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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What food do you recommend for someone with IBD and who is overweight?

    Related Topics
    Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Digestive Health Nutrition
    Last year I lost a lot of weight due to my UC / crohns, in 20 kilos in 2 weeks, was put on lots of medication one which is prednison and still on it, but I have since put it all back on and I am overweight how can I loose the weight and what food do you recommend for someone with Crohns or Ulcerative colitis, I also have bloatness, reflux, diareah, stomach pain etc., can someone help
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  • 6

    Thanks

    Samantha Ling

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Samantha is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), consultant and food and nutrition enthusiast. Samantha works in a private practice on the Central Coast, NSW, Rostant … View Profile

    Based on the information provided I think you would benefit greatly from a consultation with an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) who specialises in IBD - you can find the nearest APD to you on the Dietitian's Association of Australia website www.daa.asn.au - APDs are recognised health professionals backed by at least 4 years of Univeristy training in food, nutrition and dietetics.

    In my own personal experience with patients with IBD a low FODMAP diet has helped alleviate some of the symptoms (mainly bloating, diarrhoea, constipation etc).
    Generally, limit the following foods:

    1. Fructose: especially high fructose fruits such as apples, pears and watermelon. Honey and High Fructose Corn Syrup (often in sugary breakfast cereals)
    2. Fructans: such as wheat and onions (other gluten containing grains are ok just wheat grains)
    3. Lactose: such as milk, yoghurt, ice-cream, custard (look for lactose free milk, etc)
    4. Polyols: often found in artificial sweeteners (so avoid diet products, coke zero, pepsimax etc), chewing gum, apples, pears and stone fruit
    5. Galacto-oligosaccharides: also known as our ‘windy’ vegetables such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, legumes, onions, green beans


    To ensure your diet remains balanced an APD can assist by implementing a meal plan into YOUR lifestyle that is low FODMAP. Exercise in combination with a balanced diet will assist with your weight loss - try doing 1 hour of planned physical activity 5x week.

    Samantha Ling
    Rostant Nutrition
    (Find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/rostantnutrition )

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  • Anonymous

    Hi Samanatha

    thanks for your reply what you say sort of makes since I have been reading a lot about different diets but the problem is all the good food like fruit, vegtables and salads seem to cause me the must problems with my UC or one week I well eat something and seem fine then the next week it may react. and I am unwell or next day etc. 

    My diet at present is not good I found which sadly I am not happy with, I  mean eat food that is healthy like salads and or vegies which I love but than I am running to the bathroom.  which does not make sense to me.  must of the foods you have listed I avoid any way I don't eat cerals or grains any more because of the bloating and pain.  Diary is mainly cheese as I don't drink milk or soya .  I do not drink soft drinks except once every blue moon, windy vegies well green beans and cabbage I sometimes have and found these are ok for me its when I eat lettuce etc., that I found this is causing me issues. I I guess this is why I am frustrated about having UC and being overweight.  thanks for the advise I may look at seeing an APD and seeing if they can help me. 

    also what are your thoughts about Special Carb Diet and or Paelo diet I have been reading about them and some people with IBD seem to found great improvement.  what are your throughts.

    thank you once again.

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  • 1

    Thanks

    Samantha Ling

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Samantha is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), consultant and food and nutrition enthusiast. Samantha works in a private practice on the Central Coast, NSW, Rostant … View Profile

    I personally think you would benefit greatly seeing an APD who can work through your diet together - IBD is different for everyone so what works on one individual may not work for you. Unfortunately, the symptoms never really go away, nutritional treatment is based around alleviating some of the symtoms to improve your quality of life so you may find your ok one week or for a few months then you have a few bad days.
    Perhaps try keeping a food/sypmtom diary leading up to your appointment (2 weeks) of what you eat/drink and if you get any symtoms (eg. diarrhoea, bloating etc). What you think causes some symptoms may not be - a diary can help pin-point any patterns. Are your ‘episodes’ stress related? There are many different factors that should probably be addressed in the consultation.

    It would be great to see you symptoms alleviate somewhat AND to help you reach your health goals by consuming  a balanced diet - the problem with many of the fad diets out there (eg. paelo, special carb diet etc) is that they are not balanced and may lead to nutritional deficienies later on.

    Good luck!

    Samantha

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  • Nicole Moore

    Dietitian

    I am the Senior Dietitian and Director of Menuconcepts.  We  provide personalised, one on one consultations and develop individual weight loss and health programs.  We have clinics … View Profile

    Managing IBD symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and pain, with a low FODMAP diet can assist in my experience as per other dietitians advice.  I also find some client still benefit from limiting seeds and grains, nuts and pips.

    An Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD)  can assist you. You can find the nearest APD on the website www.daa.asn.au.

    Generally, limit the following foods:

    1. Fructose: e.g. avoid apples, pears and watermelon. Honey and High Fructose Corn Syrup (often in sugary breakfast cereals).  It is still important to include 3 serves of fresh fruit in you diet e.g. a banana, manadrine, grapes are low fructose.
    2. Fructans: wheat products and onions.  Includuing gluten free products is best such as gluten free bread, corn cruskits, gluten free pasta, rice, potato, and gluten free breakfast cereal, and add rice bran for extra fibre.
    3. Lactose: avoid milk, yoghurt, ice-cream, custard, soft cheese which contain lactose. Aim to include lactose free milk like light Zymil, soy based yoghurt (Soyghurt) and soy ice cream (So Good Soy Ice Cream) and only small amounts of hard cheese which contain no lactose).
    4. Polyols: often found in artificial sweeteners (so avoid diet products, coke zero, pepsimax etc), chewing gum, apples, pears and stone fruit
    5. Galacto-oligosaccharides: ‘windy’ vegetables e.g cabbage, brussel sprouts, legumes, onions, green beans.  Include plenty of carrots, green beans, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, cucumber.

    Portions of the above foods is also imprtant if you wish to reduce your weight.  Ensure you consuming small serves of carbohydares (gluten free cereal, pasta, rice, potato), 25% of you plate, balanced with lean protein (lean fish, chicken, meat and eggs), 25% of your plate, and plenty free low FODMAP vegetables, aim for 50% of you plate. Plus including regular exercise  - try doing 30 to 60 minutes of planned physical activity 5x week.

    I hope this helps.

    Please contact me if you would ike some more advice at nicole.moore@menuconcepts.com.au
    www.menuconcepts.com.au

    Kind Regards
    Nicole Moore
    Accredited Dietitian

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  • RosieVeg

    HealthShare Member

    I would like to ask do you have IBD or U.C.? You say you have IBS then you say U.C., you do know they are two Totally Different Diseases? In Severety that is. Any ways to answer your question-Sounds like you need some info about what to eat in general-I have Severe U.C. and had a J-Pouch Surgery(s). Here's a list of Low-Fiber foods to eat during a Flare up-
    NO NUTS OR SEEDS/even small ones in fruit
    I was Only able to eat Cashews 5-10 per day and only a small palmfull of Peanuts per day only after the below Diet was Established and Only If Chewed Literally for a count of 75 or more-Till Mush in mouth! But well worth it!! Or grind to Fine Powder then eat.
    Banana's-Really Ripe
    Smooth Peanut Butter/never chunky!!!
    White Plain Bread & Light Rye Bread(Organic is best)
    Real Oatmeal-cooks in 10mins with Very Ripe Fruit no Sugar or Agave Nectar,Real Maple Syrup
    IceCream,Sorbetto,Geloto,Popcicles
    plain Jello or with very ripe Fruit,if Vegetarian Make with Veg Thickener (Forget name)
    Really Ripe Fruit-WITH NO SEEDS,No Strawberries or Eat inside of Fruit yes if really craving a Strawberry you can Slice the outer part of,the seeds-eat inside same but reversed for a Kiwi
    Really Soft Cooked Veggies NO RAW!!
    Eggs and More Eggs No fiber in eggs!!! I lived on eggs :) Yum
    All Natural Organic Plain Yogurt with Cinnimon is Best also you can add your own Really Ripe Fruit
    Avocado's
    Apple Sauce Lot's yum
    Pudding all kinds, Rice-no raisins (Chocolate may upset things!)
    Spices- Cinnimon-Ground Only!! Helps with Digestion and Gas/Bloating 1tbsp per day!



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  • RosieVeg

    HealthShare Member

    I need to add Plain White Rice,Clear Fluid- Clear Broths,Clear Juice-Watered down so not so Acidic. I would aim for 4gm of Fiber a meal. Also No Skin on Food! Peel every thing! Fiber is in the Skin of Foods! If you follow the above Diet and take Your Multi-Vitamin's and also drink Ensure,Boost -No Added Fiber ones etc your Symptoms will Settle!! Then I would Work on the weight issue,it's the Prednizone= weight gain. When your symptoms are well managed you will find your weight will go up and down. I will suggest you be patient with your body and the weight will come off! You snack more because of the Silly Prednizone,it makes people crave food and gives you a Moon face. Good Luck and email me if you have any more Q's :) RosieVeg

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  • Anonymous

    I have Pan Ulcerative Colitis which is also known as IBD or Inflamatory Bowel Disease I have not said I have IBS which is Irritable bowel systems so yes I do know what the difference is the reason I say IBD is although I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis there is signs I also have crohns disease. 

    any one I hope that has cleared that up.  thanks for your sugestions in diet but most of the food you suggest do not agree with me I do eat eggs though but cannot eat to much of the things you suggested.  

    last week  I spoke to my gi who has now puting me on antibitoitcs to treat my Colitis and is now sending me some prescriptions for thesemedications he also told me to avoid all  white bread pototes and rice as milk he said this can case issues he also wants me to eat a oregano leaves each morning I was amazed he suggested this as no other doctor has ever said this to me and most dietictions say when you are flaring to eat this way.  so now I am even more confused.

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