Episode 49: Dietary Recommendations for Ulcerative Colitis




The Ancestral RDs Podcast show

Summary: Thanks for joining us for episode 49 of The Ancestral RDs podcast. If you want to keep up with our podcasts, subscribe in iTunes and never miss an episode! Remember, please send us your question if you'd like us to answer it on the show! Today we're answering the following question from a listener: “I have a question about ulcerative colitis. My little brother who is 19 was diagnosed with UC about a year ago and he has suffered a lot with the symptoms. He’s on a variety of medications from anti-inflammatory ones to immune suppressants. He’s tired all the time and cannot do much of anything due to difficult symptoms. A few months ago, my mum started making him gluten free, low FODMAP food and using lactose free milk for him avoiding unhealthy foods as much as possible. His symptoms have improved a bit, but they are still severe. I was wondering if you had any recommendations what to do, what to incorporate, and what to avoid. It’s really difficult for me to see him feel so badly all the time, but we don’t have many functional doctors and nutritionists where we live, so help is welcome.” When living with ulcerative colitis, it can be tricky to find the right combination of things that will work for you as an individual. Are your symptoms still not under control despite current treatment methods or dietary changes? First and foremost, don’t be hard on yourself. Be sure to listen today as we share up to date recommendations for nutrient dense foods, key supplements, and tests that may bring the relief you’re looking for. This discussion can be helpful whether current medications and treatments are not enough, or you’re just beginning to address this health condition. Here's what Laura and Kelsey will be discussing in this episode: A general discussion of ulcerative colitis Why a prolonged restrictive diet may not be the answer How an elimination diet can help you discover food sensitivities that may contribute to symptoms Even if gluten free, how all grains can be problematic Which nutrient dense foods are helpful Nutrients important for gut health The role of vitamin A and D in immune system function How addressing gut dysbiosis is key The importance of prebiotics and probiotics, and our recommendations of which to take The effect of HPA axis dysfunction on symptoms Why starting slow with any supplement is crucial Discussion of fecal transplants for ulcerative colitis along with possible benefits and risks How demulcent herbs can provide protection and healing to the gut The anti inflammatory power of curcumin The necessity of testing vitamin D levels regularly Why working with a practitioner when introducing dietary changes and supplements can be helpful Links Discussed: WildFoods.co - Use the code WILDRD for a free gift! TRANSCRIPT Laura: Hi, everyone. Welcome to episode 49 of The Ancestral RDs podcast. I’m Laura Schoenfeld and with me as always is Kelsey Marksteiner. Kelsey: Hey, guys. Laura: So Kelsey, how’s your apartment search going? Kelsey: Oh you know, it’s super fun. Apartment hunting in New York City, and I’m sure apartment hunting anywhere is not very fun. It can be fun because you’re like ooh, I get to live in a new place. But for us, it’s like we’ve been in our apartment for a long time at this point. We sort of somewhat made it a home at this point. It’s a little sad to leave, especially because for the most part we’re moving because there’s issues with the apartment. But otherwise, it’s a really good location that we really like and we have a very good deal on our apartment. So it’s really hard to give that up as a rent stabilized apartment and move out into the Wild West it feels like. Yeah, it’s a little tough to find something that really, you feel good about. I feel like you often see a lot of crappy apartments and then finally you find one that’s going to work for you. So were’ still in the process of weeding out the crappy ones,