Hello, tyler26:
Thank You, for Your kind words.
I will begin at the easiest: Yes, antibiotics can be a two-edged sword especially for those of us with AS, but I would suggest it was the colitis that caused the problem mostly, albeit antibiotics can make things worse. It sort of depends upon the agent and chances are that the bowel issues were caused by E. coli, so not much information there.
In India, specifically, I encourage working out an AP because it is much easier—even in the West, the NSD is very inconvenient. You will lose weight especially on Your limited regimen, but it is important to eat desserts as often after the largest meals, when possible.
I will be specific—and perhaps You have seen that so many fruits are starchy when harvested too early. Citrus, not so much, but I would suggest eating oranges but try and avoid as much of the pulp and pith as possible. All melons and grapes are safe, raisins are good to eat in combination with almond and add chocolate morsels for a filling dessert.
The bowl of yoghurt may be the culprit: As in Carol’s book, the “dodgy disaccharides†or lactose and galactose can cause trouble, just like caramel. So, take the yoghurt but keep to a minimum. I would go to tofu…well, that’s an expression, but false paneer is Your friend despite the rumors—people in some parts of the world eat it every day without consequence. So I like extra firm cut thin into tofu steak and I bake it with some spices and eat with A1 (steak sauce) dressing. Good also canned tuna or salmon into a pickle relish and mayonnaise salad. I used to eat a lot of broccoli sprinkled with hard (aged) cheese that was powdered or “riced†like myzithra or parmesan is almost as good. Butter (ghee is good) and not too much cheese is required. Full meal tastes great and no guilt! Other lunch ideas—well I had chicken hot dogs available and a good mustard but suppose cold chicken can be dressed up and some mustard with horseradish could be good. Turkey, also. I think kiwi fruits are safe.
Miso soup for breakfast sometimes, then take eggs for lunch. I tried to get to love devilled eggs—good to experiment with especially Indian spices. But I had eggs every which way including meringue cookies. Check out Andrea’s “ForestandFauna†site for some crunchy breakfast food ideas, too and other safe stuff!
SUPPLEMENTS—Most brands are safe and labels can be trusted except from GNC; I have used NOW, Puritan’s Pride, Nature Made, Schiff, and quite a few others. Sometimes there are coatings of maltodextrin or other things that will change color, but it changes back before four minutes, the time I give most of my samples.
SAFE ADDITIONS—Bean sprouts (mung, but all including alfalfa are safe), blueberries, blackberries, olives can be great addition—make a tapenade and eat on cucumber squares or make a boat and have ground chicken, olives, cheese, diced peppers, and bake it! Mushrooms are safe, as are radish sprouts, wing beans (snow peas) or mange toute also. Bok choy and lettuce of course. Mayonnaise as above, pineapple has always been safe for me, all pears and mangoes need to be tested and just stay away from papaya. But if You can find more meats, like the canned tuna that is good. Canned lychee fruit is good for gut health. Walnuts, macadamias, pistachios, all good. Sesame—see this special halvah they sell near Taj and other places it is til plus honey and hardened. I think this is safe. Also tahini to make stuff with. Careful with hard seeds for fiber; best to get it from the fruits especially pineapple—greatest source. You don’t eat enough macaroons (they can be dipped in chocolate), either—a fine dessert. Jell-O, also! Cucumber can be cooked in spirals as a spaghetti or just matchstick and onions mix well with this. I have even done this in a marinara base with good results. Pine nut bits can be added to tabouli made from EVOO with plenty of tomatoes and of course a bit of cilantro mixed in the parsley and lemon juice. Baked fish, flaked fish, fish in stew—all safe for NSD. Hearts of palm, banana flowers, neem leaves, bamboo shoots, jute leaves—all good.
I eat bitter gourd and it is a very odd thing, but especially for eradicating parasites—see You take perhaps half a gourd daily with eggs (I also use a lot of hot sauce with this), for about seven days then take some herbs to expel uninvited guests—purgative herbs like wormwood and the like, certainly there are some in India.
But I would also consider this—and I don’t know Your own details at all so could to way off base—but having giardiasis could be very persistent and also mimic AS as well as cause it in susceptible persons. I would consider checking out Flagyl (metronidazole) and if possible really hitting this hard—and on a cycle You determine because this protista is very stubborn and cysts can be dormant for a long time. Often AS begins after some waterborne illness, when it is spontaneous.
Hope this helps--sorry if a bit stream of consciousness but I had to refer to my list about halfway through...
HELTH,
John
