low fat

[anonymous]

Funny, after all these years of high fat, I have heard of several CF-ers feeling well on a low fat diet. It sounds like that is the way to go for safe and slow weight loss--it makes sense since it is so hard to digest anyway, why take in more than you need to maintain a healthy weight. Do any of you keep to low fat because you feel better eating that way?

 

[anonymous]

I don't have much trouble with weight (I don't seem to have pancreatic insufficiency and don't take enzymes), but I have always been small. Anyway - I eat an extremely healthy, low fat diet and feel great on it. I've noticed that when I eat particularly greasy foods that I don't feel good (which even a healthy person won't after eating stuff like that) and that I do have difficulty digesting it and get fat in my stools. Also - I've noticed that when I eat heavier foods, I don't digest them as well because I'll tend to get extremely bloated, constipated and sluggish.I completely disagree with feeding CFers the high fat diets because even a healthy person doesn't feel good eating crap food, and it's just not good for people - a CF person's health relies heavily on their nutrition and so we really need to make sure we're making healthy choices. I eat lots of high fiber foods, fruits, lean meats, cheese, etc. If I feel I need to put on some weight - I'll add olive oil to my bread when I'm making a sandwhich, and add nuts to salads. My energy soars when I eat like this. I noticed during my last hospital stay that it was difficult to get healthy meals from the cafeteria - and I ended up having a lot of trouble with bloat and constipation. Anyway - I have lots of healthy food ideas to share if you're interested. And no, I'm not a nut about it. I ate a Butterfinger after dinner last night <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Piperpmcp@comcast.net

 

[anonymous]

Thank you for your articulate and helpful response. It does make sense that excessive fat and even too much protein is tough to digest, so if you do not need the extra calories, why bother? Do you have any problems with dairy products...do you drink lactaid or regular milk?

 

[anonymous]

Our 4 yr old also has trouble on the high fat diet. We do not add extra fat to her diet and we try and get her to eat healthy foods. Keep in mind that there are also good fats and bad fats. We try and feed her the good fats through healthier foods such as salmon for a meal and nuts for a snack. She never did well on the high fat diet when we tried it. She was always malabsorbing and we were always adjusting her enzymes. Now that she is off the high fat she has less stomach pains. She was also having reflux issues from the high fat diet which she no longer has.She is small for her age but I would rather her be healthy and small than have constant stomach pains.Heather

 

[anonymous]

I, too agree w/ Piper. I am in my 30's and have always watched grease intake. I have been curious about something else & I'll just bounce it off of everyone & see what gives.Someone had done a post asking how many enzymes we all take & I think alot of us "older" CFers seem to take less amounts than some of the younger ones & wondered if it's because our parents were told to hold back on the greasy, fatty, foods, thus we have developed a different style of eating habit than some of the younger ones that were told to eat foods w/ higher fat content? What about it, older CFer's, am I way off base here? I was just curious<img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

In my early 20s (28 now) I developed a host of odd allergies, probably because of life long antibiotic use. I became lactose intolerant - when I had cheese I'd get horrible pains in my stomach and terrible gas. I avoided dairy for a long time, then discovered that yogurt was safe for people who couldn't handle dairy, and so were goat milk products (like goat cheese). I added these to my diet. I love cheese. Finally - I decided to try to incorporate cheese back in my diet - well, sometimes I can handle it, sometimes I can't. I have found that aged cheese like Parmesan cause the most problems. Pizza doesn't agree (though it could be because of all the added grease) sometimes either. I just have to play it by ear. Lactaid milk does not cause me any problems. Also, I haven't had trouble with cottage cheese. Nowadays - I eat a LOT of cheese (I love the stuff) - I try to get low-fat cheeses (though I don't recommend low-fat cheddar), and for some reason, I haven't had any trouble with lactose intolerance for the past several months. Allergies, including food allergies, change throughout your lifetime. I'm sorry if my response isn't very helpful - it's just that you really have to test it out. If I have one bad night because I ate cheese, I'll avoid it for a few weeks, that try it again to see what happens. I know this sort of method is annoying but it's all I know that works. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">Piper

 

[anonymous]

When I was younger, I actually ate a high fat diet, took lots of enzymes and always seemed to have stomach aches although I was able to keep weight on reasonably well. As a teenager, I started eating a lowfat diet and stopped taking enzymes. I started using water soluable versions of A&D to ensure adequate fat soluable vitamins. I seemed to still eat enough lowfat calories to keep my weight on. I'm 30 now and over the last several years have started taking enzymes again due to problems maintaining albumin levels rather than stomach or weight issues.Long story short, I actually felt that I maintained my weight better on a lowfat diet....and certainly felt much better.Tanya 30 w/cf

 

[anonymous]

This is really interesting as my sons dietitan really promotes the high fat diet lots of greasy foods and cream in cereal etc etc.I really believe in giving him good oils such as olive oil, flaxseed oil as opposed to the awful deep fried oils that they commonly use.She was very negative about my approach but she queitened suddenly when his weight shot from the 25th centile to the 75th.She couldn't understand how.I don't add butter to his food at all just salt and maybe a bit of one of his oils but not to much.I really wondered when he was diagnosed as to what other effects the high fat diet would have on his body seperate to his CF?RebekahMother to Matt 15mths w/CF

 

[anonymous]

Wow you are such a Smart Mom. Good for you. There is a good oil that agrees with me. It has Borage and Flaxseed oil in it and I add this to organic cottage cheese. The company that makes this oil is Spectrum and it is in the health food store in the fridge section. Of course it is organic. I try to eat as many organic foods as I can. Even the meat I buy. IT is pricy but I cut down on all the other things in life that cost money so it balances it out for me.Please share all kinds of recipes that help you gain weight. In the past I would make a shake of almond butter, fruit and soy milk or rice milk but all of these adds up to many carbs. I am trying to think of a good protein that I can add like a protein powder that is easy to digest. I do like to eat all natural but to gain weight sometimes we have to add the empty calories.Looking for interesting recipes. Please shareThis is a a VERY interesting Thread

 

[kybert]

disclaimer - i DO NOT recommend this recipe for weight gain as its completley digusting. i am putting this in purely for comedy!well when i used to have trouble putting on weight id make the most disgusting sustagen drink. id make a sustagen just out of full cream milk and add huge teaspoons of double thick cream and id drink them all the time. first off it was just a normal sustagen drink with hot water then a bit of milk. then it turned into all milk. then i started adding normal cream and then i thought that still wasnt enough so i put in double thick cream. ive still got a picture in my head of all the oil bits from the cream floating on top of the drink. id hate to think what would happen to my bowels if i drank them at this present time! lol! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

You would have very cremey bowels lolEverything in moderation.

 

[anonymous]

Hi KylieI think you will appreciate this link very much. Hope you get a few good laughshttp://www.flowgo.com/funpages/view.cfm/1247Risa

 

[kybert]

lol!