Drastic weight loss.

[danny]

Hi. I'm a first time user of this forum. Hope this follows format:

I suffer from Crohn's and have turned to the macrobiotic philosophy to heal my body. I've suffered severely for for years, have tried several diets, drugs, and have had a section including large and small bowl taken out.

I believe that macrobiotics is the answer, but I havn't been able to make it work for me. I've had an intense week of training, and continue to study. The problem is that I have lost so much weight (I'm 5'11'' and I weigh 114 lbs.) and I have so little energy from this diet that I can't even eat a full meal.

I've been following the diet for two and a half months. Most macrobiotic material I've found suggests that weight loss is normal due to a purging of toxins etc. Other sources say that men tend to lose excessive weight on a strict macrobiotic program.

I feel that my weight loss has reached a critical point, however. I have no energy to do anything. I'm extremely anemic. I have no muscle left on my body and I look like I'm starving to death. I may be able to get myself to cook, but then I can't eat anything. I've been told that I am extremely yang as I suffer from cramps and other symptoms.

I need to gain weight. I need more energy. Anybody have anything to suggest?

Thankyou,

Danny

[Roy Collins]

Hi Danny.

Weight loss is quite common with Chrone's Disease and quite common when macrobiotics is first started, especially if you
are going into too fast, which seems like the case to me.

Anyway, the Chrone's, like most IBS diseases is an inflammatory
disease coupled with poor immune function. Fatty foods, eggs,
nuts, dairy, meats, white flour products, butter and hydrogenated oils are the main food culprits in this case, ALONG with improper
eating and bending motion. More people with sedentary type jobs develop this condition. In many ways this disease is like Celiac Sprue as intestine/digestise system reaches a point of saturation from excess gluten build-up and aborption of nutrients becomes hampered.

So stop eating all flour products, red meat, fowl, refined and artifcial sugars, alcohol, caffiene, and all OTC drugs now. A small amount of egg and white fish (boiled/steamed/baked without oil)
is fine a few times per week. No tropical foods or spices. Vegetable juices are OK during hot weather but no nightshades (peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, potato, etc.) Instestinal tract must be made more dry/yang and intestinal flora needs to be restored
so miso soup with seaweed, onion, and leafy greens should be used daily -- 1 cup in the am. A small amount of sesame oil can be added to soup mixture. Try eating after exercising first
but make sure body/mind is relaxed prior to ad during eating.

Food should be chewed each mouthful abour 100 times before swallowing! You must start this ritual right away and avoid stressing your life/nervous system. Immune function is also made stronger this way. Use plenty of vegetables in the diet but avoid those that make the most gas like cabbage/broccoli. Beans should be used every other day but use only aduki and cook with a samll piece of Kombu seaweed (you can also add cut up butternut squash to this).

Vegetables should dominate grains at this time (60/40 ratio) and grains should be pressure cooked with a little extra water than usual and a pinch of seasalt. In am you can take rolled oats, corn polenta, or rice noodles cooked and placed in miso soup. No
bread or other flours. Actually whole oats soaked over night and
cooked in extra water would be preferable to the rolled oats, but if there is cramping and sensation of inflammation use only the rolled oats (husks on oats can irritate illeum lining).

No rice cakes should be eaten as they bloat intestines by absorbing surrunding liquid and are not properly digested. No peanut or nut butters, no flaxseed oil or raw olive oil at this time.
Avoid sesame seed gomassio condiment at this time.

Presed salads are fine and a small amount of daikon pickle should be taken daily to aid digestion/absorption. Garlic can be used in moderation during the week and Pau d'arco tea should be used to
control inflammation. Bancha, Kukicha, Blueberry leaf, and green tea can be used daily as well, but avoid mints and other aromatics at this time. It is OK to eat a little more at each meal but make sure you do not sit around too long after eating. Try a litttle walking and bending exercises about 1 hour after eating for 20 mins. No fruit juice!

Let me know how things are going from time to time.

I hope this helps.

In peace, Roy