Hello,

I haven't had a chance to read Jini's books yet (they're on their way!) but I have a quick question as I've read conflicting reports about potatoes and sweet potatoes, are they good or bad for the intestines? Also the same question for tomatoes.

I have read that potatoes and tomatoes can increase inflammation, do you know if this is true? I am hoping not as I love potatoes and sweet potatoes but don't want to do anything to worsen my condition.

Thanks!

Hi, butterfly.

Well, Jini lays out some general guidelines for us, but as she says herself, there may be things she says are okay for most people but don't agree with your system and things that she says aren't okay for most people that you can actually tolerate well. So ultimately, you are still going to have to do some trial-testing to tailor those guidelines precisely to yourself.

However, here are the general guidelines.

Potatoes are okay for most people and are listed as such on even the strictest of the Healing Diets, the Stop Intestinal Bleeding Diet.

However, most people with IBD or IBS benefit from minimizing starchy carbs, so the ideal is to emphasize non-starchy veggies and protein in your diet without necessarily eliminating starchy carbs. An example of how this can work is that before my Crohn's diagnosis, I used to eat starchy carbs at every meal as well as for snacks. These days, I usually have one serving of them per day. For instance, if I have cereal for breakfast, I just have protein and non-starchy veggies at lunch and dinner. This isn't something I'm rigid about, it's just my general pattern.

Tomatoes are not allowed until you progress to the Minimize Gas & Bloating Diet and even then, it is recommended that they be kept to a minimum. This is because of their acidity. An inflamed or ulcerated surface is extremely sensitive to anything acidic.

If you find changes that you think are wise to make in your diet but don't really like making them, you can try EFT on those feelings, to make it easier to change. You'll read about EFT in Listen to Your Gut and can also check out www.emofree.com for more information.

I think you'll really enjoy Jini's books. LTYG, especially, is encyclopedic in nature. Don't hesitate to post questions about what you're reading, if any come to mind.

All the best,
Nicole

Thanks Nicole!

I really appreciate your help, I can't wait to dive into Jini's books and start figuring out what works for me so I can heal. I was born with a genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa, it causes my skin to be so fragile it blisters and shears off from slight friction leaving 2nd degree burn type wounds. EB also effects my muscous membranes, so eyes, mouth, esophagus and even my digestive tract. My intestines have always had problems but it wasn't until recently my symptoms have escalated to crohn's disease type symptoms. So whether it is crohn's disease or caused by my EB the treatment will be the same so I have not been too worried to get diagnosed with the exact problem.

I am already severely underweight and malnutritioned because of EB so now with the added intestinal problems I had gotten very sick, the Absorb Plus has been a lifesaver, literally, and I have noticed a difference right away. But I realize now I need to take much better care of my insides not just the skin on the outside so I am trying my best to learn how.

Anyway it's comforting to know there's a place to post these sort of questions to, I'm sure I will come up with more after reading the books.

Hugs,
Cristina

www.ebpatient.com

Wow, Cristina.

That's quite a combination you're dealing with! I'm glad (although not surprised ) that the Absorb Plus is helping.

The very first difference I noted when I was on the IBD Remission Diet was more energy. Like you, I was suffering from malnutrition and had lost a lot of weight and I can't begin to tell you how tired I was. Words just fail to describe.

There were two things I loved about LTYG right away. (I got that first, on a Friday afternoon, had it read by bedtime, started reading it again on Saturday and bought the IBD Remission Diet about a month later.) Anyway, the first was that while the recommended supplements in Chapter Two were geared specifically to someone with digestive issues, the majority of the book would be good for ANYONE. I guess to me, that kind of universalness speaks of truth. Second, this wasn't just a diet and supplement book......this was a holistic approach of healing the whole person. That rang true to me right away, as well.

The third thing that I came to love was the encouragement. Here was someone who had been even more ill than I was and yet had accomplished exactly what I wanted to do....healing without the use of drugs and/or surgeries. When there were down times (and it has definitely been an up and down journey, although with improvement overall, seen over time), I can't tell you how comforting it was to re-read Chapter One and about the IBD Remission Diet in Chapter Two and the Symptoms or Messages section in Chapter Five because here was someone who had BEEN there. My family was very loving and very supportive, but that kind of "been there" support was one thing I needed that they simply didn't have the capacity to provide. Without it, I doubt I would have made it through without resorting to drugs at some point.

So that's one reason I'm really glad to act as the moderator of the main forum here. It gives me the opportunity to give that same encouragement back to other people at an earlier stage of the healing journey.

And now that I've rambled on long enough....

Hugs to you, too!

Nicole

Hi Nicole,

The Absorb Plus has been the only thing keeping me from having to go to the hospital. We try to avoid this at all costs because I am very suseptable to infection due to my condition. I was so weak I was stuck in bed for weeks but am now able to be up and about the house already though I'm making sure to take it slow.

I'm very excited and pleasantly surprised when I learned Jini's books dealt with not only physical but emotional and spiritual as well, something traditional medicine does not address at all. I see a naturopath and am going to a clinic next month that uses a combo of traditional and alternative medicine. So I'm looking forward to that. I've also learned a lot about energy and have always known how much a positive attitude can heal you. My path started when I got fed up with using topical antibiotics to treat my wounds for 21 years with no improvement, so I threw them all away and started using active manuka honey and egyptian magic and my skin has never done better and my wounds heal faster than ever. I used to be missing about 70% of the skin on my back and am now only missing about %15. I then changed my diet and only shop at natural health food stores. I've definitely made a lot of changes this year, this is just a set back but I know I will get through this as well.

I know how you feel about talking with others who truly understand what you're going through. I help run an online EB support group and it's sooo helpful to have a place to express yourself, ask questions and receive support from people who deal with similar problems as you. It makes you feel less alone.

Anyway I can't wait to read the books, I wouldn't be surprised if I read it all in one day too, hehe.

Thanks again

Cristina
www.ebpatient.com