Recommendations

Dietary Changes

1. Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Read through Elaine Gottschall's book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle and try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). This book has a great educational value as well as instructions for following the SCD. Eat plenty of homemade yogurt, as outlined in the book, and homemade fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut. The SCD is the least restrictive of the diets and allows a great variety of foods. The book recommends trying the SCD for at least a month. We have found that many do not get relief until the third month. If you find that a certain food is causing you problems eliminate it from your diet. Although legumes ( i.e. beans, peanuts, etc) are allowed by the SCD, you should be very weary of eating them.

2. Eliminate Problem Foods

If symptoms are not alleviated by following the SCD after three months, or you are growing impatient, try eliminating problem foods. Many people find that legumes, dairy foods, nuts, eggs, and excess fruits and honey will cause gastrointestinal distress.

3. Reduce Carbs

Try following a low carbohydrate version of the SCD: Eliminate honey, restrict fruits to avocados, eat only green leafy vegetables, limit your quantity of nuts, eat plenty of high quality proteins and fats, and make the yogurt from heavy cream to reduce the carbohydrate content.

Supplements

• Probiotics: probiotics, or friendly bacteria, will help to balance the gut flora and fight any yeast or bacterial infections. Those who cannot tolerate dairy and cannot eat the homemade yogurt, should consider taking probiotics. FOS is a common ingredient in probiotic supplements and should be avoided. FOS may feed pathogenic microbes and defeat the purpose of the diet.
  
  

• B-Complex: As a whole, the B vitamins work as a team. When taking a large dose of a single B vitamin, it can result in a deficiency in the others. Therefore it is advisable to take the full spectrum of B vitamins to safeguard against a nutritional imbalance.
  Recommendation: A good B-complex "50" multivitamin should cover all the bases.
  
  

• Vitamin B5: Pantothenic Acid and its activated form, Pantethine, may help reduce the need from steroids and promote intestinal healing. Anyone who has become steroid dependent should consider taking supplemental Pantethine. Vitamin B 5 has also been implicated in balancing the gut flora. *Recommendation1 : 900 mg of Pantethine and 900 mg of Pantothenic Acid daily.
  
  

• Folic Acid: Folate, a B vitamin, has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer and certain birth defects. It plays a primary role in the healing process of the intestines. A good quality source of Folic Acid is called Folirinse.
  Recommendation (Atkins): 40 to 60 mg of folate per day.
  
  

• Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid promotes the healing of wounds through its role in collagen synthesis. Ascorbic acid also serves to support the immune system in fighting off infections.
  Recommendation (Pauling): 2 to 18 grams daily, preferably buffered Vitamin C in powder/crystal form. Doses should be spread throughout the day for maximum benefit.
  
  

• Fish Oil: The oils from cold water fish are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation. Clinical studies have shown that a daily regimen of fish oil prolongs remission rates in Crohn's disease patients.
  
  

• Zinc: Zinc boosts the immune system and accelerates wound healing. Many people with Crohn's disease are deficient in zinc. Zinc can be harsh on the stomach, so use this supplement with caution.
  Recommendation (Atkins): 100 to 200 mg of zinc daily.
  
  

• L-Glutamine: Glutamine is an amino acid that promotes healing of the intestines and repairs the mucousal layer.
  Recommendation (Atkins): 5 grams of powdered L-glutamine daily.
  
  

• Molybdenum: Molybdenum helps the body eliminate harmful compounds. It helps to clear mental grogginess associated with yeast infections by eliminating their toxins.
  Recommendation (Atkins): 200 to 500 mcg of molybdenum daily. Doses up to 2,000 mcg daily may be safely taken.