When clean foods are bad... Colitis anyone?

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calderst
calderst Posts: 222 Member
in Food and Nutrition
The more I try to "eat clean," the more my innards are unhappy. It isn't logical, but that's life with IBS. I eat some "super-food" like spinach and 20 min later I'm running for the bathroom-- only to be bloated and gurgly for the rest of the night.
In my quest for nutrition knowledge, I read about how refined grains/processed foods are the enemy. But on a night like tonight where the "good" food is passing through too quickly to be even remotely digested (trust me-- it wasn't digested), white bread is what stays in.

So in honor of the white toast that has remained in my body way longer than the "clean" foods I've eaten this week, I'm going out on a limb and adding the "unhealthy" processed stuff back in. I've had way more tummy troubles since exploring clean eating than I have in several years of eating what I wanted. As long as I can keep it in my calorie goal, I'm going to try to not obsess over it.

Anyone IBS/Colitis sufferers experience this? Any suggestions?

Replies

  • mrsmichellewilson
    mrsmichellewilson Posts: 86 Member
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    Sounds familiar......when I have a flare up all I can keep down or in is white toast and nestles chocolate milk . Weird but true :-)
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
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    That sucks :( I'm sorry you're having trouble with this. My sister suffers from IBS pretty terribly. She has the same issue you're having. Healthy/clean food upsets her stomach worse than fatty processed foods. I do wonder though, how long have you been trying the new diet? Sometimes it takes a while for the digestive system to adjust to new foods. When I changed my diet it took about a month before I was "regular" again. :( However, I also do not suffer from IBS.

    My stomach freaks out if I eat junk food now, not terribly, but it's uncomfortable for me. I still enjoy it once a week, but no more than that.
  • Magenta15
    Magenta15 Posts: 850 Member
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    so long as i am not in a flare up (colitis) then no food bothers me.... eating too much processed foods for too long (not the occaisonal treat or fast food slip) can send me into a flare, as can red meat too many days in a row, or turning my eating sched upside down ( eg. going to europe and being served red meat more often than not in 2 weeks)... but when I am good, clean foods don't usually launch me into a flare up like the prev mentioned things can.

    clear as mud? I thought so... there seems to be no rhyme or reason somedays... though i have to agree while it doesn't upset my tummy spinach is pretty quick in and out LOL

    edit: yes when I am in a flare up... fresh veggies are KILLER! and then yes carbs seem more my friend and tummy friendly. agreed there. for dad who has crones. he was told to avoid acidic things for the longest time... tomatoes, coffee. lots of other veg... but since losing weight and eating better he's off his meds and still eats those things.
  • calderst
    calderst Posts: 222 Member
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    clear as mud? I thought so... there seems to be no rhyme or reason somedays...

    That's just it-- one day I can eat a crisp salad, no prob. A week later and I can't even look at cooked veggies without my stomach cramping. And the irony is when all these nutrition experts tell you that eating clean (or however they want to phrase it) will take care of your bloating and tummy troubles-- it's those very foods that send you searching for the nearest facility.

    And those Activia commercials that promise to straighten out your system? I just shake my head & sigh. That stuff doesn't even make it the full 20 minutes. Which makes me wonder-- any IBS/Colitis sufferers have any luck with probiotics?
  • healthieramanda
    healthieramanda Posts: 95 Member
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    That's just it-- one day I can eat a crisp salad, no prob. A week later and I can't even look at cooked veggies without my stomach cramping. And the irony is when all these nutrition experts tell you that eating clean (or however they want to phrase it) will take care of your bloating and tummy troubles-- it's those very foods that send you searching for the nearest facility.

    And those Activia commercials that promise to straighten out your system? I just shake my head & sigh. That stuff doesn't even make it the full 20 minutes. Which makes me wonder-- any IBS/Colitis sufferers have any luck with probiotics?

    I'm exactly the same. My specialist investigating whether I have colitis/IBS (family history of both) and since I've eaten healthier I've had nothing but problems! Like you, one week I'll have a salad and the next I'll cook myself another healthy meal and the same thing. Gurgle gurgle gurgle all night long... and that's if i'm lucky! Sometimes I get severe persistent pain that can last for days at a time.
  • TexasDarling09
    TexasDarling09 Posts: 210 Member
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    Sounds familiar......when I have a flare up all I can keep down or in is white toast and nestles chocolate milk . Weird but true :-)

    Not weird at all, actually, the doc told my dad to have chocolate milk for his upset stomachs. Idk why it works, but it does.
  • jellerose
    jellerose Posts: 74 Member
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    As long as I have good fats along with my veggies and proteins my tummy is happy. Add grains and it rebels. I'm fine with dairy since removing the grains.
  • Motivationrequired
    Motivationrequired Posts: 106
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    Hi, I have the same problem but after talking to my sister in law as couldn’t understand why I was so bloated I found I was eating a lot of yoghurt and can’t believe this affects me too!! I also can't eat wheat so finding this sooooooo difficult, lack of sleep also makes it worse!!!! and stress
  • leilaphoenix
    leilaphoenix Posts: 839 Member
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    I've got Crohns - wholegrain is the enemy!

    I've found this site really helpful for tracking my fibre. I make sure I'm always very under the suggested amount, i.e about half. I try to eat fruit and veg. Peeling things helps. Apple with no skin is way better than with.
  • calderst
    calderst Posts: 222 Member
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    I've got Crohns - wholegrain is the enemy!

    I've found this site really helpful for tracking my fibre. I make sure I'm always very under the suggested amount, i.e about half. I try to eat fruit and veg. Peeling things helps. Apple with no skin is way better than with.

    When I was first diagnosed, my specialist told me to eat a high-fiber diet. There's just SO much differing info out there-- and it varies a bit from person to person.

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