Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Dietary needs - the simple version

I have Ulcerative Colitis. It's where you get ulcers in your colon. Every person who has Ulcerative Colitis deals with it differently and has different food intolerances. Here's a basic guide about my dietary needs.

This does not include the why's. This is the straightforward version containing what I can and cannot consume.
And all the caveats.

Simply put, I'm intolerant to fruit, soy and the combination of grain and sugar. I'll be eating this way for at least a year, maybe forever. I'm going to get tested again next year and I'll see what happens then. For now, culinary exploration is still underway.

The "No" list:
  • Fruit and all products derived (including Vitamin A Palmitate, cashews, citric acid, honey that is sourced from fruit trees, olives, apple cider vinegar, coconut, bell peppers, avocados, nutmeg, fruit flavoring, peppers, pumpkin pie spice because it has nutmeg, etc)
  • Soy and all products derived (e.g. soy sauce, soy protein, soy lecithin, tocopherol or vitamin E, semolina flour, canola or vegetable oil)
  • Grains (e.g. corn, amaranth, sunflower seeds, quinoa, and the usual) 
  • Cheese or cow's milk
  • Peanuts
  • Caffeine
  • Coffee
  • Alcohol

Moderated foods:
  • Animal meat
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Raw vegetables
  • Cruciferous vegetables (e.g. kale, cabbage, brussels sprout, etc)

The "Unequivocally, Yes" list:
  • Melons and tomatoes (for some reason, those fruits don't trigger a flareup)
  • Cooked vegetables 
  • Squash
  • Sunflower, safflower, and nut oils
  • Almond butter 
  • Beans (not in their whole form)
  • Sweeteners - Maple Syrup and Stevia
  • Herbal tea 
  • Rice vinegar

The "I don't know if these items are okay or not..."
  • Chocolate or cacao nibs
  • Sunflower oil combined with sugar (in a dish because it's grain and sugar)
  • Vinegar derived from grain
  • Whole beans
  • Sausage
  • Maltodextrin

No comments: