Have you ever wondered if it’s OK to eat salad when you have ulcerative colitis?
I think everyone asks themselves this question. I sure did. For me, salad is a big part of my weekly diet, and yes, I’ve got UC and a colon.(and a colon that knows how to take hard normal craps too, and a colon that is medication free since Oct. 2009) Of course I think diet is important for controling my UC. For you, things may be different, but things may also be the same.
Back in the 2008-2009 days when I was trying to find a way to kick the bleeding and endless toilet runs, I was pretty sure that “roughage” and thinkgs like raw veggies and salad were bad for my body, or at least “hard to digest”. This is what I had heard from the medical system and I listened to that theory. Back in the days of the blood flying out and landing in the toilet or some days just dripping, I hardly ever ate anything green, probably more like never at all. Those were the days of bread, rice, gatorade, and weekly blood tests at the local medical clinic. Those were the days of watching like a hawk my blood test results, popping the prednisone on a Swiss clock schedule, going to get refills of prescriptions from Walgreens drug store all the time etc… And of course, days of no salads.
I like salads. I hate Ulcerative Colitis. That’s pretty simple right…
So, in trying to figure out the transition to eating no salads to eating them 3-4 to 5-6 times per week, I am trying to remember how it went. As you may know from reading other posts, I started a radically new Specific Carbohydrate Based diet
on August 11, 2009. I don’t think I jumped right into salads every day, but for sure within a few weeks, I was eating salads whenever I felt like it. Why…? Because my body was liking the salads. My body wasn’t saying “No don’t eat salad, its causing your bloody stools”. It was saying the exact opposite. So, that is my salad story.
It’s probably not the best idea to think that if you start eating ONLY salads, you will get your UC under control and living symptoms free like me, but I personally think that would be a MUCH better idea than jumping head over heels into a massive year long run with the salads the drug companies are feeding everyone. I’ll be grabbing a bowl of nasty brussel sprouts before grabing a jar of prednisone anyday.
Lastly, if you are anything like me and like red meat and chicken and stuff like that, a nice salad like the one in the video is a great thing to throw those types of proteins into as well.
If you have any strong or mild opinions on salad for UC patients(whether with or without a colon/ in a agreement or not at all with this post) please post them in the comments below, the UC world would be most grateful.
March 16, 2010 at 5:49 am
that looked delicious!! I can’t wait to try a salad again!!!
May 9, 2010 at 9:48 am
Wow, that looks delicious! Must try it sometime. I’m lucky, in that what I eat doesn’t seem to affect my colitis, although I have avoided orange juice pretty much since I was diagnosed ten years ago. My husband doesn’t like processed foods, so we almost always cook healthily, and I’ve never really thought about it before, but maybe that’s why my colitis has been in remission most of the time. Any flare ups I have had tend to be stress related (although it’s unpredicatable – I’m a teacher, but the daily stresses of teaching don’t seem to affect me – it’s just unexpected anxieties I think!) Unfortunately I started a flare up last week, after two years without meds, which is why I’m looking up colitis websites at the moment and have found yours! Back on medication again, Pentasa this time, but I’m going to continue my normal eating pattern in the meantime. Which reminds me, I ought to go and get the dinner on …
May 16, 2010 at 1:16 am
Hi Adam,
Wonder if you can clear this up for me.
In my legal and illegal foods. Fructose> illegal. Honey> legal.
I have just been told honey has 55% fractose. I am using liquid honey as my sweetener.
Shirley
May 16, 2010 at 6:11 am
Hi Shirley,
I am pretty sure its legal for SCD. Most people I speak with who are on SCD are using honey all day long.
May 29, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I have recently been pondering this exact question. I was dx with ulcerative proctitis in 1994 and after careful watch of a fantastic doctor I spent most of the years following in remission. Until a few years ago, when bad symptoms creapt back and I found myself runnng to the toilet several times a day. My Doctor had since moved away and I was tossed into the Canadian health care system and they continued to prescribe various meds but would never schedule a scope to see what was really going on. During these years a pretty bland diet, injected with moments of great food as cooking is my passion. But always eaten with caution. Finally this Feb I started 40mg tapering dose of prednisone, and as my symptoms improved I started eating salad…often. Now I am 12 days off the prednisone and wondering, was the salad helping? So many years spent avoiding it, but these past few weeks gut function was better than ever…and now it’s starting to slip again. Today was the worst day yet, and I immediately wanted to go to old habit of a bowl of plain pasta. Another part of me wonders whether salad would be better or whether it would wreak more havoc. In the end I may skip dinner altogether.
February 22, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Hi Adam,
I am new to this website.. and am very excited on changing my lifestyle since my current diet and meds aren’t doing the trick. I have severe UC and have had a rough couple of months.. alongside with prednisone I have tried topically treating it as well with the use of enimas and suppositories. I have drastically cut so many delicious foods out of my diet. I am currently eating no greens, lots of soups, little potato, eggs and ground meat (which i have read is easier for system to digest). I use to eat salads daily before my diagnoses, which kind of lettuce do you find works for you?
also, and recommendations on drinks you are able to enjoy?
I do notice that the occasional caffeine whether it be in soda, tea or coffee almost immediately sends me running to the restroom.
Hope you receive this message and look forward to hearing some positive feedback!
K
February 22, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Hey what’s up Kelly,
I hope things turn around for you soon. I am currently down to 5mg/day of prednisone and soon going to be full on med free once again, so yep, a bit aprehensive, but excited none the less.
Quick tip, I would cut out the potato completely if I was yuo. I used to eat potato but for about six months now have cut it out. I know its hard, but it can send you back several steps, and only a few people I know who have UC and treat UC with diet alone eat potato. These people have been on the SCD diet for a LONG time menaing several years and still only eat potato sparingly.
As for salads, if you are still experiencing active colitis meaning bleeding and that type of stuff with very loose stools, you might want to consider waiting a while on the salad stuff to until you get the bleeding to go almost away.
But finally to answer your question…: I eat all sorts of greens. Arugula, iceberg lettuce, cilantro, spinach etc.. I love it all and eat it all quite a bit. For salads, I throw in red onions, greeen onions, carrots, beats, cabbage(sometimes), cucumber, tomato. I sometimes put in a bit of walnuts, but not the candied walnuts that seem to be getting popular.
As for salad dressings, lately, I go dry, and try to get maybe some olive oil and white vinegar only. Most of the other dressings that are typical have bad stuff in them that I just cant tolerate, so I avoid it all pretty good.
Sodas I never drink, except maybe a half of a diet coke once a month if that..
I am guilty of getting back on the coffee train, 95% of the time decaf coffee with only added honey, no milk or other sugars FOR SURE.
I personally think the coffee is not a great idea for any of us, but that’s my own opinion, and I am fully addicted to it(unfortunately).
Drinks I recommend: water, welch’s 100% grapejuice with 50% water, home made carrot juice, fresh squeezed orange juice in moderation after bleeding has stopped, and I make a crapload of smoothies, almost every morning actually. go to the bottom of the site and search “morning smoothie” and you’ll see the post I wrote on that.
Best of luck to you, feel free to comment as often as you like, if its from a post I wrote, I’ll try to get back to you ASAP.
laters,
Adam
November 30, 2011 at 3:37 am
Hey Adam,
I hope you’re well.
I was reading through your post, to be honest I was never told anything about avoiding salads so was kind of surprised about that! My bigger surprise was though that you mentioned that you were off your meds?? I ddn’t even think that was a possibility of people with UC?
I’ve had UC for 10 years, mainly on Pentasa, but lets say if for a few days I just want to take a break from all the pill popping I automatically start feeling my colon falling apart!
How were you able to kick the meds?
Thanks.
majd.
November 30, 2011 at 9:26 am
Hey Majd,
Thanks for your comment. I’m sure you’ve already been through alot with dealing with UC for 10 years now.
My treatment is using diet exlusively, and the SCD diet. there’ s details at http://www.ihaveuc.com/the-diet about it