Diagnosed with ulcerative Colitis to much fibre may have caused it. Opinions Please.

[Zaytser]

Hi all. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a month ago and currently take a fancy aspirin that helps keep the inflamation down. Also when I began bodybuilding 7 years ago I incorporated a diet high protein, moderate fats and carbs and high fibre as that is what the magazines and articles said to do to keep your digestive system and colon healthy. Well obviously the metamucil and fibre supps and raw veggies didn't help in that regard, and according to a website I came across http://www.biblelife.org/fiber.htm I may have caused this myself.

According to the info on that site, although I am unsure of its authenticity as Red Flags go up in my head when I see a web name that is related to religion - "high fibre in the colon causes pathogenic bacteria growth," because they feed on fibre and in turn wear away the lining in the colon. Like I said... Maybe all of that info is just B.S. but it also refers to the fact that Eskimos/Native American Indians, and Africans in the past ate diets rich in fats and proteins and low fibre and had perfectly health bowels. While the English who imported all of there crappy processed foods had a higher % of bowel diseases. A doctor who was comparing Africans to his English counter parts came to the false conclusion that Africans had healthy colons because they ate barley bread and high fibre intake. Also they didn't eat any processed foods. Also it is a false hood that Africans at that time were vegetarians as veggans claim.

I did more searches on google and there seems to be more studies that come to the conclusion that fibre intake does not prevenet colon diseases. There is also another link http://www.biblelife.org/bowel.htm which has more info as well and thik that it would be good to read through it thoroughly. It pretty much promotes a bodybuilding diet. They would like people with conditions like mine to try a 70% fat, 27% protien and 3% carb diet of which 3 grams or less is fibre. I on the other hand will go on a high protein moderate fat diet with veggies that have less fibre in them and maybe try to avoid breads, and grains completely, as they just seem to make my condition worse. The causes for ulceratiive colitis are stress, autoimmune, or passed on from your family. I have no history of it in my family so I am guessing that a combo of stress, autoimmune and if what that website says about fibre is true, a high fibre intake may have caused my condition this past 7 seven years. Before I started eating a bodybuilding diet with high fibre intake I never had any bowel problems, but also ate too much crappy processed foods we have all come to love.

Anyways I hope that someone on the forum whether it be a doctor, a person in a similar situation as I, or anyone that will read my post replies. I appreciate any and all info you can send my way or just advice or opinions. Take care all.

 

[BigBen]

The CHina study, which is the most comprehensive study ever done on nutrition says the exact opposite of how to avoid disease and keep a healhy diet. Do not eat that much fat. You should be eating soft fruits like berries, peaches, mangos, ect for your fiber, also eat grains. Use a vegetable juicer and juice 32 oz of carrot spinach juice 1/4 spinach, 3/4 carrot this will help bring elasticity back to your colon. Avoid all that meat. Avoid all processed junk foods, and processed foods in general they do nothing but harm to your body.

Your caloric break down should be something along the lines of

65% carbs all from vegetable juice, grains and soft fruits
25% fats from raw nuts
10% protein from fish

This should help you alot. Diet causes disease and it can also fix disease.

 

[Zaytser]

Yes I see your point, but why is my condition getting worse when I already ate plenty of foods like the ones you just described? I ate lots of raw broccoli, nuts and fuits whey protein and mostly chicken (very rarely do I eat hamburger or steak) on a daily basis. Obviously it didn't help. Just eating oatmeal gives me gas like you wouldn't believe, and I always wondered why. breads and cereals and other grains have the same effect. I just thought it took time to get used to, but i am starting to think otherwise. Also, if I was to eat as you described, there is no way I would be able to continue to train. And finally, I would not incorporate a diet high in fat of 70%. It would be moderate fat mostly from lean protein sources and omega 3,6 and 9 capsules, High protien and low carb. Also there is no way I am going to eat fish. Gotta be the most disgusting food I have ever tried to eat, and i have tried plenty.

I am not disagreeing with you, just letting you know that the diet you described (substitute the fish for chicken) and you have my diet down to a T and many days I was wondering why I had so much gas and bloating or discomfort, when it is supposedly so good for the body. But also being honest, I have a sweet tooth and have always enjoyed pizza, and junk. I have never abused myself with it, but do enjoy it. I certainly appreciate your feed back though. I am just going to try to avoid high fibre intake for a few weeks and see if my inflamation and bleeding decrease.

 

[Ironslave]

Go see your doctor.

Did you doctor tell you to take aspirin? Because aspiring is an inhibitor of 2 enzymes, COX-1, and COX-2. COX-1 is responsible for forming natural mucus that protects the stomach lining. Therefore, inhibiting this enzyme would be a very bad thing for your ulcer, not to mention that it thins your blood. On the other hand, aspirin is definitely an anti inflammatory, which might help. So, it's really a matter of weighing the pros and cons of taking it, ask your doctor.

 

[Zaytser]

The Aspirin I take has been prescribed to me for my condition. Sorry I forgot to mention that. It has a special coating that allows it to target the site of inflamation. I should have been more specific. This is not an over the counter apspirin. I was prescribed to use it for two weeks, and then see the doctor that did the colonoscopy again to see if it helped. It has reduced the inflamation, but what I eat seems to have more to do with the amount of inflamation. So I imagine my doctor will now send me to a gastologist.

 

[Ironslave]

Cool man, yeah that does make a difference, specially coated aspirins do have a GI protective effect.

While I do completely agree with Ben's post for someone who is looking to promote general health and longevity, in medical situations, I'd always recommend checking out any changes with your doctor (who should consult a specialist).

 

[Steve56]

Bro i was diagnosed with UC 3 yrs ago...was yours mild, moderate, or severe? Mine was a mild case and basically I did all the reading and researching that I could on the condition and as far as what aggavates a flare up its really unknown. The DR. that I go to is awesome real cool dude and very very smart Graduated from U PENN doctorate at Johns Hopkins the guy is briliant and he basically told me that its basically trial and error when it comes to finding what foods work for you and what dosent...long story short I highly doubt that Fiber intake would do this, Fiber is supposed to regulate your digestive system..meaning if have trouble going it should help you, but also if your going to much it should help normalize your bowel movements....the only time you might want to avoid fiber is during a flare up...but when your in remmision keep fiber in the diet.....

In my case in 3 yrs since being diagnosed i have only had 1 mild flare up he upped my meds and that cleared up in about a month but now im on a maintance dose of Sulfasalazine which is a anti-inflamitory i have no sides from it and basically I have NO food restrictions I eat a clean bodybuilding diet but even when im eating normal cheat foods i have no problems!!! PM me bro if you have any questions

 

[Folk Artist]

Even if high-fiber foods worsen your UC symptoms during a flare-up, it may ok to eat some of these foods after the flare is over. The best way to know that a particular food is bad for you, is to remove it from your diet, and then start to gradually eat it again. Also try steaming, baking, or stewing fruits and vegetables, before eating them, this will make it easier on your digestive track than eating them raw.

 

[Alexandoy]

From what I know fiber is good for the body particularly the digestive system because it relieves the body of toxins. I don’t know much about ulcerative colitis but ulcer is normally caused by the virus helicobacter pylori. I once had ulcers and it was treated by a mixture of antibiotics. Any physician knows the treatment.

 

[Heatman]

We do get to suffer from one thing or another. It's what makes us human and a lot of variables influences what befalls each and everyone of us from time to time.

Just take proper medication and treatment as prescribed by the doctor and definitely in no distant time, I believe that you would feel alright.