Coconut Controls Colitis

How much dried coconut do you ingest & what do you mix it with for the different maladies?

I keep dried, unsweetened coconut on hand and eat some if and when I feel there is a need. It not only stops the diarrhea but growling and other complaints my intestines make. I like it better because I try to stay away from sugar. I have had trouble with nausea for about 4 months now and had forgotten about the coconut so I am going to try using it to see if I can get rid of this nausea. Thanks for the reminder. Try the coconut, even if you are skeptical. It can't hurt you. I do not mix it with anything and it is kinda dry so be careful and chew it good.

Yesterday one of my elderly gardening clients came to the door very ill. He had gone to the ER for severe diarrhea and vomiting. The Rx meds had not stopped the diarrhea. I went to the store and got him some coconut macaroons. He called me 4 hours later and said they worked great. They stopped the diarrhea in its tracks! ~

Greg, try a teaspoon of dessicated coconut (not the long shreds) unsweetened available only at a health food store, in peanut butter, almond butter, yogurt, pudding or whatever you can think of. I like it in pancakes and I don't even have IBS or colitis. Raw, unrefined coconut oil comes in a jar and is solid unless it's very hot in/outside and it is very healing to the body. Only the refined stuff they use in deep frying and baking is bad for the arteries. Some supermarkets carry it in their health section and whole foods markets carry it.

The archway cookies have way too much junk and hydrogenated fats in them for my taste. Some people have blogged at this site and said they can eat 2 cookies but at three they get slightly constipated. You have to start slowly and observe. Jordin Rubin wrote the book "Patient heal Thyself", it's all about how he went from dying of colitis and 89 lbs to a strapping young entrepreneur who founded the company "Garden of Life" in West Palm Beach. Probiotics play a big role in this illness and no junk food. I hope you'll get the book, he used to mail it out free. Get better soon.

Yap, I agree, coconut macaroons are wonderful. I keep them in the freezer.

Is this the coconut juice or the coconut flesh itself?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: MOST PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED USING DRIED, FLAKED COCONUT (SWEETENED OR NOT). BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT DISQUALIFIES THE LIQUID PART OF THE COCONUT AND SUSPECT IT WORKS TOO.

I couldn't find macaroons at first so I tried the flaked sweetened coconut in a bag found in the baking section. Less than a 1/4 cup in the morning and it helped right away. I have collogenous colitis, take asacol daily and have struggled with diarrhea, bloating, gas, etc for over 3 years. Not to mention the flareups. After reading the other comments today, I will get the unsweetened coconut.

Fortunately, I like it so it is easy to eat just a small portion daily. I can tell my life is going to improve greatly. Thank you for your website. I am a fan.

I'm a health information professional and the mother of a previously healthy nonsmoking, non-substance-abusing, non-soda-pop drinking, non-red meat-eating, and primarily lacto-ovo vegetarian teenager. Despite all these good habits my son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 13. 15-20% of the 1 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease are under 18 and some of them are infants and toddlers. Our family has learned to take statements about dietary prevention or "cures" for digestive diseases with a considerable amount of salt.

Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis are thought to be autoimmune diseases, and like the other 80-odd autoimmune diseases out there, they are subject to an incredible amount of individual variation; some people go into remission lasting many years with no interventions at all; others, like my son, have great difficulty staying in remission.

Jordan Rubin's website indicates that he has Crohn's Disease, not ulcerative colitis. These two make up the principal inflammatory bowel diseases, and are treated with many of the same medications, but have different clinical courses. Neither has anything to do with IBS. The term "colitis" used by itself is confusing. IBS used to be "spasmodic colitis" years ago.

I can't tell if the people recommending coconut are talking about IBS or ulcerative colitis. It is true that many people living with inflammatory bowel disease find that following particular diets and avoiding particular foods makes a big difference in their symptoms. Be very wary, however, of anybody who says that any food is a cure or that these diseases are caused by food. This has been extensively researched for decades, and probiotics are being extensively researched now. There is no scientific evidence that diet is implicated in causing inflammatory bowel disease and it's too early to tell about probiotics helping.

Visit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America website (www.ccfa.org) to find more information, support and resources, including a discussion board and a help line. I can also recommend an excellent and very helpful book, "Colitiscope", written by a man living with ulcerative colitis. Check out the Amazon reviews or read about it at http://www.colitiscope.net/.

I thought the following information interesting to pass along as a piece to the medicinal coconut puzzle. I found the following coconut information while researching other related issues and I remembered the coconut questions and comments in People's Pharmacy. It appears no one answered the question "why" coconut works - this is always the first question I ask.

Coconut oil contains 48-50% LAURIC ACID, a fat (the only other good source of LAURIC ACID is mother's milk). Lauric acid is broken down by saliva or skin bacteria to make MONOLAURIN. MONOLAURIN is an amazing anti-microbial that acts like a secret agent.

Viruses and bacteria cleverly wrap themselves in fatty acids (monolaurin is a fatty acid) so they can get in the body without being destroyed by our bodies chemical environment. When monolaurin is present, the microbes just see it as another fat and use it to wrap themselves. But, secret agent monolaurin rapidly dissolves, disintegrating the microbes protective coating, exposing it to the bodies chemical environment, where it is then destroyed.

From what I have read, the coconut that contains LAURIC ACID, which the body uses to make the MONOLAURIN that kills bacteria/viruses, is the reason it is effective treatment for diarrhea and other intestinal issues. Everything I read referred to coconut oil, but I am assuming the same applies to coconut flakes etc, just to a lesser extent because it's not as concentrated as the coconut oil. Much more fascinating health information about coconuts on the net or look for books by Bruce Fife on the issue. I don't have any serious intestinal issues, but after stumbling on coconut facts and researching them myself, I am definitely going to incorporate coconut oil in my diet for immune support!! Hope this helps!

I have had Ulcerative Colitis for years and still have not been able to figure out what triggers it. I am usually able to control it through diet and exercise (I believe), and I eat a high protein diet with lots of vegetables and low sugar. But, I've been having flare ups lately and I have no idea why. The same friend that recommended this site to me also recommended Kefir to combat my troubled stomach. I will definitely try the coconut too. I'll probably start with coconut oil.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2007. I have been craving coconut lately an did not know why. This info was so cool. I also have ibs. Does anyone know what to do for the severe bloating? I eat very healthy but am bloated everyday to the point of my clothes not fitting and I am a petite girl. Please let me know. I already take gas pills, they aren't much help.

I plan on introducing the 1 teaspoon of dried unsweetened coconut into my diet to hopefully eliminate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis that I have had for the last 10 years. I was wondering if anyone has been able to stop their medications after taking the coconut and how long was it before they could? Is the 1 teaspoon daily enough coconut? I heard only part of the "call in" on the radio show around a month ago when someone had called in about this.
I appreciate any feedback. CSS

Was diagnosed with collogenous collitis two months ago. (It's rare; is similar, but different than Crohn's, IBS, etc.) Took one week each of Entocort, then Azacol with no results. Then three weeks on prednizone which almost killed me! Switched Dr., who has prescribed Pepto Bismol 2 tablets, 4/day.

Said it would take 6-8 weeks. It's been 3 weeks, and it's getting worse. Over 50 episodes of diarrhea in last 24 hours. Have been told to stay on VERY LOW FIBER diet - is coconut low fiber??? Any other info. on "Collogenous Collitis"?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: COLLAGENOUS COLITIS IS AN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL CONDITION. PEOPLE ARE USUALLY TOLD TO AVOID FOODS WITH CAFFEINE OR MILK SUGAR (LACTOSE) AND SOMETIMES ADVISED TO FOLLOW A LOW FAT DIET. COCONUT IS FAIRLY HIGH IN FAT. ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT CHOLESTYRAMINE, A CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG THAT SEEMS TO EASE THE DIARRHEA OF COLLAGENOUS COLITIS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITION AT THE CROHN'S AND COLITIS FOUNDATION: www.ccfa.org

I have heard about the macaroon cookie remedy, and if it works for you I'm happy. Many crohns sufferers have not heard of the research about the crohns yeast connection as well as many other so called autoimmune diseases. Research has linked crohns and other inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as MS, Lupus, some forms of arthritis and even cancer to the yeast fungus, and antibiotic use.

In the research it was found that these autoimmune diseases responded favorably to an anti yeast treatment and an anti yeast diet. Being a former crohns/ulcerative colitis sufferer I found relief in other forms icluding a crohns diet. Get the book by Doug Kaufman and Dr. David Holland called "The Fungus Link" You can also find information on Dr. Mercolas Website about the crohns/yeast connection

I listen to YOUR radio program on NPR. I live in south Florida and WAS half asleep one morning when heard some one praise the effects of macaroon cookies as an aid for stopping IBS. Trouble was I had a tough time in locating the cookies anywhere in my area however there were many sources online. I scouted all of the bakeries and candy shops and struck out.

My last resort in the search was Publix Supermarket. I inquired as to where if any, were macaroons located and lo-and behold two tables with the most beautiful freshly made macaroons, in large clear plastic containers. I had three of the cookies on my way home and so far so good....

as a last resort

IBS I'm back, I may have been a little premature in my praise for macaroons working wonders. The cookies I purchased were a great "stopper" however I obtained the nutritionals from the Publix supermarket and found that the cookies were loaded with sugar and fat. Since I have diabetes and should eat little fat, as well as sugar, it was bye bye macaroons.

I did start using shredded coconut, and mixed with oatmeal for breakfast it works (one or two tablespoons). My next approach will be Coconut Oil gel-caps which can be taken during the day when away from home... Hope this helps all you fellow suffers.

I was diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis 5 years ago. Personally I have been able to control it with a combination of things: 2 Asacol 3 times a day, 2 Fiber Con tablets once a day, & consuming 30-40 grams of fiber a day. The last is the toughest part. I use several Fiber One products for the most part.

I also try to stay away from "white" foods (bread, rice) and fried, greasy foods. But, if I can cram in enough fiber on any given day, I am ok with french fries, chips, etc. occasionally. It's tricky business! Good luck.