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3 Keys to Success

Its 3 AM and I’m up once again with severe stomach pain, cold sweats, and hardly the energy to put a thought together. I know this story all too well…

 

Year after year, I failed to find results battling Crohns/Colitis. The only thing I could seem to control was whether or not I would allow myself to fall into a deep depression.

 

My health was seemingly always in a downward spiral no matter the diet, drugs, or amount of money invested. Hard to stay positive with a reality like that…

 

I finally found refuge in reading a few stories of natural healing such as – Jordan Rubin “A Maker’s Diet”. After many months contemplating if I too could succeed where many others had, I finally made a decision in my heart that I to would do whatever it took to take back my life and heal myself. Years later, I finally made a deep decision; a decision to completely own my life and the cards I had been dealt. That decision to become my own best doctor and take responsibility for my sickness . However it was the first key to my success – Become Your Own Best Doctor!

I decided to dedicate every part of my life to my recovery. Every part of my day was based on how it affected my health and what my body needed. Using tools like My Daily Journal, and S.H.I.E.L.D. I started to experience new effects. It was like I was starting to dance in the boxing ring, so-to- speak. I wasn’t getting knocked out by a right hook as much anymore, I had finally learned how to duck!

 

The second key to success I learned was – The Greatest Energy Always Prevails. Everything emits positive or negative energy. Whether it was a phone call, a movie, a meal, sleeping habits, hangouts, friendship. Everything had the ability to either help my process or hurt it. I found that it was important for me to be open to experiencing things that I believed I could make positive such as spending time with friends, going to the beach, going for a walk, even night life… These events were potentially dangerous but I learned how to create a positive experience in these environments.

 

The third key to success was Health and Happiness – You Cannot Have One Without The Other! I lived in anger for many years, the fear of being rejected by the world, resentful of being the victim of life and a burden on my loved ones. It was only when I let go of my pain and fear I was able to experience new possibilities!

So there you have it – some food for thought on how to make the seemingly unattainable, attainable. There were many key’s to my success but I found these three relevant in my transition towards personal empowerment. Some keys to success may be talked about but all must be experienced first hand to truly understand the magnitude of their power.

Unwrapping The Mind-Body Connection

Can you do me a favor?

Imagine for a second you get a call from a close relative… You answer the phone and they seem to be having a hard time speaking. Something is obviously wrong, they are upset and you don’t know why. You ask “what’s wrong?” but no response is given. Then you ask again, and again…they can’t seem to get it out.

 

Your anticipation for this dramatic moment is growing stronger and stronger until you now must know! Then they say it… a direct family member passed away…You are crushed. Your eyes swell up, you go into a panic of extreme desperation and loss. You lose control over your body and emotions entirely. In your mind, your universe has been completely turned upside down in a paralyzing way…

Now, we all know something like this would have devastating consequences in any of our lives; consequences of extreme physical, spiritual, and emotional reactions that could possibly leave us unable to go on on living. However in this example, nothing physically happened to you. You didn’t witness anything, you didn’t feel any direct pain, you really aren’t absolutely certain this idea is true. You were only told a terrible idea, which was convincing enough for you to believe. However, the outcome it has on you is more or less the same, devastating.

 

What we believe has an enormous effect on our lives in every way imaginable. This belief has the power to build or destroy anything we think of or feel. My question to you is…if such a negative belief can have such a negative effect on our universe, can a positive belief do the same?

 

The mind is a powerful part of the body, what we choose to believe more than often tends to become our realities. As Confucius said “Those who say they can and those who say they can’t; are both usually right” Whether it’s true or not isn’t always as black or white as the example above but it leads us to a point that we don’t always consciously know; the trauma of what happens in our lives directly effects the entirety of our being.

With that fact in mind I ask, is it possible for the opposite effect to be realized? If we plant seeds of positivity like love, passion, and self-acceptance into our lives in a habitual way, we can start to witness the positive dividends in not only our physical being but our spirit, emotions, and loved ones lives. Sounds like a win-win to me! Ying-n-Yang baby!

 

The key to a thriving mind body connection is first the realization of its power and how we may utilize this universal truth to our benefit. Only then can we make a conscious decision to build positive momentum or negative momentum in hopes to truly understand this incomprehensible truth.

 

It may not always be so easy to grasp, but it is always there for the taking. So lets start the day with positive power, lets start the day with a smile for goodness sakes =)

 

Outfit: Banana Republic Photographer: Sierra Prescott

Three Steps to A Healing Diet

Getting Started

Many of us who suffer from Crohn’s & UC have tried a variety of diets to heal our system from IBD but rarely with much success.

 

Why?

 

Is it about being Gluten Free? Dairy Free? Vegan? Paleo? Alkalizing? Raw?

 

With so many options available, we need a guideline to not only what we eat; but also a guideline on how to eat it. Our goals should be to eliminate not just unhealthy foods but also foods that don’t work for our personal systems.

 

Our bodies are all unique and react to foods differently but there are common “rules of thumb” we can implement to start healing the gut, reducing daily bowel movements, bleeding, bloating, pain, indigestion, etc…

 

3 steps you can take to increase healing are:

  • Elimination Diet
  • Food Preparation
  • Semi -Elemental Diet

These steps are not meant to complicate our lives but simplify them and help free us from the symptoms of Crohn’s & Colitis.

  • We start with an elimination diet to get an idea of what foods are causing damage and start removing them from our diet.
  • We prepare our foods in a manner that increases absorbability, lowers risk of reaction, taste good, and nourishes our systems.
  • We then can use a semi-elemental diet to satisfy the elimination diet and food preparation. These meals tend to be extremely healing and a “go to” for optimal results.

Elimination Diet

Definition –

“a diet regimen aimed at identifying foods or additives that may be causing an allergy or symptom usually involving the removal of suspected foodstuffs from the diet then adding them back one at a time to see which ones make the symptoms recur.” (dictionary.com)

 

It’s not just about what you eat but what you DON’T eat. What you don’t eat could be considered even more important than what you do eat, especially when you’re health is in critical condition. Our goal is to create an environment in your G.I. that stops damage and allows your body the chance to start healing.

 

Imagine a scratch on your arm….the more anything comes in contact with it the more irritated, infected, and inflamed,it will become. The digestive tissues in the G.I. work much the same. All body needs a consistent amount of uninterrupted time to heal. In some cases, foods which are considered “healthy” can hurt our stomachs even more than the “unhealthy” foods. Does this mean you should eat Mcdonalds Burgers & Saltine Crackers because you don’t seem to get a belly ache?

 

No…

 

But it does give us an idea of how we can create a win/win/win scenario with our diet.

 

Wins…

  1. Doesn’t cause further damage
  2. Is nutritious to our personal systems
  3. Taste good!

Implementing an elimination diet can be the very thing our bodies need to restore health. In many cases, people suffering from Crohn’s/Colitis see a dramatic difference from consistently practicing an elimination diet.

How to Start an Elimination Diet –

It’s best to start with complete elimination of commonly known aggravators from your diet.

 

Some examples could be:

  • Doesn’t cause further damage
  • Is nutritious to our personal systems
  • Taste good!

Once you find what the base foods of your diet will be, start with a food which you believe gives you the least amount of issues and build 4-5 different meals around it.

Example Meal 1:

  • Organic Skinless Chicken Breast no seasoning (base) or Avocado (vegan base)
  • Steamed Zucchini, Carrots, and Squash
  • Boiled White Potato

Example Meal 2:

  • Organic Skinless Chicken Breast w/ marination (base)
  • Steamed Broccoli, Beets, Diced Onion
  • Boiled Sweet Potato

Example Meal 3:

  • Organic Skinless Chicken Breast w/ Salt, Garlic, Lemon Pepper (base)
  • Stir-fried Asparagus, Cucumber, butternut squash
  • Sprouted Brown Rice

And so forth…

 

This will give you an idea of how you handle a variety of items and give you some staple meals and foods you can get when you’re traveling, at work or at restaurants. It’s not just about the healing effect but also the knowledge to handle stressful moments outside of your house.

 

These meals are not forever, they are more about giving the G.I. tract time to heal and learning the avenues you can take to live life on your terms.

 

This can also be done with the elemental shake (seen later in this blog)

Food Preparation

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you can eat a certain food but then other time you can’t?

 

Was it the way you cooked it? The spices? The stress you were under when you ate it? Hormones? How intense of a flare you were in?

 

The answer is all the above

 

During a flare we need to take many aspects into consideration. Our bodies are in a weak state that cannot handle the stress of most foods so we need to prepare our meals and our system to give us the best chance of healing.We can do this by making sure are nervous systems are in a parasympathetic state and our foods are cooked for optimal absorption.

 

Here are some methods that could help:

  • Chew your foods at least 30 times
  • Make sure your salivating before you eat (parasympathetic state)
  • Drink no more that 4oz of liquid while eating – preferably drink nothing until 30 minutes after eating
  • Use a steamer to cook your foods when possible – highly steamed is better
  • Use an oven to bake your foods
  • Don’t eat raw vegetables unless you know you handle them
  • Eat Organic Use an oil with a high smoke point when cooking (Ex: Coconut Oil)
  • Play peaceful music throughout the day
  • Enjoy the meal with loved ones
  • Eat outside

Give some of these ideas a try and see if you notice a difference.

 

In the beginning, you may only feel a small difference but a strong house is built one brick at a time! If we combine these daily actions into our eating regimen we can see a dramatic difference without actually changing the type of food we’re eating.

 

Make sense?

 

It’s not just what we’re eating it but how we are eating it. Which foods and how we consume them are both very important for healing. To start try adding 4 of the top examples to your daily regimen. After 1-2 weeks add 1 more, then 1 more 1-2 weeks later, and so forth…

Feels Good to Feel Good!

If we can practice the majority of the above options we start changing our lifestyle in a way that promotes gut health. Soon it won’t be work at all, just lifestyle choices that make you feel good.

 

It’s not necessarily “work” to stop things that make us feel bad, we just know better over time. This is a principle many of us take up as get older anyways…

 

For example, chewing your food 30 times, drinking less that 4oz of water with your meal, salivating when eating, and eating outside are easy daily actions with minimal effort. It’s important to note we rarely find one method that dramatically heals our system. It’s the daily cumulative actions we take that create an overall difference in our health

 

Semi – Elemental Diet

 

Define –

 

“contains nutrients as small molecular weight compounds, i.e. proteins as amino acids or peptides, carbohydrates as oligosaccharides or monosaccharides, and fats as medium-chain triglycerides. Used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease. Called also monomeric diet.” (ListenToYourGut.com)

 

In short, an elemental meal is when the nutrients is broken down into more absorbable matter.

 

Think of a smoothie, shake, or pureed food…

 

Depending on your personal situation, an elemental or semi-elemental diet may be a fantastic healing meal in your regimen.

 

A semi-elemental diet is when a certain amount of meals are in liquid form. Meaning not all of our meals are elemental only some of them. This protects us from the possible issues of having a fully liquid diet while maintaining our lifestyle and stressors.

 

We can add nutritious foods and supplements into an elemental shake that can help:

  • lower inflammation
  • make a vegan meal
  • heal ulcers
  • regulate the immune system
  • massage the gut lining, counteract anemia
  • add bulk to BM’s
  • proper absorption
  • revitalize the human body.

A full elemental diet is very healing and can be done for 1-2 days (or much longer) when you have downtime, but a semi-elemental diet is easier to sustain in the long run.I suggest you work with a physician before trying a full on elemental diet for a long period of time. These meals allow our bodies to soak up an abundance of nutrients while using a quarter of the energy to do so.

 

Elemental meals are easily made free of dairy, gluten, refined sugars, and lectins. This makes it much easier is to follow the rules of the elimination diet and food preparation. In under 5 minutes we can make a raw, vegan, nutritious, organic, great-tasting, and easily absorbable meal that is healing on our system.

 

A win/win/win under 10 bucks!

Elemental Shake –

If you experience any adverse effects, chances are you added something your body cannot take, you drank it too fast, you were in a stressed state, or you needed to add healing ingredients like Grounded Psyllium Husk or Grounded Slippery Elm.

Digestive Healing Shake (organic) –

  • Vegan Protein (optional – Nano Vegan Pro – Link) Coupon Code: “Dane20″ for 20% off
  • Handful of spinach (baby spinach preferred)
  • 1 Medium Avocado
  • 1-2 Frozen & very Ripe Banana
  • 1-2 cups Frozen Strawberry/Blueberry
  • 1 oz. lemon Juice
  • 1-2 tablespoons each of finely grounded Psyllium Husk & Slippery Elm
  • 16-24 oz. water (alkaline water preferred)

Let us acknowledge that none of this is easy, self discipline is heavily weighted on faith and persistence.

 

There is great opportunity in our adversities. Self empowerment is priceless and where we overcome, we also become stronger. Focus on where you want to be and simple solutions that bring peace & freedom to your life – these methods are not chains but wings!

 

Please email us at Info@CrohnsColitisLifestyle with further questions or to set up a consultation. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping you achieve your remission!

How to College with Crohns and Colitis

First things first: What do we mean “to college”?

 

To college means to have the most epic four years of your life in which you:

  • Grow into your own person
  • Create lasting friendships
  • Make lifelong memories
  • Obtain knowledge and skills to advance toward your goals
  • Have a sh*t ton of fun along the way!

But Crohn’s and Colitis can make even the most exciting times seem daunting or sometimes even totally impossible. So how does one “college” with C&C?

 

We’ve broken it down for you into 3 parts:

  • Home flow
  • Preparation and Balance
  • Social Life

Part I: Home Flow

Whether we’re sick, just had a bad day at work/school, or are fighting with a best friend/significant other, home is one of the first places we tend to want to go. Why? Because our home is our healing center. Home is the place we go to be comfortable, unwind, and relax. If your home is going to be your haven, it’s important to make sure to create an ideal living space for yourself.

 

How to nail your home flow:

  • Candles
  • The comfiest pillow of all time
  • Blackout curtains
  • Perfect decorations
  • Epsom salt baths (Looking at you too, guys. They’re great…get over it!)
  • Pictures of you and friends on the fridge/walls
  • A whiteboard for friends to leave fun notes or list your weekly goals
  • Yoga mat/guitar/something you enjoy doing
  • Book Shelf with your favorite inspirational books

Basically, make your house, apartment, or dorm the coolest place on campus!

 

News flash: we are not telling you to put empty $10 liquor bottles on display over your fridge. Really not cool, guys… We mean be the house everyone loves to walk into because:

  1. It’s super clean,
  2. You have the most comfortable couch on earth,
  3. An awesome Bluetooth speaker,
  4. And great TV/gaming system…

You get the idea—essentially the ultimate bachelor/bachelorette pad.

 

But having a cool place can definitely get a little tricky in college between dorms, roommates, and noisy neighbors. There is no simple solution to these problems, but the best approach is communication.

 

Communication is a major key to ensuring your home flow.

 

When choosing a roommate, it’s important to have an open and positive conversation about the type of lifestyles you both live. This is especially true for someone with IBD.

 

Whether you are in a dorm, apartment, or house; living with another person can be tough. Being upfront and open about any specific needs either of you may have will ensure the best possible experience for everyone involved. Some of these may include:

  1. Waking and sleeping habits
  2. Quiet hours
  3. Guests
  4. Privacy preferences
  5. Cleanliness
  6. Sharing of food/belongings

Where to Live

Picking where to live is just as important as picking with whom to live. If communal bathrooms and a small, shared living space don’t really sound like your thing, maybe stay away from the dorm style living.

 

Love the idea of being able to run down the hall to borrow sugar? Opt for an apartment rather than a house. Does the idea of noisy neighbors make you cringe? Then maybe the apartment thing isn’t for you after all. There are plenty of these questions to consider when choosing the best place to live, but the most important thing after that is to make your living space the best possible space for you to live in!

Part II: Preparation and Balance

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with C&C during college does not mean you can’t have an epic college experience. It just might take a little extra thought and planning, but if you do it right, in the end your experience will be better than you could have imagined. This is accomplished greatly through preparation and balance.

Choosing Your Courses

When choosing a course schedule, balance out some of your harder core classes with classes that will enrich your life while simultaneously reducing your stress. There are tons of options:

  1. Pottery
  2. Mindfulness
  3. Yoga and Meditation
  4. Poetry
  5. Sports
  6. Music
  7. Nature and Wildlife
  8. Sketchbook Development

Basically, if you can think of it, it’s probably a class! Be creative and find something you enjoy that maybe doesn’t require you to spend ten hours a day in the library.

Preparing Your Meals

In addition to planning your classes, planning out meals will also help you avoid stress and stay on track for your healthy lifestyle! Starting the day off with a steady regimen of supplements and a good breakfast like a healthy shake will get your day off to the best possible start. Breakfast is the easiest way to build a consistent regimen – start there! Knowing the best places to get C&C friendly foods around campus for days when meal prep isn’t an option is a good idea, as well as trying to bring healthy snacks with you to keep you going throughout the day.

 

Breakfast Recipe:

 

All Organic, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free

  • 3-4 organic eggs (scrambled cooked in EV Coconut Oil)
  • 1 medium Organic Sweet potato (Steamed, add pinch of salt or your favorite spice/herb)
  • ½ Organic Cucumber (sliced, add lemon juice, favorite herb/seasoning)
  • ½ cup of Organic Blueberries
  • 4-6 oz of tea, shake or water, add maca root at your discretion

**Maca root is awesome to have on hand as a caffeine substitute that’s healthy, easy to digest and stimulates healthy hormone production!**

Invest in a sturdy backpack to keep your snacks and other goodies in!

Healthy Snacks will help keep you energized and focused!

 

Water will keep you hydrated (add a splash of lemon for an extra kick of flavor, detox, and a boost of vitamin C!).

 

It’s always a good idea to have supplements on hand in case of an emergency like: slippery elm, turmeric, omega 3 oil caps, and amp floracel.

 

Extra Clothes are great to have for a quick change after a workout or an IBD emergency

 

Peppermint mouthwash helps combat nausea and will help you to freshen up if need be

Part III: Social Life

When I first started college I was drunk with my newfound freedom–both figuratively and literally. But after a few months of going nonstop, I was reminded of my old friend, Crohn’s Disease. I thought to myself, why won’t this thing just leave me alone? But like a stubborn ex or an old article of clothing you just can’t seem to purge from your closet, Crohn’s always seemed to pop back up. After my first crazy college semester, I realized something much more valuable than anything my professors had ever taught me: Crohns and Colitis is not the end of the world and it can be overcome! We just gotta find that balance!

Choose Your Friends Carefully

Who you are choosing to surround yourself with makes a huge impact on your life. Like choosing a roommate to help with your home flow, you should focus on finding positive, transparent friends who will make a good support system if the time comes. Being in college means you may be far away from your usual support system of family, friends, and doctors for the first time. Keep in mind that the people you choose to have around you during this time will be the ones you’ll want to count on to step up if the time comes that you find yourself missing your home support system.

Have Daytime Fun!

Happiness leads to healthiness. Doing things that are fun and make you happy is a huge part of living a healthy lifestyle. Focus on daytime activities to do with friends like working out, attending yoga classes, cook dinner with friends, movie night, driving to a beach/park, or going to a concert. There’s always something new and fun happening in college towns! Colleges also offer many clubs and organizations you can join from honor societies, to Greek life, to camping clubs, to support groups with fellow students dealing with IBD or similar situations.

Nightlife

Daytime activities are definitely the way to go. They’ll leave you feeling happy, fulfilled, and probably very ready to dive into your way-too-comfy pillow by bedtime, but if you do want to go out a few nights and have some drinks with friends, we say go for it if you like—but be smart! The best option is obviously to stay clear of alcohol altogether, but for many that’s just not happening. So if you do decide to, keep in mind:

  •  Who you’re drinking with
  • How/Where you’re drinking
  • What you’re drinking

1. Who you’re drinking with

This comes back to the importance of genuine and transparent friends. If your friends care about you and know about your IBD, they will be far less likely to pressure you when drinking and will be much more likely to understand and support your decisions.

2. How/Where You’re Drinking

We all have those nights where drinking isn’t just a leisure thing, but a competition of who’s who in the college world. We’ve all had those nights of playing drinking games that left us victorious on the field but not so victorious in the BR. Story of our lives right? If you can, drink out of your own cup only and fill it with a substance you know you can tolerate.

3. What You’re drinking

Usually clear liquids are your best bet. Go for gluten free liquors like Vodka or Tequila because they’re the cleanest and have shown to be easiest on the gut.

For Most:

 

White Wine > Red Wine

 

Vodka/Tequilla > Bourbon/Whiskey

 

GF Beer/Pale Ale > Dark Beers

 

Mix clear liquors with some soda water and a dash of lemon or lime. Lemon and lime will help counteract the acidic damage from the alcohol while giving your body a boost of nutrients. It’s also a good idea to pop some TURMERIC, SLIPPERY ELM and OMEGA 3 to help reduce inflammation, as well as a MULTIVITAMIN to replenish lost vitamins & minerals. This will also help reduce a hangover, so share them with your friends to become the most popular guy/gal at the party! *High Fives All Around

So what the heck did we just say?

Basically, Crohn’s and Colitis should never stop you from doing anything you want to do in your life, and it certainly doesn’t have to keep you from college-ing. It is possible to live a healing life without giving up that epic college experience you’ve always imagined. Obviously we think you should eat clean, do what’s best for you and stay away from alcohol, but if you must, these tips should help you make it everything you have dreamed it could be!

Dating With Crohn’s and Colitis

Dating is complicated… We won’t try to sugarcoat it! Why else would there be countless magazine articles, blog posts, podcasts, and books all about this one topic? We go into love usually kicking & screaming half the time always thinking we were innocent! We hate, then love, then hate again…It’s a tough business this dating thing… Throw the awkwardness of IBD into the mix and it may seem more appealing just to hide behind your computer screen and avoid the whole thing completely. However, fortune favors the bold, so let us show you how to jumpstart your dating life!

 

Believe it or not Crohn’s and Colitis can give you an edge when it comes to dating. Seriously! But it’s all about how you handle the situation. Let us explain…

1. Show You’re “Real”: Dating can be super intimidating for both people involved. We all love to admire the star football player with the perfect booty and the blonde cheerleader with the amazing…ya know ;). But when it comes to actually forming a relationship, we are all looking for something “real”. Having something like Crohn’s Disease gives you a “realness”, and depth about you. No matter a person’s looks, we all desire something deeper and stronger to connect with – as The Beatles so famously said, “love is all we need”.

2. Mental 6 Pack: Every flare is like a cross-fit session for your brain. Owning it and overcoming adversity makes you look like a total boss and someone who can handle the punches to the gut so to speak. You’ll need that six pack strength when dealing with your partner and the lovely roller coaster we call life.

3. Meet the Parents: Being a real, compassionate, strong, and health-conscious individual will score you major brownie points with the ‘rents! Who wouldn’t want such a positive influence around their son or daughter? Plus, they’ll know their son/daughter is in good hands if you play the “I don’t party/drink/stay out too late” card.

4. Healthy is Hot: Crohn’s and Colitis inspires us to live a healthier lifestyle by being conscious of both our physical and mental health. The condition requires we learn how to eat healthy, be positive, see the good in each day and take responsibility for our lives. Owning our health mentally, physically and spiritually is sexy no matter who you are and whether you’re considered “sick” or not!

 

Imagine the hottest version of yourself. What attributes do you have in the glory of all your full hotness? Are you strong minded? Ripped? What kind of lifestyle would you have? What does your hot self eat and do to keep it up? How do you handle all of that attention?? The lifestyle choices for healing Crohn’s/Colitis and being the “best you” are one in the same.

 

Evidence

People who care about their health are automatically more attractive. So when we take the extra step to implement a healthy lifestyle we win on two fronts. We’re hotter and healthier!

 

There are all kinds of scientific studies about humans being more physically attracted to healthy people because of our desire for biological advancement and these things called pheromones…or something like that. We won’t go too far into it because

1) we’re not scientists

 

2) this is not a science post.

But it’s a thing; just trust us on this one.

 

Someone who would rather sit on the couch eating pizza and drinking beer every night doesn’t sound like a healthy partner for anyone, C&C or not!

Plus, who would want to invite a greasy, gassy, lazy, and all around downer of a person into their life, or their bed, anyways? Goodbye.

Speaking of beds…

The First Sleepover

You’ve been dating this person for a while and you’re like…totally feeling the connection. You’re both ready to take the next step in your relationship but just as things are starting to heat up in the bedroom, the bathroom calls. There’s no better way to ruin the moment than with an IBD emergency. So what is a guy/gal to do?! Running to the bathroom in the middle of a steamy moment can completely kill the vibe. Some situations are totally out of our control, but these tips will definitely help that first sleepover whether you’re looking for a relationship or not.

Communication

Hopefully by the time you’ve reached the sleepover stage in dating, the communication about your health and how you feel about things will already be established. Good communication will make the transition a whole lot easier—not to mention your connection under the sheets will most likely be stronger too! Whether you’re looking for a serious relationship or not, we suggest that you…

1. Go to your place

Have you ever seen that scene in Along Came Polly when Ben Stiller’s character totally clogs Jennifer Aniston’s toilet in a post-spicy dinner catastrophe? The poor guy couldn’t find her plunger and things got pretty shitty!

 

Having the first sleepover at your place will make you feel much more comfortable and help you avoid some awkward situations. Be sure that your home flow is top notch.

Also, when you’re at home you have all of your emergency supplements (ie: slippery elm, DGL, Turmeric, Omega 3’s), your own bathroom, and a change of clothes if you need them!

2.) Watch what you eat

The Ben Stiller spicy food incident from the movie Along Came Polly brings us to our next point: if you’re thinking of getting intimate, plan accordingly. AKA an ideal dinner before the “dessert” definitely wouldn’t be a large pepperoni pizza with fries and a coca-cola. Stick to clean/safe foods that you know will give you energy without upsetting your stomach.

 

Better yet, you can go for an elemental shake, which will be super easy to digest and give you plenty of energy. **Add maca root to your shake to kick start your labido.** Whether you have IBD or not, doing the right thing in the kitchen will help you out later in the bedroom. The right foods will provide you with energy and keep you from fatiguing, making your experience that much better!

 

3. Plan ahead

Before things get hot and heavy, it helps to be prepared. If you’re planning that special night, try to pick a time when you’re feeling well or expecting to feel well. Of course some things are out of our control, but try to avoid those times when you know you tend to feel sick (like when stressing about an upcoming exam or Monday after a long weekend).

 

If you know you might be spending the night with someone, you may want to consider doubling up on your supplements that day as an extra boost and using the restroom before hand so you’re not awkwardly departing just as things start heating up!

When to Bring it up

One of the things we have found most challenging is when to bring it up. Usually it comes out in natural conversation when you first eat or make a comment about sometimes having stomach issues. We like to lead them to ask the question instead of just blurting it out. That could create one of those awkward silent moments and no one is loving that!

 

But if it doesn’t come up – our advice is to let them know you live a specific type of lifestyle because you get stomach issues sometimes. The term “Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis” can be scary if they have no idea what it is and it’s much easier to hint at the fact that you take it easy sometimes to stay healthy with a nice smile on your face.

 

If you mention it right up front you can move on and focus on what’s really important: building a relationship! If they don’t understand or react unfavorably you might be better off without this negative Nancy. Can you imagine being in a strong relationship with someone who can’t be supportive of such an issue. Imagine building a family with this person, introducing them to your friends/family, or god forbid having any other tough situation in life where you need their support – Give em the boot!

 

If it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to come right out and unload every detail of your medical history onto this person during the previews on your first movie date, but it’s good to get at least the idea out there. For example, while choosing where to go on your date, you could say, “I don’t eat (fill in the blank) food because it makes me not feel well”. You don’t have to use the words “Crohn’s” or “Colitis.”

 

Usually, how you think about it is how they’ll think about it. If you choose to embrace it and use it to empower yourself, your partner will usually admire your strength and feel much more comfortable with expressing their life hardships. Remember, they aren’t perfect either and who knows what they’re worried about expressing to you.

If they do respond well then this has given the two of you the opportunity to become closer and build a stronger relationship with one another. Sharing something personal about yourself gives them a chance to share something personal about themselves with you in return.

 

Maybe all first dates should start with something personal??

 

Or not…? Maybe just stick to reading Cosmo on that one!

Fun Date Ideas when Dealing with a Flare

Thinking of fun date ideas can be tough for anyone, but especially so when trying to think of stuff to do while you’re going through a flare!

Examples:

  •  3-4 restuarants you know you do well with
  • Netflix and Chill
  • Cooking at home w/ game night
  • Bowling Shopping (stores with restrooms)
  • Massages A walk (park or city close to restrooms)

Activities we DON’T recommend during a flare:

  • Roller coasters
  • Sky diving
  • Horseback riding
  • Wine tasting
  • All you can eat buffet
  • Fast food
  • Scary movies
  • Rock concert

Use your best judgement based on how your feeling but anything that makes it hard to get to a restroom and can be stressful should be avoided! Also, if this person is constantly suggesting things that don’t mesh well with your life, and they don’t enjoy the things you suggest, they may not be a great fit for you!

 

Your relationship with your partner should be like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and cream, chocolate chips and muffins… I’m running out of foods that pair well together but basically what I’m trying to say is that one of the most important aspects of dating is to find someone who shares similar interest, likes/dislikes, and lifestyles as you do!

 

Netflix and chill is a perfect, low key, and cheap date idea for anyone—especially someone with C&C. You can enjoy a home cooked meal that’s perfect for your body, watch a movie and snuggle up to your bae all from the comfort of your own couch!

 

If you do decide to do something a little less low-key, then our advice is to be prepared. If you go to a water park, for example, use the restroom while it’s convenient instead of waiting until you’ve climbed ten stories up to the top of a slide. Trust us, you don’t want to leave your date waiting for you alone and phoneless, with nothing but their thoughts to pass the time, while you run down ten flights of stairs only to wait in a bathroom line of a hundred water park attendees—definitely less than ideal, friends.

 

When talking about the first sleepover, communication is huge. That’s true in any relationship; it helps people connect, as well as developing the relationship into something deeper, more meaningful, and more beneficial for both people involved. C&C is just one more reason to establish strong communication from the very beginning and maintain it throughout your entire relationship.

Putting it all together

Dating is this crazy/messy/slightly insane thing that countless people all over the globe choose to do each and every day. Why? Because when you find that special someone it makes it all worth it. C&C shouldn’t hold you back from finding your person and hopefully these tips will help make sure that it never does! Communicate with your partner, remember the life lessons of Crohn’s Disease, be real, and have fun!

 

Authors: Courtney Benjamin and Dane Johnson

 

Do you have any crazy Crohn’s/Colitis dating stories? Share them in the comments below!

The Benefits of Maca Root

What if we told you there was a superfood that could help you

  • Stay fit
  • Regulate your hormones
  • Boost your libido
  • Supply nutrition
  • Increase happy thoughts
  • And give you energy!

oh and without upsetting your stomach!

 

But guess what…for many of us dealing with Crohns Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, it’s not! Maca root has been used for roughly 3,000 years for a number of its amazing health benefits. Maca, part of the radish family, grows in central Peru in the Andes Mountains. Macca has a sweet smell and an some what enjoyable taste

As anyone who suffers from Crohn’s or Colitis knows, the disease doesn’t only affect our digestion, but it has an array of negative effects on our lives. Maca root is an incredible superfood to add to your daily diet to give your whole body a little extra boost! Here why –

Energy

Have you ever had one of those sluggish mornings when you just can’t bear the thought of getting out of bed? We know we sure have! Especially for us who are anemic or are really sick. Getting any energy to do anything can be a large task. Maca Root can be a great asset to rebuilding the bodies natural strength and hormone production.

 

Most people tend to turn to a big cup of coffee to perk them up and give them an added boost of energy, but caffeine may not be the best option!

By getting rid of caffeine we help increase our ability to heal and return to normal healthy functions. When we replace it with Maca Root, we start to enhance all of these functions while simultaneously helping us sustain natural, long-term energy, mental clarity, libido, and overall experience of our lives.

 

So before reaching for that cup o’ joe, consider substituting it for Maca Root! However, the context in which we take it is very important so we do not set off a flare. There are tons of great recipes out there that range from drinks (hot & cold), simple snacks, and flavorful foods! We recommend starting with Organic Grounded Maca Root from a trust source like Gaia Herbs (email us for 25% discount on product).

 

Adding it to your morning shakes or a drink that you know you do well with.

 

Start with 1/2 a tablespoon before 5 pm preferably on a day you have to relax. Take slowly and try to listen carefully to your reaction. This product could not sit well with your body or you may be to sick to start taking.

Recipe:

Organic Vegan Shake:

  • 1 Cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 Frozen Banana
  • 1 cup of Baby Spinach
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1-2 multi-vitamins (break into shake)
  • 3-5mg of powdered L-Glutamine
  • 1/2-1 tablespoons of Grounded Maca Root
  • Optional:
  • 1 Tablespoon of Grounded Psyllium Husk
  • 1 Tablespoon of Grounded Slippery Elm
  • 1 Scoop of Vegan Protein
  • 2-4 tablets of Chlorella

Unlike caffeine, Maca doesn’t just give you a quick boost of energy that will leave you feeling worse and malnourished in a couple of hours. Maca helps sustain energy while stimulating and regulating our immune system. In conclusion, we can start to increase our natural energy while receiving all the benefits of this superfood while reversing the symptoms of caffeine on our system. Huge pluses for us who are dealing with Crohn’s and Colitis!

 

Macca is often even used to treat Anemia (tired blood), and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)!

Working Out

Since Maca enhances your body’s natural energy, athletic performance, and is full of nutrients, it’s great to include in your routine before your workouts. Try taking 20-30 minutes before exercising or a day with a lot of energy needed to sustain the activity.

Reproductive Benefits

Macca is also well known for its reproductive benefits!

For Women:

  • Helps maintain a healthy female hormone balance
  • Helps decrease menstrual issues
  • Improves fertility

Some women with Crohn’s and Colitis (especially those who have taken steroids for a prolonged period of time) may suffer from irregular and painful periods due to a hormone imbalance, such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

Macca has been known to balance women’s hormones, helping with conditions like PCOS, as well as the symptoms associated with menopause and PMS!

For Men:

  •  Helps decrease sexual disfunction (which can be caused by antidepressants or chronic depression)
  • Improves fertility
  • May increase sperm count and mobility
  • Acts as a natural aphrodisiac (widely used in the Andes!!)
  • Helps maintain a healthy prostate

Nutrition

Macca, considered a super food, is full of nutrition such as: Vitamins B-1, B-2, C, Vitamin E; Amino acids, free-form fatty acids; calcium; magnesium; potassium; copper; zinc; manganese; phosphorus; selenium; sulphur; sodium; and iron! Phew…

 

Translation: Macca root is packed with a lot of nutrients that will empower you to be the best version of yourself. Taking on Crohns Disease or Ulcerative Colitis is no easy task. However, with small wins we can start reversing symptoms and live the life we always wanted.

Where & How to Buy it

Gaia Herbs is our favorite supplement brand! Although it is slightly more expensive, the quality and value is there.

 

Send us an email at info@CrohnsColitislifestyle.com and we’ll send you a link to get a 25% discount on Gaia Herbs Maca Root!

Crohn’s Colitis…and Marijuana?

Let’s be real, the only time you hear anyone talking about medical marijuana is when he/she are bragging to their friends about having “the card”. Having a medical marijuana card that is…. Which means you’re able to go to a local dispensary and purchase cannabis for medical uses or just because you have tuesday afternoon off and got the new Nintendo Switch!

 

In all seriousness, the list of conditions that can potentially be helped with the aid of cannabis is vastly growing by the year Seriously, even WebMD says it…

Marijuana has become a big part of society politically and recreationally, but it’s been kept relatively quiet on the medical side.

 

Many patients with chronic conditions are finding relief from using cannabis and living a natural and healthy lifestyle. However, Cannabis is still not a well-known form of treatment for Crohn’s/Colitis. Many individuals with Crohn’s/Colitis are finding relief from their major symptoms such as stomach cramping and that impending sense of urgency.

Patients have also reported that since begun using cannabis they’ve seen it reduce their nausea and help them to gain back their appetite – but I guess that quality could land on either side of the fence. Cannabis is a natural form of medicine that could serve as an alternative to the long list of drugs that a patient is currently being prescribed.

Dane, the founder of CClifestyle, said, “I don’t think Marijuana was ever able to help my Crohns/Colitis directly – if anything I think I might of gained a sensitivity to it and seen an increase in symptoms…However, in my roughest moments, there was nothing better to help me relax, sleep and reduce pain. Indirectly, it was a lifesaver.”

Dr. Timna Naftali based out of Meir Medical Center in Israel has been conducting this research for many years now. He focuses on IBD and how cannabis could help control symptoms.  He recently conducted a study where he used patients who had recently stopped responding to commonly used pharmaceuticals to treat Crohn’s.

One group was given a placebo, which was marijuana with the THC removed. The other group was given marijuana in the form of cigarettes with the THC. Ten of the eleven patients given the THC reported that they had improvement on their symptoms. They reported that they had less sleepless nights, a better appetite and more relaxation. Five of the eleven patients in the group given the marijuana cigarettes with THC reported they had complete remission from their symptoms. The results from this study are outstanding! These patients had completely stopped responding to their pharmaceuticals however found so much relief using cannabis.

So this all sounds pretty delightful, one treatment that’s all natural, relief of symptoms, possible large reduction in symptoms and a bit fun? Figuring this possible treatment out might not be such a bad idea. These next steps will help guide you in your quest to know if Medical Marijuana is for you.

1. Connect with the right physician

Finding the right doctor can be difficult, worst comes to worst you can always hit up Snoop for some advice via twitter but first lets see what other feasible options we have.

Health care is expensive so finding a doctor you connect with is important. The key to finding the right caregiver for this situation is research. Finding a specialist who focuses on Crohn’s/Colitis yet open minded to alternative solutions could be the most important step. Look for someone in your area who has conducted research on medical marijuana as it relates.

A great example of one of these alternative practitioners would be MMJ Doctor – http://mmjdoctor.com, they have an office based out of San Francisco & San Jose, California. MMJ Doctor’s website separates many conditions by category and also gives an explanation on how cannabis could help treatment. Another helpful resource is Dr. Rachana Patel’s website http://www.drrachnapatel.com Dr. Patel is based out Walnut Creek, California and her website goes into great detail about her background and why she believes so strongly in the benefits of using cannabis. Her page also has a very useful FAQ section where she goes over common misconceptions about medical marijuana.

Many physicians outside of the United States have been conducting research with THC for years now.

 

This could be tricky in the U.S. as many states have not legalized medical marijuana. Luckily there is a lot of information online and the possibility of having an appointment over the phone with a physician who may be a little too far away. This task may be a little daunting because no one wants to be labeled as a “Pot Head” or an abuser of the law, but we do want to be educated on the facts. In that sense this doesn’t have to be more than an informative conversation.

2. Using Cannabis as Treatment

There are many different ways you can use cannabis as treatment for Crohn’s and Colitis. It’s never really recommended that you smoke marijuana because inhaling any type of substance is not recommended for keeping your lungs healthy while also potentially inhibiting a healing response in the body. Remember, Marijuana is a depressant – it should be used lightly. Depending on your preferences many people use oils or vape pens or maybe a “bubbler” if needed to smoke. Be careful of edibles due to the fact we’re dealing with serious gut health issues. Edibles are usually not sugar free/gluten free/Dairy free and put a very strong inflammatory substance directly into the “war zone” of our gut.

 

Some dispensaries make edibles with healthy alternatives such as coconut flour, and almond milk. Some also tend to different dietary needs such as gluten free, dairy free, or vegan. If the dispensary does not offer these options or you just prefer to prepare your own food there are many different recipes online that incorporate medical marijuana into them. We’ve even found recipes for strawberry fruit strips!

 

The oil can be taken orally or applied topically for other conditions. There are many different ways to make your oil. Be aware of the absorption levels of the type of method you use. Sometimes the THC is absorbed into the body faster using different methods and varies from person to person. Expect to try a few different ways of consuming THC before you find what works best for you. Remember the first time you tried Alcohol? Yea it’s kinda like that – it’s not unusually for it to blow you off your socks and be in need of a close friend.

 

Point here is start small, use in a controlled and safe environment with people you trust. More is not always better!

3. Incorporating a Healthy Lifestyle

Eating clean, exercising regularly, and taking care of your body first and foremost will aid in the healing process more than cannabis – do not use this as a crutch but a value to a structured protocol. We recommend predominately using at night or when you have no more responsibilities. This way you can relax and let go of any obligations, you had a productive day, you follow your daily regimen, you fill out Dane’s Daily Healing Journal and built upon your personalized S.H.I.E.L.D. program… Now, treat yourself to a relaxing night!

 

We find that those who’s are exercise everyday, creating structure to their daily program and utilizing probiotics have much more success using Cannabis as medicine. If you’re not careful this could put you in a more depressed state, especially when used alone.

 

Key take-aways here is don’t rely on it, use it as part of a strong program. Focus on using after your day is done and with friends/family you enjoy. Let it be a gift to yourself for your hard work while giving you the environment to sleep better, laugh more, and enjoy life!

4. Seeing Results

Here comes the fun part! Your weeks, or even months of research and commitment are about to start paying off. You’ve been keeping up with your personalized S.H.I.E.L.D. program and you’ve even found the perfect way to use cannabis as a treatment option. With more of an appetite and less nausea, it’s time to get creative with your meals and have some fun with it

 

Pinterest has tons of different recipes for meal prepping that are tasty and have lots of nutrition as well. They have plenty of recipes on how to change up some bland meals and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options as well.

 

Keep track of how your nights and days go when you smoke and when you didn’t smoke. We’ve had plenty of fellow Crohnie’s who say it’s the only way they can sleep through the night or reduce pain. On the other hand we’ve had people who see it makes it much worse! We’ve even had people like our founder Dane who said he has some benefits but none having a direct healing effect on his symptoms.

 

What can we take away? Personalize it, keep an open mind…and make sure you have all three Lord of the Rings movies on standby if Medical Marijuana is for you!

 

Happy Healing!

 

CCLifestyle Team

Source for clinical study by Doctor Naftali: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23648372

Other Sources:

 

www.MMJDoctors.com

 

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/medical-marijuana-uses

The Benefits of Absorb Plus

We’ve all tried a million protein shakes which at times, seemingly made Crohn’s and Colitis worse! Time and time again, the universe proves you can’t put health in a bottle…

 

One Crohn’s/Colitis warrior might have come up with the closest recipe yet to a healing nutritionist shake. Jini Patel Thompson, founder ofListenToYourGut, created a meal replacement shake with the sole purpose of reversing symptoms from IBD.

Absorb Plus might be the answer to our inability to eat whole foods during a flare or even as a way to maintain our good health without negative effects. Absorb Plus is a predigested elemental mixture  that allows for quick and effective absorption without causing an inflammatory response like most foods or shakes on the market. This shake is Gluten Free, Soy Free, 99% Casein/Lactose Free and has no artificial flavors or sweeteners. Not only can it be instrumental in the healing process but many have reported they have been able to gain up to 40 lbs of lean weight using Absorb Plus! Both Jini, Dane and thousands of others have utilized Absorb Plus successfully to reduce flares, add a quick alternative meal, increase options while traveling and sustain energy through life’s stressful times.

The Facts

Absorb Plus is a great resource for getting all the nutrition you need while keeping your stomach at ease – this healing shake is able to enter the bloodstream within 15-20 minutes because of its predigested nature. This is especially important for us with compromised digestion.

 

It’s gluten free, lectin free, non-GMO, high in vitamins/minerals, complete profile of amino acids, and extremely carbohydrate dense. The density of carbs comes from Tapioca (cassava root) Maltodextrin which provides the fuel we desperately need to regain energy and weight.

 

Although Maltodextrin has faced some negative publicity, it is the safest and most effective way to increase weight/energy without a negative side effect for us with IBD. Absorb Plus is also made with Whey Isolate which many of us have been worried about – as we know Diary is a “STOP SIGN” for most.

The Whey Isolate found in Absorb Plus is a form of Whey which has had the Casein and Lactose removed – the sugar and protein component that many of us are unable to digest in milk. Due to this procedure and the quality of whey isolate utilized (cold-extracted), it is highly unlikely you will have negative effects from Absorb Plus. Unless you have an extreme allergy to dairy – this should be an effective substitute to gain weight, add complete amino acid profile and eliminate inflammatory responses.

 

If you absolutely cannot tolerate dairy, there are Vegan Kits you can buy to mix together your own shakes and Jini is currently formulating a vegan version of Absorb Plus.

 

Jini decided not to put any kinds of fats in the Absorb Plus due to the hardships many of us face digesting fats. Rest assured if you have any issues with digesting fats this product is free of any – we recommend adding Cold Pressed Udo’s Oil to this healing shake once you feel you can absorb fats. This plant based omega is extremely gentle and nourishing

Absorb Plus is an healing shake that surprisingly has a great taste – we love the Berry Fusion & Chocolate most 😉 It comes in six different flavors –  French Vanilla, Unsweetened Vanilla (cleanest version), Chocolate Royale, Berry Fusion, Simply Vanilla, and Simply Chocolate. There really is something for everyone and perfect flavors for mixing in different ingredients for smoothies!

Nutritional Benefits

So we briefly touched on the nutritional benefits above but let’s dig a bit deeper…

 

When in a flare eating “normal foods” can sound absolutely terrible. Depending on how severe the flare is you might be staying away from non-liquid foods altogether. Your body needs roughly 2,000 calories a day to stay healthy and functioning. Your personalized S.H.I.E.L.Dplan will contain many options including diet, supplements, herbs and so forth… Absorb Plus is part of a strong healing program but it’s not the whole kit and caboodle 😉 .

 

Each flavor has between 360-370 calories per serving and it’s recommended that you add ingredients yourself to the shake, so roughly you only need about 4 shakes a day to meet your calories depending on the ingredients you include.  These shakes have all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrition you need to keep your body happy and healthy during a flare – if you’re considering a full elemental diet, we recommend you work with your health care practitioner.

 

If you just have increased symptoms, or like to keep a consistent breakfast, this is also a great option to start your day with something easy and safe.

Expectations

If you are using Absorb Plus as your tool for an elemental liquid diet, expect more loose a liquid bowel movements. This is not necessarily a bad reaction, this is still very healing for your body but when consuming nothing but liquids, be sure you understand what to expect 🙂 Any signs of Diarrhea or watery stools will decrease as you add more solids into your diet and healing is accomplished.

 

Absorb Plus is made to the highest quality which takes a few extra bucks to make, expect each tub to cost roughly $67 with a free tub when 6 or more are bought. We recommend getting more upfront so that you do not have days where you have run out. Many of Dane’s clients have run into this problem when this shake was the most helpful part of their program – don’t make this mistake if you’re relying on Absorb for getting you past a flare, especially if you live outside of North America.

 

Shipping and Handling can be very expensive outside of the U.S. & Canada. We recommend you have it shipped to a family member who can then ship to you if you are in Asia, Africa, China, etc… Absorb plus is not yet sold in stores or manufactured worldwide due to the complexity of their product (42 different ingredients!). Distributing a quality product around the world is a problem in today’s market.

Recipes for Success

So you have the powder and a blender and you’re ready to add in other ingredients! Remember, we recommend you try just the shake, then with Udo’s oil, then slowly add in other foods into the shake to assure your bodies ability to properly digest.  As far as what is easy on the body, Dane has made a YouTube video demonstrating a variety of foods you can add to your shakes HERE. A few key ingredients that are easy on the stomach are avocados and bananas. He also provides some great information about how different foods benefit the body and why.

 

Making the shakes may be a bit of a trial and error process for some. When trying out the shakes make sure to keep positive mind set when trying new recipes. A healing mindset and focusing on solution rather than current adversities is the true key to healing. There is no magic turn-key system for everyone in the world so take your time, be patient and work hard!

Conclusion

Here are some key take away points from this blog for your reference:

 

Benefits of Absorb Plus:

  • Specifically formulated for IBD
  • Predigested (Elemental Diet Certified)
  • No Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners
  • Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, 99% Casein/Lactose-Free (safe whey isolate used)
  • Increase Absorption (20 minutes into Blood Stream)
  • No Oil (Perfect for those with a fat intolerance)
  • Gain Muscle Weight
  • Effective for those in Critical Condition

(Consult health care physician for personalized protocol) Risks of Protein Shakes: 

  • Hidden Irritants causing inflammation
  • Not very digestible for IBD
  • Increase in Diarrhea, Cramping, Bloating (Even Organic/Vegan)
  • High Cost, Low Actual Value For You
  • Increased Systemic Immune System Reaction
  • Increase Sensitivity to Food

Lowering Risk of Protein Powders

  • Take Independently until comfortable with reaction
  • If Whey Protein – only use Whey Isolate certified by professional
  • Vegan must be Sprouted, (pea/rice protein)
  • Do not take with Whole Food Meal
  • Mix with Room Temperature Filtered Water

There are clear benefits of using the right Healing Shake for dealing with IBD. It can be an extremely powerful tool when used properly. I highly recommend you work with a Health Care Practitioner to build your protocol. My gut tells me you going to see great results!

Plant Paradox Book Review: Can Lectins Be the Root Cause of your IBD?

What Every Crohns/Colitis Patient Should Know About These Gut-Disrupting Molecules and How the Plant Paradox Diet Can Help.

SCD. AIP. GAPS. These 3 diets are considered the “Big 3” when it comes to healing the gut. They remove common offending foods and promote intestinal healing with nourishing foods like bone broth, wild caught meat, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables.

But not everyone gets better on these diets. And for a long time practitioners couldn’t understand why.

Enter Dr. Steven Gundry. A famed cardiac surgeon and founder of the Center for Restorative Medicine in California, Dr. Gundry may have just provided the missing piece. In his book, The Plant Paradox, he discusses how some of the “healthiest” foods can actually be the root cause of many chronic illnesses, including inflammatory bowel disease. Foods like tomatoes, peppers, beans, and even certain fruits and squashes can cause inflammation throughout the body. It is the inclusion of these foods, says Dr. Gundry, that has helped cause a massive wave of autoimmunity, especially in the Western world.

“Many foods, including those that contain lectins, have both good and bad properties. Additionally, individuals have different tolerances for lectins depending upon the state of their health…it’s become clear to me that lectins are leading the charge in the war within your body”

“Furthermore, Dr. Gundry states:

“Even when organically raised, certain lectin-heavy foods are the cause of so-called autoimmune diseases, while lectin avoidance in my patients and as reported in scientific literature has been found to cure autoimmune disease.”

Cure autoimmune disease? Just from removing lectins? What in the world are lectins? Founder of CrohnsColitisLifestyle, Dane Johnson, helps us learn the answers to these questions and more in his interview with Dr. Gundry. Read on as we take a dive into the subtle battles between plants and animals.

Crohn's / Colitis and Lectin Connection with Dr. Gundry

So what are lectins?


Lectins are a type of protein in the skin, seeds, rinds and leaves of plants that bind to certain sugar molecules when consumed by an animal (including us humans!). They are found in grains, legumes, nightshade vegetables, squashes, and even certain fruits. Interestingly, they are also found in dairy products like milk.


When lectins bind to molecules in the body, this sets off an inflammatory reaction via multiple mechanisms. Plants do this to protect themselves. They are, as Dr. Gundry states in his interview with Dane, “chemists of incredible ability.”

Currently, on the market, there is a product called Charlotte’s Web which was created by the Stanley brothers. Their product is sohigh in CBD that if you were drug tested no traces of marijuana would show up in your system. It can be sold anywhere as an anti-inflammatory and could be a product that you should look into!Just like all forms of life, plants want to live long enough to reproduce and carry on their genetic information. If an animal is ravaging a given plant, devouring its leaves and its “babies”, the future of the plant is in threat. Thus, plants have come up with creative strategies to get around this by inflaming the animals that eat them. Plants make animals sick via multiple mechanisms. They can do this acutely – think about what happens to people who eat uncooked beans. They can become violently ill, and many have even died. Or, it can occur more subtly, by slowly inducing autoimmunity. The three main ways are:

 

1.    Causing intestinal permeability

2.   Disrupting cellular communication

3.   Molecular mimicry.

Understanding these three pathways (especially 1 and 3), says Gundry, is the key to grasping the autoimmune process. When a high-lectin food (like a tomato, for instance) is consumed, it can cause a small amount of “leakiness” in the gut wall. Over time, with repeated exposure to the food, this can lead to undigested particles of the food to enter the bloodstream.

 

This by itself is a bad thing.

 

When undigested food particles enter the bloodstream, the immune system goes on high alert and sends out the Armed Forces to investigate the situation and take out the “intruder.” They do this via the release of antibodies. The antibodies bind to the tomato proteins, either destroy them or neutralize them, and allow the body to get rid of them. Repeated exposure to the food causes the immune system to remain on high alert.

 

This results in chronic inflammation and swelling in the intestinal tract, which sets the stage for digestive problems.

 

But, as Gundry says, plants are more devious than just opening the gut wall:

"The most dangerous trick pulled by lectins, which I now see on a daily basis in my patients is that they bear an uncanny similarity to the proteins on many of our important organs, nerves, and joints.”

This is known as “molecular mimicry”, and it’s often how the autoimmune process begins.

 

When the Armed Forces are stuck on “high alert”, the immune system can start attacking proteins in the body that look similar to the lectins. One way to picture this is to think of a jumpy, overactive gunman in a battle. Let’s say the enemy was wearing red jackets. Now picture the gunman is fighting in the middle of a hurricane and he’s overwhelmed by the opposing (red coated) troops. Blinded by the wind and rain (inflammation), and fearing that the enemy is about to take over, he starts shooting his gun wildly at anything that looks similar to a red jacket. Anything with red in it becomes collateral damage, and other things are destroyed in the process.

 

This is what can occur in the body.

One classic example is with gluten and certain patients with Hashimoto’s thyroid disease. For some patients with thyroid disease, the body mistakes the thyroid gland for gluten due to, you guessed it, molecular mimicry. The molecules of gluten (an extremely common lectin found in wheat, rye, and barley) can mimic the molecules of the thyroid gland, and an overactive immune system can have trouble telling the difference. The collateral damage in this case is a slow destruction of the thyroid gland and subsequent loss of thyroid function.

 

Another common case is patients with autoimmune arthritis. For these patients the lectins in the nightshade family of vegetables can mimic the tissue of the joints. Removal of nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, goji berries) from the diet can help tame the immune system and restore what’s known as “immune tolerance,” the ability for the immune system to accurately distinguish friend from foe and tolerate its own tissues.

 

Celiac disease is another autoimmune condition with ties to molecular mimicry, and this also is caused by the pesky lectin in wheat, rye, and barley: gluten. Because of this propensity to cause trouble in the GI tract, Dr. Gundry advises IBD patients to keep gluten off the menu.

Alright! So that was the summary on how lectins in the diet can cause inflammation and contribute to autoimmune disease. But what in the world should a Crohn’s/Colitis patient do about it? Does this mean every IBD patient should never eat tomatoes or eggplant again? Now that we understand how foods can stimulate inflammation in the body, let’s see what we can do about it!

 

It’s important to note that Dr. Gundry does make a point in his book that perhaps we shouldn’t try to eliminate all lectins in the diet. That would be a massive undertaking and would severely limit our food choices. Moreover, he discusses that lectins, in small doses, can have what’s known as a “hormetic” effect. This is where a stress on the body in small doses can actually produce a net benefit. Think exercise, cold showers, and sauna use. In small to moderate doses, these can be incredibly healing practices. Exercising for 5 or 6 hours every day for years on end, however, would be harmful, especially to a body that is trying to heal. This is why the standard American diet is so harsh on the intestines; most people eat wheat (a very high lectin food) 2-3 times a day (cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, pasta for dinner).

 

So what can a Crohn’s/Colitis patient do to limit the harmful effects of lectins in his or her diet?

Top 6 Lectin Free Take-Aways

1. First, be very careful with skins and seeds. Most plants store their lectins in the skins and seeds, with nightshades and squashes being the most common examples. It’s advisable to peel the skin of any nightshade vegetable (tomato, eggplant, pepper, and potato) and squash, and when possible, remove all seeds before consuming. This would also include vegetables like cucumbers, too. (Note: sweet potatoes are a different plant than normal potatoes and are exempt from this). For patients with active moderate to severe disease, Gundry says it is advisable to avoid the nightshades and squashes completely for a period of time, if not forever.

2. Avoid all grains and “pseudo-grains”, aside from millet and sorghum. Dr. Gundry describes the grain family as the worst of the lectin offenders. This includes not just the gluten containing grains, but also oats, corn, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, and others. Not only do these grains cause inflammation in the gut, but they also can “cross-react” with gluten itself and cause worsened intestinal permeability in patients with gluten sensitivity. This means if you have gluten sensitivity, or the most severe form of this called celiac disease, you can have the same reaction in the body as if you were eating gluten when you eat other grains! Dr. Gundry says that millet and sorghum are two types of grains that don’t contain lectins, so these are safe to eat. Moreover, if your health has been in a good place, and you want to start reintroducing some grains, avoid the whole grains. Stick to white rice, particularly white basmati rice. A good bread to try would be organic artisan sourdough bread as this already has the bulk of the lectins predigested. Moreover, Gundry notes that many people who travel to Europe can tolerate grains much better than in the United States. There are multiple reasons for this, but the most likely reason involves the healthier farming practices that are mandated by the government. Less pesticides sprayed on the food = happier gut for you.

3. Avoid all legumes. This includes beans of all types, peas, cashews, and peanuts. Dr. Gundry cites numerous anecdotes of patients who drastically improved after removing the legume family. He also describes multiple scenarios where patients reintroduced legumes and had abrupt flare ups. Note: There is one safe way to consume legumes, which takes us to the fourth tip:

4. Buy and use a pressure cooker! Pressure cookers, such as the Instant Pot, remove all lectins from foods aside from those found in the gluten-containing grain family. But for beans, nightshades, non-gluten grains, and squashes pressure cooking is a fantastic way to reduce and even eliminate the lectin content. It’s still recommended to peel the skin and remove the seeds when possible. Soaking and sprouting grains or legumes whenever possible is also a plus, as this helps make them more easily digested. Dr. Gundry notes that the Eden Foods brand pressure cooks all of their beans before selling them. This means the lectins are already destroyed!

5. If choosing to consume dairy products, only consume those from grass-fed cows with A-2 casein (or sheep/dairy products). This includes the breed of cow known as the Jersey cow. Conventional dairy products are made from cows of different breeds which includes a highly gut-busting lectin known as A-1 casein. Much of the time the gastric distress that is caused by dairy is from the casein A-1 (lectin) and not the lactose (sugar). This is why many people still suffer from GI upset when switching to lactose-free milk. It is important to note that goat and sheep dairy products are naturally A-2 casein so these are considered low-lectin options. The best way to find out if the dairy products you are consuming are coming from Jersey breed cows is to buy local and ask the farmer what kind of breed they have. And remember, grass-fed is always better than grain-fed because, as Dr. Gundry says: “You are not just what you eat. You are what the thing you are eating, ate.” What he means in that tongue-twister is that if a cow is eating genetically modified grain products, then some of those lectins (and the pesticides sprayed on them) will end up in you!

6. Eat fruit only in season. This helps to keep the lectin content low and helps limit our intake of fructose, which can cause inflammation in susceptible patients. Gundry says there are 3 fruits that are on the menu more long-term as long as they are eaten when still green: bananas/plantains, mangoes, and papayas. Not only are they lower in sugar when still green, but also contain some resistant starch which helps to feed our good gut bacteria. The one fruit of notable exception is the avocado, which Dr. Gundry describes as “our dear friend.” The avocado is high in healthy fats, low in sugar, and can be used in many different dishes. Eating this fruit is highly encouraged.

Lectins beware! Our Crohn’s/Colitis Lifestyle patients are now on the lookout! Armed with valuable information from The Plant Paradox and Dane Johnson’s interview with Dr. Steven Gundry, we have a new tool in the arsenal in defending against inflammation from our food. Just to recap what we learned:

 

Plants want to live long and happy lives just like every other form of life. Over millions of years they have developed protective strategies to ward off predators (us!) and one of their main strategies has been the development of lectin proteins in their skins, seeds, rinds, and leaves. These lectins often make animals sick, thus keeping the plant alive long enough to reproduce and spread its offspring. The foods with the highest lectin content include grains, legumes, nightshade vegetables, squashes, and certain fruits. Limiting our total lectin intake will help reduce inflammation in our guts. We can do this by pressure cooking legumes, nightshades, and squashes, sticking to white rice and other “white” grains that have the hull removed, eating only pasture-raised animal products that aren’t fed grains, and peeling and de-seeding vegetables before eating.

 

While this may seem like a lot at first, remember that everyone is individual. Tomatoes may cause GI distress in one person, while black beans may cause it in another. This book isn’t here to scare you into never eating your favorite foods again. Instead use it as a tool to help modify your diet into one that fits YOU best. In times of stress or flare-ups, going strictly low-lectin/lectin-free may help you navigate until the storm passes. Then, as the flare up passes, reincorporating some pressure-cooked beans or sprouted sourdough bread might work for you. There is no one size fits all approach, and remember to be kind to yourself through the process. We are in this together, and we are here to help at CrohnsColitisLifestyle.

Becoming Acquainted with Medical Marijuana

More and more these days we hear about people with different conditions healing or finding relief through medical marijuana. The industry is starting to take off as many cities/states are legalizing the drug for recreational and medical uses. For so many years this “substance” has been labeled as an addictive gateway drug for outlaws. We have memories of the “druggies” at school and the horrid smell that makes you wonder if someone nearby had a terrible run-in with a skunk. These stereotypes are very popular because there is still unknown in the industry. 

Since the substance is illegal in most of the country, it has become hard for doctors and other professionals to study and research. Luckily many other countries are ahead of the game and have provided many studies and resources while the United States catches up.

 

If you’re new here, we suggest reading our first blog post about marijuana titled “Crohn’s, Colitis…and Marijuana!?”. That post scratches the surface of this awfully confusing industry on the rise for someone initially considering using marijuana to treat their chronic pain and if it could be the right option for you. Here we are going to dig a little deeper and discuss questions such as whether you should use Sativa or Indica, the difference between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and many other common questions!

Sativa or Indica?

Usually, sativa is what is sold on the street because it typically grows very fast, can have a very quick turn-over rate and gives youthat typical high associated with marijuana. Sativa will most likely give you the most common and intense side effect you can get from marijuana. Get ready for it…The munchies. Sativa will most likely to be uplifting and cerebral but be ready to eat almost everything you have in your fridge – the last thing we want while trying to healing our symptoms. Indica usually is more relaxing and give you a full body effect. Indicia is typically consumed at night so either be ready for an extremely long nap or consume it at night before bed. If you’re having a hard time sleeping, dealing with chronic pain or a large amount of anxiety then this might be a fit for you.

What is the Difference Between THC and CBD?

CBD will have many healing aspects people with Crohn’s and Colitis are looking for and relax the body. Each strain will have traces of both whether the ratio is 99:1 or 50:50. This part could take some tweaking to really find what you’re looking for. There are many variables that go into getting a good mix and also many questions to be asked. Do you need a high CBD from an indica plant or a blend? What kind of blend? This is all personal preference and could take some trial and error to find what really works for your body and your needs.

Currently, on the market, there is a product called Charlotte’s Web which was created by the Stanley brothers. Their product is sohigh in CBD that if you were drug tested no traces of marijuana would show up in your system. It can be sold anywhere as an anti-inflammatory and could be a product that you should look into!

As previously mentioned in our other blog post “Crohns, Colitis…and Marijuana!?” there are many different ways to consume cannabis. It’s actually said that smoking the cannabis kills a lot of healing aspects of the marijuana and inhaling any type of substance is never ideal for your lung health. So a lot of patients utilizing this treatment either use edibles with their specific blend or make the cannabis into an oil. In some states the oil is sold at dispensaries however if you require a specific blend some people make their own at home using Rick Simpson’s Recipe that many people have had a lot of luck with. Doing your own research and seeing what works best for you will insure you get the exact results you’re looking for. Just like any medication a tolerance will be created and after a variable amount of time you’ll lose the “high” effect and just receive the healing benefits of the oil. Research shows that some people with Crohn’s and Colitis have seen positive results from the cannabis within three days while others took up to six weeks. Different dosages are all determined by your pain levels, and could also take some trial and error to determine when and how much you should be taking a day.

What are the side effects of using medical marijuana?

When this question was asked to Dr. Willmen, his response was “Around 150,000 people died because of medication overdoses this past year. These are people that went to a doctor something was prescribed to them they took it and the died this does not mean they were abusing the drug. Nobody has overdosed since legalization (of marijuana) it has no side effects at all with the exception of being high, getting the munchies, or being tired.” If you ask me that’s pretty good considering pharmaceuticals have so many scary side effects that sometimes even include death.

This treatment can fit right into your S.H.I.E.L.D Program and what may be effective for some people may not work for others. Trial and error are a big part of this process keep an open mind and have fun with it.

  • CC Lifestyle Team

Sources: Interview with Dr. Scott Willmen