So after looking at this diet i felt it wasn't anything drastically different from what i was currently during to stay out of a flare. After coming out of the hospital i was able to stay healthy and gain back the 25 lbs i lost while in the hospital for 5 weeks. I just recently had the first stage of surgery to remove my large instestine and currently have a temporary clostomy bag before returning for the second stage surgery to get the internal j-pouch. I will have to say though that definitely eating righe made a huge difference while keeping a food journal to track which foods were beneficial or not. Going the surgical route was definitely the right choice even after all that i've been through (one week in the hospital was nothing compared to 5 weeks ha). I currently have some dietary restrictions so my body can adjust and heal but i am looking foward to being able to eating all the foods i could in the past before having UC!! Plus its sooooo reassuring knowing i no longer have to deal with UC and i have my life back!!! Thanks everyone for the support

I'm really happy for you that you are doing well and regaining your health!

I am really happy that you are doing what's right for you and feeling better. I really truely believe that it's what we can handle, we handle. I think eating right is also very dependent on your ability not just to afford but have access to non processed food.

I live in LA and organic, non processed, antibiotic and hormone free food is accessible and affordable. There are farmers markets all year round. When I lived in Reno it was not accessible to me and farmers markets only went during the summer.

So I am finding not only diet is what you can handle but what you can afford and what is available.

My heart goes out to you to have been thru all this issues so young. But in regard to this diet, seeing all the supplement products, it looks to me like that is all this is about. I'm thinking its a sales gimmick. I just don't think there is any magic cure for UC/Crohns. My husband has had UC for so many years. Very serious at times to the point he lost a tremendous amount of weight several times, very anemic from blood loss he had to sleep several times a day he just had no energy. He has been in relatively good health for a long time now and it all amounted to a few things - stopping stress and anxiety and not letting himself get angry and frustrated over things. What he eats as well. He has learned what will aggravate him. As these gastro diseases are inheirited our youngest daughter developed Crohns last year. Seems anything spicy, greasy, fast food, or milk-based will cause abdominal pain and prompt diarrhea and that goes for her Dad too. I have come across several people with UC/Crohns tell me they have remission success with coconut milk and coconut products. My daughter refuses to try this even in a cookie, but research it and see what you think. I hope anything I've shared can be of help and things will turn around for you!

I read the Makers Diet book a couple years back and it is definitely a viable option for all of us. Our diets are something custom taylored for each individual with these diseases thru trial and error. I found the best way to approach my own personal diet is with an open mind and to realize that what works for one person may not work for me. It will take some time to figure out what works best for you so be patient, your own personal way of eating will take some time to figure out. Read other books about diet and healthy eating for crohns and colitis and then pick and choose what works for you from the many different sources of information. Good luck and stay positive, things will work out for the best. Charlie

Thanks for the support everyone it really means a lot! The last 7 months have been pretty trying especially after having the stroke that they actually attributed to the UC and, to an extent, the purinthol (6MP) medication that i had been on for so long. Both caused reduced bone marrow suppression and my platelets to drop not to mention i think my body just got tired of fighing to stay healthy after two years of constant flares and being anemic. Its amazing tho how much diet and exercise is important with this disease and how it helps even the slighest bit. Simply eating right and having a exercise regiment helped me gain the weight back that i drastically needed to prepare for this recent surgery to get the j-pouch. I have and will continue to be a huge supporter that everyone should consider eating non-processed and healthy foods because it really saved me when i needed it the most!

as far as diets are concerned i don't think any one is perfect. organic sounds great but the fact that organic is probable grown in contaminated ground and contaminated water. hard to find ground anymore that doesn't have chemicals in it. i like probiotics but you can buy them anywhere cheap. you should make up your own diet from what bothers you. i believe if you eliminate the foods and drinks that bother you ,you will improve. i've had surgery it helped. so has my son. but like you i fought it. i think there are too many people out there trying to make money off of us