Today I ran a mile! I did 4 complete laps around the track without stopping. I've actually been working toward this goal for months now. 6 years ago I could barely walk one lap due to the exhaustion I felt from my Crohn's disease. The right foods can literally make the difference between energy and absolute exhaustion.

     How did I do it? I figured out my trigger foods and then completely eliminated them from my diet. In order to do this I kept a food logue of everything I ate and drank. I then noted the results, in the bathroom. I started to make connections. I found that if I eliminate all wheat, gluten and corn from my diet, my Crohns is in complete remission. I also eliminated all derivatives of these foods, such as white vinegar, which comes from corn.

     Now, broadening my theory, I believe that many "auto-immune" diseases are nothing but food allergies, or intolerances. I also was diagnosed with relapsing polychodritis. Relapsing Polychondritis is also one of those auto-immune diseases. This has also gone completely into remission.

     It may be worth looking into. Please let me know if you try to eliminate certain foods and if it works for you. Corn, wheat, gluten, fish, milk, tree nuts, peanuts and citric acid are some common allergens. One allergen can be eliminate for a few days to see if there is a change. It takes a lot of time and patience.

My email if you want to send a message:

lynne1408@earthlink.net

Beating Crohn's Naturally

     I am now convinced that Crohns, Relapsing Polychodritis and many other "auto-immune" diseases are triggered by food allergies/intolerances. My trigger foods are wheat, gluten and corn. I have eliminated all of these from my diet. I have also eliminated all derivatives of these foods. This was the key. And this is all I do. I am off of all medications, especially those horrid steroids.

     My mom also has Crohn's/Colitis. She has found that her trigger foods are all dairy related. She can eat a bit of dairy foods and be fine. But if she eats too many dairy foods in a day, she gets her symptoms back.

     I have set up this blog with ways to cut out allergens in your diet. I was focused on wheat gluten and corn... Now I think I will focus on cutting all allergens including milk. Many of my recipes do contain milk. So from now on I will try to leave out this allergen also.

     My hope is that this blog will be able to help someone. I sell nothing. The products that I talk about are products that I actually use with success. I don't get paid to endorse these products.

     One of the hardest things in life to change is your diet. It brings great comfort and we feel very secure with it. Most people would rather take a ton a medicine than change their diet. Of course diet can be changed a little at a time through baby steps. But the way this has worked for me was to completely change every aspect of my diet. It is very hard, but it works for me.

     As noted previously, I am not a doctor. I am a person who has Crohn's disease and Relapsing Polychodritis. I control both through my elimination diet. I take no medicine. I have no symptoms of either. I can not say what is best for you. I am putting it out there what I do. If anyone is willing to eliminate allergens from their diet I would love to hear about it.

     Remember, Celiac was once an incurable disease. Now we know it is only a gluten allergy. Avoid the gluten and they're fine. I believe that Crohn's is a sister disease, caused by a similar allergen. It may be gluten, corn, milk, soy, fish, eggs, peanut, citric acid or any other allergen. It may be a combination of allergens. For me it was wheat, gluten and corn. For my Mom it is milk. For my daughter it was citric acid.

How to Start:
Start by elimating all major allergens, as noted above. It seems like it wouldn't leave much to eat. I started by eating plain chicken, rice and vegetables. Other good foods to start with: fruit, salad with no dressing, potatoes, gluten free noodles, hamburger (no bun), juices (watch the citric acid), steamed vegetables... No sauces or dressings.

Next, keep a logue of everything that is eaten or drunk. Everything counts, even gum and pop.

Reintroduce known allergens one at a time. Wait one week if possible. Note the reactions. you must be very patient.

I feel that I was blessed with this knowledge and need to share it. I sincerely hope that you will find help through this.

Any questions please feel free to email:
lynne1408@earthlink.net

Disease Clustering

     As a curious note, I would like to know how many people with Crohn's have other "auto immune" diseases. I was also diagnosed with Relapsing Polychondritis; causing swelling of the cartilage in the body. When I discovered a way to control my Crohn's I also found a way to control my Relapsing Polychondritis. I believe that when you have one disease, it's very likely to have other inflammatory diseases. As a matter of fact, I also believe that Eczema is another food allergy triggered disease. I went through this with both of my daughters when they were young. The doctor suggested all sorts of things, such as changing my laundry detergent... In the end it turned out to be an allergy to citric acid.

     The way I discovered this: The doctor recommended giving my daughter Benadryl at night to help her sleep. Well it was the worst night of itching she had ever had. I read the ingredients. The first ingredient beside the medicine was citric acid. That day I cut out all citric acid from her diet, and mine ( I was breast feeding). Within 3 days she was totally cleared up from her eczema. I believe that all these inflammatory diseases are caused by allergies to foods.

     Question: Do you have any clustering of diseases? Have you tried this diet? And have you had any success? I can't be the only person in the world that this works for. Here is my email address. Please let me know how you are doing.

lynne1408@earthlink.net