Tom,
Thank you for your last post......It has given me the drive in my quest for finding a cure! I have not read Dr. Lutz's medical findings yet but I plan to. I read the book "Breaking the vicious cycle" in 1997 when I first found out about it. I had a lot of trouble understanding what she was saying...due to the fact that her references were mainly for celiac disease. I have tried so many different diets that I have given up on that approach.
It wasnt until last night that I discovered (on the net of course) the link between, the milk bacteria (forgot the scientific name) and crohn's disease. I just emailed the National milk Association and received a response from them this morning. They gave me the name of a Florida Physician that has a 95% cure rate with a bacteria that counteracts the original bacteria responsible for triggering crohn's. I guess I am a little disturbed in thinking that I have this horrible disease because I drank contaminated Milk. I am not sure (yet) what the answer is.....but I am not stopping until I know! You have encouraged me to check into macrobiotics and all the other diets that may help......
Good posting!
Lorri

Lorri,

I'm willing to bet a pretty penny that Shannon's husband's diet adheres to the basic foods laid out on this page. Here's my bet, Lorri. I will bet you $50 that if you follow this diet, you will feel better within six weeks. I'm not promising flawlessness. But I am suggesting a significant, measurable, even possibly massive improvement to your condition.

Oh by the way, if you lose, you don't have to pay. If I lose, I will pay. I PROMISE I HAVE NOTHING TO SELL. I'm not affiliated w/ any of these sites. I've just been overwhelmed initally by the diagnosis (which explained a LOT about my friend) and then by the variation of cures. She was lucky she found a GREAT doctor who said. . time to heal the gut with a STRICT diet.

So, Lorri, if you'll take me up on the bet. . . go to this link and religiously follow the allowed and disallowed foods. Click the Recipes link top left if you want some recipes that adhere to the diet. If you follow this strictly (and I mean, hey, it's great..you're eating natural foods!), again, I bet $50 you'll feel much better in six months.

And yes...PLEASE KEEP SEARCHING. You can find comfort. Best,

TomG

Diet is so very important in the treatment of Crohn's. For your health, I'd insist on seeing a dietician that specializes in Crohn's along with your GI doctor. Dairy is indeed evil evil evil, and popcorn is a Crohn's patients worst enemy ever. It doesn't digest, and the shell can cause tiny lesions in your intestines that lead to more infections.

Right now, I am working on a diet that has no dairy and is extremely low on carbo's. However, you need to be aware that cutting out grains completely may cause deficiencies that create problems in your system other than Crohn's. Anemia, caused by a lack of iron is one of the worst of them as when you get a "bleeder" as I call them, it doesn't help your energy level a bit. I also never ever eat breaded/fried foods. I find they create more loose bowels than my normal diet. I eat Cream of Wheat everyday, and my iron count has gone up 2 points on average since I've been doing it. It doesn't seem to cause me any discomfort at all.

I've been on this diet since the beginning of the year, and *knocks on wood* I haven't had any lesions or a flare-up thus far. I'm also walking about 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, so that my metabolism speeds up and absorbs nutrients a bit better. I've been taking some B-complex vitamins, but I especially note my B-12 suppliment as being the most important. I take Goldenseal each day, and a multivitamin that has added iron and calcium. (Since we get no dairy, and women are at a greater risk for osteoporesis.) I haven't felt this good in four or five years now. I've been diagnosed with Crohn's for about 5 years now, but I know it started to bother my in junior high, as I was hospitalized twice for bloody stools and severe cramping. Also, it's good to note that soybean products (they even make cheese out of the stuff) are great as well. You'd be doing yourself a favor to at least try some of the things out.

Not all things work for all people with Crohn's, but the more we share, the more we can fine tune a treatment for ourselves. I am the captain of my disease, it does not own me and I will fight for control as long as I am able.