Greetings everyone. I'm a newbie but having good success with feeling good on the Zone and loosing weight.

I'm searching for some help for my daughter who has ulcerative colitis. I'm wondering if there is anyone out there with this condition that has had luck using the Zone diet, fish oils or anything else to get it to calm down. Did you spend a lot of time in the bathroom in the beginning and then see a change?

Thanks

sdkayaker

Welcome sdkayaker!

I don't have personal experience to relate, but in case you haven't seen this, here's what I found with a search of DrSears.com (theQ's are from Zoners; the A's by Barry Sears):

Ulcerative colitis - Relevance: 2016
Q: I have ulcerative colitis. In April of 2007 it was diagnosed as severe. I was at the point of surgery to remove my colon; however, I was treated with Remicade, five treatments. I started having some side effects so I stopped the treatments, but my colitis responded, and I have been in remission since June 2007. I would like to try the Zone Diet but do not want any problems with my ulcerative colitis. How will the diet affect my disease? A: The OmegaRx Zone (chapter 14) refers to gastrointestinal diseases caused by inflammation. The Zone Diet and supplementation with fish oil helps reduce inflammation. Research suggests that supplemental fish oil can benefit patients with ulcerative colitis. The amount: 5-10 grams per day of OmegaRx is suggested. Five grams would be 2 teaspoons or eight capsules. I have seen improvement in those who follow a diet that is low in fiber. Some have had excellent results using Zone Shakes for two weeks along with the OmegaRx. Always work with your physician when changing your diet and commencing supplementation.
http://drsears.com/SearchIndexer/ta...fault.aspx - 4/17/2008 10:49:02 AM
2 Colitis - Relevance: 2007
Q: My brother, age 61, suffers from ulcerative colitis, which is currently in a major flare-up. He is desperate to find a way to minimize the impact of this and the unpleasant side-effects of the drugs that seem to be based on trial and error for his general health and mental wellbeing. My readings around the Zone, and in particular the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil supplementation, suggest that this would be helpful to him, but I do not wish to recommend something that may exacerbate his gut problems. What are your suggestions? A: High-dose fish oil will significantly reduce the inflammation of the colitis. I would suggest about 7.5 grams of EPA and DHA per day.
http://drsears.com/SearchIndexer/ta...fault.aspx - 12/27/2007 12:09:17 PM
3 Fish oil for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis - Relevance: 2006
De Ley M, de Vos R, Hommes DW, Stokkers P. Fish oil for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;( 4 ): CD005986 . Review.
http://drsears.com/SearchIndexer/ta...fault.aspx - 4/11/2008 11:01:58 AM

Hi!

I don't have any personal experience with ulcerative colitis, other than the fact that am a nurse and have taken care of people with it.

First, I think that the fish oil is a great start, as Dr. Sears indicates.

Second, I feel that it is very important to follow an "anti-inflammatory" diet. The Zone is classified as such a diet. Now, I am guessing that there are some foods in the Zone that your daughter may not be able to tolerate, but you can weed through all of that using the zone food block list, and then building meals from foods that are zone favorable and foods that she can tolerate.

Third, I can't stress enough the importance of getting back to a "natural" diet. Get rid of foods/beverages with additives. That may wipe out a bunch of things that are "convenience" foods, but I have heard of marvelous recoveries from ulcerative colitis when you just get back to eating real food, rather than all of the processed garbage that is out there. And, this is also an "anti-inflammatory" diet intervention as well.

Hope that helps, and please keep us updated!

Thanks for the additional information. I talked to my daughter this weekend. She stuck to eating Zone friendly and eventually her discomfort has subsided. Which, makes us wonder if she is more wheat sensitive than we realized. Or maybe Gluten sensitive. We'll see.

Ginny, I am finding more and more that people with ulcerative colitis have a wheat and/or gluten sensitivity. Definitely something to consider!