months have not been as I'd hoped.

Also I am aware that sugar is very bad for you and in the UK we are now told that sugar is the enemy and the main cause of obesity, cancer etc. The Paleo way of eating also talks about the problems we have with grains and dairy and it does make sense.

I am sure I'll be able to find nice things to cook and will check out the book 'all against the grain'. I think his main concern is giving up rice as he loves Chinese food so that will be hard for him. As we eat out a lot it will be a challenge for both of us to choose foods without added sugar or carbs as most places here have a lot of battered or breaded foods, chips with everything and few vegetables or creamy sauces etc.

miriamtob

I don't know much about SCD, but Paleo made my gut happy. If he misses rice; you can make cauliflower "rice". White rice is actually a safe starch and is more neutral than brown rice with the germ and photochemical a, which are gut irritants. Eating out: burgers in a lettuce wrap, salads with a protein, grilled meat with a vegetable side... I've always been able to find at least one thing at a restaurant that works.

JAT74

Miriam what problems did you have before? I've heard a lot about cauliflower rice but I don't think it's very good for people with digestive problems so guess he'll have to get used to doing without!

As you've said I always thought white rice was ok and not an irritant but according to a lot I've read over the past few days it's not necessarily the case. The SCD diet is all about bacteria in the gut and how different foods are absorbed not necessarily whether they act as an irritant or not.

I think what I was hoping to hear when posting this thread was that people with UC or other similar conditions have been able to manage it by cutting out wheat/gluten and sugar/processed food and were able to get better by just doing that alone. It would be much more manageable but the SCD diet goes a lot further.

Before we try to do it I am looking for a slightly simpler option as I know he's likely to get fed up if absolutely everything he likes and normally eats (like potatoes especially) is forbidden. Maybe going Paleo would be a better way for him to ease into it but even that might not be enough.

miriamtob

The problem rice might have on GI tract is that it is a high glycemic load, so the sugars will feed the wrong gut flora, mainly yeast and may lead to more inflammation. The soluble fiber found in non-starchy vegetables feeds the good bacteria. This fiber is made more accessible to the body by cooking (uncooked brassicas, such as cauliflower would cause trouble, as it is a lot for a weakened GI system to break down). Lacto-fermented vegetables are the best for the gut; they are pre-digested by the lactic acid which forms as a by-product from the beneficial bacteria which colonates. So with lacto-fermented vegetables you get the probiotics and the probiotics in which the bacteria feeds. I healed my gut with bone broth, lacto-fermented veggies, and basically a Paleo diet. I had bloating, ibs, brain fog ( a symptom surprisingly connected to GI), itchy...

khhregister

I have UC (I have had it for 22 years). I've been on colazal for the last ~ 10 years, and sulfasalazide before that. I usually get 1-2 flare ups a year. I'm currently on a paleo-ish diet (bulletproof - mainly meat, vegetables, and certain fats, and I've been avoiding grains and sugars) and I will say, I've been symptom free all year. Fingers crossed.

amrluvarr

I have Crohns and it's similar to UC. I've done both diets and while they helped I was never able to reach remission. Also, they are all in diets at least at first anyway. You really have to eliminate everything to figure out what makes him sick. I would not risk eating out for at least the first few months. They are not just eliminating dairy, sugar and carbs. It can include many seasons, potatoes, soy. SCD calls for puréed veggies and fruit in the beginning. I was very strict and lost a lot of weight. I now take Humira and try to avoid processed food- I don't eat out. I was able to reach remission in 2 months. Just remember One cheat can sit you back for months and cause more pain and damage.

angelexperiment

There is also the fodmaps diet which basically helps you heal your gut and figure out ehat your trigger foods are. But its an elimination diet and slowly you can reintroduce certain foods. But these are not for loss but gut health. You may lose as a sude effect of eating different and less takeout.

elphie754

JAT74 wrote: »

Nothing to do with forcing him to do it, it's either that or take dangerous drugs which have worrying side effects. He is not happy about changing his diet but he can see it's preferable to the alternative if it works. In my case I think it would affect my weight loss and lots of people have better results on low carb diets than they do on low calorie higher carb diets and the results I've had for going on 7 months have not been as I'd hoped.

Also I am aware that sugar is very bad for you and in the UK we are now told that sugar is the enemy and the main cause of obesity, cancer etc. The Paleo way of eating also talks about the problems we have with grains and dairy and it does make sense.

I am sure I'll be able to find nice things to cook and will check out the book 'all against the grain'. I think his main concern is giving up rice as he loves Chinese food so that will be hard for him. As we eat out a lot it will be a challenge for both of us to choose foods without added sugar or carbs as most places here have a lot of battered or breaded foods, chips with everything and few vegetables or creamy sauces etc.

The medications are prescribed for a reason.

Oh goodness.... No. Sugar is not the cause of obesity or cancer. Calorie surplus is the cause of obesity. And sugar causes cancer? How absurd.

While hanging diet can aid in alleviating symptoms, not taking medication one is prescribed can be detrimental to ones health.

JAT74

Elphie he is not on the drugs I am referring to at the moment, he will continue taking the medication he has been prescribed. What I was referring to are drugs his specialist mentioned during his last visit as he asked about alternative options as he has been on the same drugs for years.

If you don't believe that sugar is very bad for you along with other carbs I think you are one of the few people who disagree. I have watched documentaries from both the UK and US on this subject and read a lot of articles on the topic.

amrluvarr unfortunately not eating out is not an option. We live in Spain where the lifestyle is outdoors and we normally eat out 3-4 times a week (twice alone and twice with friends). We can definitely avoid eating in places where they serve a lot of sauces/carbs/processed foods because most of the Spanish restaurants serve food which is completely natural such as grilled vegetables, fresh grilled fish or meat, fresh fruit for dessert etc. It will just mean changing the places we go to a little. If we didn't eat out it would mean the end of our social life and would be likely to lead to other problems like depression as we both work from home and eat out a lot of the time just to get out of the house and also so that I get a break rather than having to cook every day as some days I don't finish work until late in the evening.

We are both aware that a change in diet is going to be 'all or nothing' but we really need to give it a try. He needs to be able to eat enough calories because his recently lost a bit of weight anyway through choice and while he's strong as he weight trains and he can't afford to lose too much more before he would start feeling weak etc.

Queenmunchy

ShootingStar72 wrote: »

Check out cookbooks by Danielle Walker, I think she has a website as well. I have "Against All Grain" which has great recipes, and lots of info about UC and food choices. The crockpot orange chicken is fantastic!

Yes! The leftover chicken roasted vegetable soup is so good that I served it at my wedding!

JAT74

The website looks great thanks ShootingStar72 & Queenmunchy! The only question I have is why does she advocate the use of some foods like chocolate as I thought they were not allowed due to being dairy and also illegal on SCD?