8 weeks since I started my dietary intervention to put my Crohn’s flare in remission. I am now able to eat a wide variety of cooked veg, legumes, beans, and grains. I am trying to keep grains as a very minimal part of my diet, but I have noticed when I get a good blend of these foods in a day or meal my digestion is perfect and I feel nourished.
I tried adding in rice, oats, and lentils 2 weeks ago and they weren’t digesting. I took a full week of going hard on only fruits and veg, then came back to grains and legumes with success. Indian and Ethiopian veg combos greatly helped with this, offering a variety of flavors and veg with the grains and legumes.
Because I have been able to consume wheat without issue, I am assuming that I am not gluten intolerant or sensitive. I think it’s important to note that getting into remission requires a different diet than one would eat to maintain remission. Whether omitting gluten/grains helped because (1) grains cause intestinal permiability or because (2) I was able to eat more nutrients in an only fruit and veg diet is unknown. But the results speak for themselves.
I will continue to omit dairy as I am lactose intolerant, but also because I kinda think drinking cow mammary hormonal secretions is gross, and also because I don’t support the conditions cows are kept in, and also I don’t support the environmental impact of the dairy and meat industries. Having lactaid in my purse for eating restaurant food is a good idea, just in case there’s something in there I don’t know about.
My energy level is still not optimal, but I hope that I will see improvement thru the summer as I regain strength and have time to exercise. I garden whenever the weather provides. My whole yard is a garden so weeding is constant, in addition I am starting a number of new beds this year, which requires moving a lot of compost.
Two fitness goals for summer are to (1) develop a walking habit and (2) either start biking again, swim more, or go to my friends Sunday yoga class. Nothing too serious, but hopefully things I can continue into the school year and thru various seasons here in Ohio.
The most joyous part of the last week, however, was getting to see friends and spend quality time with them. Things I haven’t done in the last year and a half because of the pandemic. I feel supported and loved and realized that hugs are actually pretty nice after all.
Eating Vegan with Crohn's Disease 