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It was well over a year and a half ago that I ate my last salad. I promised myself, after that night, that I would never eat a salad again because lettuce is one of my many trigger foods, and the consequences of eating it are HORRIBLE for me. But I have missed my salad terribly after that night because I LOVE salad and all of its sinful toppings. And so today I decided it was time to allow myself to splurge. I almost felt mischievous as I went into the best place on earth to get a salad (Jason's Deli) and piled my plate high with unimaginably sinful (for my Crohn's) toppings such as cheese, nuts, ranch dressing, carrots, and raw apples! I also had ice cream afterwards... Anyway.....I know I'm going to pay the price tonight.....but it was SO worth it! Can't wait till next year when I allow myself to go on a trigger food eating spree again.

 Reply posted for IndeaSkye35.

I am having an issue myself.  I have UC and know how it feels not to eat certain foods.  I have just found out my liver count was a little abnormal.  Like maybe 2 points higher than normal.  Do you ever have abnormal liver counts or anything else and if so what might be going on.  I take Azathioprine, two of them at  night and 2 Asacol pills three times a day.  Also use Rowasa enema at night.  My liver count has been higher before.  I am not in a flare right now and feel pretty darn good.  She is going to make me take more blood test to see maybe what could be the cause of it.  Never had that done before.  I figure because I am taking a pill that supresses the immune system and also can cause liver problems that she would like to check further.  Now I have something else to worry about.

 Reply posted for carolgeb59.

They grow wild in our backyard but since there's always a chance of pesticides, etc, you can get them from your grocer. Sometimes they carry them. If not, the internet has a great supply. But if you can't find them,  raw asparagus, honey and garlic are also prebiotics. I can get you a full list when I get it all together. I don't take pharm meds for my Crohn's anymore. I use alternative methods. They work better than the crap doctors try to stuff down your throat. Food has healing powers. We just need to find out what foods work and then unlock their healing potential.  Let me know if you find the greens.

 Reply posted for sgcrohnie.

I hope you did ok after the splurge! Maybe it is not the salad you have the problem with, but the stuff you are putting on it. A lot of us cannot eat nuts for example or the salad dressing or tomatoes (unless you take out the seeds and skin). Play around with it. I cannot digest lettuce of any kind if in a flare, but can eat regular lettuce when ok as long as I watch what I put on it. I can add egg and some cheese, things like that to spruce it up and still enjoy it. Good luck.

 Reply posted for sgcrohnie.

Wow I can eat salads just not nuts. etc. Right now it's salads and rice and nana's for me. I always say i don't live to eat, I live to eat. Hope tht u don't get to terrible a flare from your splurge.

 Reply posted for IndeaSkye35.

Where do you get dandelion greens?

 Reply posted for sgcrohnie.

Wow, we are opposite. I eat salads every day. While I really don't have a trigger food, anything greasy upsets my stomach. I do stay away from processed meats like hot dogs. Ew. So far, a little raw fish every now and again is perfectly fine. I am sorry to hear that salad is a trigger food.  But you describing what you put on your salad makes me want one. Have you tried spinach salad instead of lettuce?  Or is it raw leafy greens in general?  You could try raw dandelion greens. They are a prebiotic and can improve GI health and calcium absorption. With IBD, we need to do everything to try and absorb the maximum amount. Prebiotics and probiotics work great if you eat them every day. Or you could take a supplement so you can enjoy your salads more often.  Iron and Vitamin C are a powerful combo when taken together. The C helps your body pull in more iron.  So a steak and a dandelion salad with an orange/honey vinaigrette would be good.  Honey is also a prebiotic.
I've had Crohn's for almost 15 years so I've experimented with tons of food combos and supplements and I've researched until I have gotten computer headaches.
Hope this info helps in some way.