Re: diet - Response to Toni

[Guest guest]

Hi Toni,

I was waiting to see if anyone more experienced with

diets for pwcf responded, but since I saw nothing

yet, I thought I'd reply with my limited experience.

I asked our nutritionist about the dairy theory that

it produces more mucus and was told that there is

no conclusive evidence that it does in fact cause

people to produce more mucus. She also said that

dairy was one of the best sources of calcium, a

mineral that all people with cf benefit from,

especially those that are susceptible to developing

cf related arteriosclerosis.

That said, my dh and I did try eliminating dairy

from our diets at one point because I was trying

out the Marilu Henner diet (neither of us have cf).

I noticed no difference in my mucus production

(it didn't get any better or any worse) whereas my

dh thought he breathed easier at night. I don't

know if that was a placebo effect or the time of

year we tried the diet or if there is something

to dairy and mucus for some people and not for

others.

I do know that whole milk, heavy cream and full

fat cheeses are really high in calories and is

an easy way for pwcf to get those calories

without eating huge amounts. Calorie and nutrient

dense foods are what we aim for.

As for macrobiotic diets, I am not sure what the

prevailing opinion is about these. There seems to

be some debate about the benefits. I have read

some accounts that people have lost weight on

macrobiotic diets which is not good for people who

already have a hard time putting on weight. I have

also heard that some people swear by a macrobiotic

diet in managing their cf symptoms. If you try it,

pay close attention to your child's weight. If it

goes down, increase the good fats like olive oil and

flax seed oil.

I have heard really good things about the Omega Diet,

which is high in the fatty acids people with cf need.

There is always a debate about which foods are good

for you and which should be avoided - even for

normally healthy people. It seems like no one can

agree - just check out all the crazy diet books on

the market. They all have vastly differing points of

view. I'm sure the same can be said for the cf diet.

I got a book called Prescription for Nurtritional

Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and F. Balch,

MD, and in the section for cystic fibrosis, it does

recommend avoiding animal fats and dairy, saying they

are difficult to digest and do promote the production

of mucus. That is in direct contradiction to what my

nutritionist says at our cf center.

All we can really do is try various diets (within

reason - no crazy stuff) and observe how it seems

to affect those we love. Stop what doesn't work

and stick with what does. This disease takes many

forms, and we are all unique. Some of us are more

sensitive to certain foods than others and they

may affect our immune system. So, read, become

informed and try a variety of healthy foods. It

won't hurt to stop dairy for a short while just to

see if it has any effect - just make sure you increase

other food sources with calcium and vitamin D, like

dark green vegetables (broccoli and kale), canned

salmon and calcium-enriched orange juice.

Good luck!

C

Mommy to Mick and Alli, 3 yo twins wcf

--- brinktat wrote:

> I have an aunt whose first degree was in nutrition.

> She sent me this

> today. Does anyone have a response. I will talk to

> Abby's

> nutritionist, but there are a lot of experienced and

> well educated

> individuals on this site and I always appreciate any

> information you

> have. Thanks. Toni, mom to Abby 14mo. wcf

>

> hey,

> I was reading the CF toddler diet on the CFF site

> the other day and

> they

> recommend a lot of hi fat dairy. I understand that

> CF kids need more

> calories, but given that dairy is mucus forming, it

> surprised me that

> they

> recommend dairy to kids who have too much mucus to

> begin with. Then I

> started thinking about macrobiotic diets, and tried

> to see if there

> was

> anything written on whether that would be good for

> CF kids. but i

> didn't

> find anything. Is this an issue that's ever come

> up?

>

>

>