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oranges, citrus......do they cause anyone problems?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/21/2008 10:59 AM (GMT -6)
I just read two posts about people having problem w/oranges.

I'm curious b/c last week and the week before I was eating mineola's (cross between grapefruit and and orange) sometimes called tangelo's they are super delicious and I can only get them in winter.  

Anyhoo, I wonder if those may have caused my increased bm's?  I am now back to 1 to 2 a day but last week got back up to 6 a day and not really sure what it was from.

I know coffee gives me increased bm's, and that is acidic.  Maybe the acidity in the oranges does something to me too?

Just thinking out loud...........

Posted 2/21/2008 11:07 AM (GMT -6)
i have been told that anything acidic; oranges, tomatoes, things like that may cause problems. That they irritate the stomach and colon. So it does seem possible that you are experienceing problems due to mineola's. Esspecially if your body has not been use to the higher acid in food before now. Maybe try eating less? I am not a big orange person so I havn't tryed, but i had tomatoe soup and ended up running to the bathroom for the first time in a while..... so no more tomatoe soup for me : )
i hope that helps.
Posted 2/21/2008 11:08 AM (GMT -6)
I like oranges but they don't love me. I can tolerate the low acid orange juice. Tomatos are killers on my IBS too. It could totally be the acidity.
Posted 2/21/2008 11:38 AM (GMT -6)
I limit o.j. to a 4-oz. serving daily. Never eat grapefruit, rarely have other citrus whole, except for clementines. Mango agrees with me, as well as most non-citrus fruits-- in moderation. The package inserts that used to come with Dipentum warned against over-consumption of Vit C while taking 5-ASA meds, so that encouraged me to limit citrus & it has worked for me, plus I take Centrum Silver multivitamin daily. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 2/21/2008 11:40 AM (GMT -6)
I haven't drank OJ in years and it used to be my favorite beverage :(
Posted 2/21/2008 11:43 AM (GMT -6)
Same here, I can't eat oranges but I don't have any trouble with low acid orange juice in moderation. Same goes for lemons - I love lemonade but it doesn't like me!
Posted 2/21/2008 11:47 AM (GMT -6)
I haven't noticed any problems with citrus. I eat oranges regularly and drink orange juice about every other day.

Old Hat - I've never heard that we're supposed to limit Vit. C while using 5-ASAs. Do you know why the Dipentum said that? Is that just with Dipentum or all 5-ASAs? Thanks.
Posted 2/21/2008 11:49 AM (GMT -6)
I drink OJ but water it down (mostly because it is too sweet) and eat lots of italian food with tomato sauce. It only seems to aggrivate my acid reflux. Ooh and I hate lemons so i don't know about lemonade or anything.
Posted 2/21/2008 12:10 PM (GMT -6)
fruits, especially citrus will increase and loosen bms even in people who don't have UC...it's the fructose, fibre and acidity.

Think of it as a good cleanout..

Citrus is also high in histamines...so something to consider for those who may be sensitive to them. They also can increase photosensitivity...and when mixed with meds that can cause this as well, the likelihood for it to happen will increase exponentially.

I've not heard of the vitamin C limiation and 5ASA meds...dipentum maybe more specific...possibly it changes the ph level in the ileum/colon where the outer coating of the med is dissolved?

quincy
Posted 2/21/2008 12:26 PM (GMT -6)
thanks everyone, I am bringing my mineola's to work tomorrow with a big 'take one' sign on it. Darn and I look forward to them every year!

I think I am ok w/tomatoes and marinara sauce.
Posted 2/21/2008 12:31 PM (GMT -6)
Also, I read somewhere that those of us on immunosuppressants (imruran/azathioprine, 6 MP, cyclosporine) need to avoid grapefuit and grapefruit juice as flavonoids in the grapefruit juice inhibit intestinal enzymes and lead to a large increase in the systemic amount of cyclosporine (that could be toxic).

Posted 2/21/2008 3:09 PM (GMT -6)
I LOVE Oranges, but in a flare they are the equivalent to drinking battery acid sad
Posted 2/21/2008 7:40 PM (GMT -6)
oranges and tomatoes are a no-no during a flare but when not flaring, I am good to go to eat them both! Guess it just shows how different we all are with the UC
Posted 2/21/2008 8:21 PM (GMT -6)

I've been trying to get my PH closer to alkaline, I know I'm much too acid and that causes inflammation. Lemons while acidic perform in your system as alkaline so I have been adding it to my water every day. I called my pharmacy to ask about OJ with my Asacol and he said it's OK but DEFINATELY NOT grapefruit. Glad I called, I'm bad about not reading the sheets on my scripts. Anyway, the two best things to improve PH are red grapes and watermelon, according to the PH diets. I love them both so I've added them to my diet along with the lemons. Also used to drink lots of cranberry and that's terribly acidic so cut it out and have pom now.

Diagnosed with LS UC 1984, suffered for 16 years, high doses Pred and eased off to Azulfidine; remission for 9 years, just flared recently. Asacol 3, 3x day; 20 ml. Pred.. Heading into remission again with addition of: prayer, deep breathing, walks on the beach and: 4-1000 mg.garlic twice daily; 2 zyflamend twice daily, SuperFoods RX multi-whole food vita twice daily, SuperFoods RX Omega 3; 3 Asacol 3 x day with 3 Vitamin Shoppe Ultimate 10 Probiotic; Metamucil morning and night - no dairy, hardly any coffee (Just added Hevla decaf), lots of water and green tea. Was using L-Glutamine but read that it can aggravate? Recently added: 1 scoop Greensplus Chia seeds and the vinegar and honey regimen.

Posted 2/21/2008 8:46 PM (GMT -6)
I have never heard not to eat grapefruit with Asacol. I always read the information sheets that I get with all my prescriptions. I will have to ask my doctor and pharmacist about that. Did he tell you why you shouldn't eat grapefruit, BTC?
Posted 2/21/2008 9:30 PM (GMT -6)
Me too, I have trouble eating Oranges... I can eat just about anything else, but not Oranges. Last time I ate an orange, I had a stomach ache for 3 days and some D. No bleeding or anything like that, but it definately made me feel yucky....
Posted 2/22/2008 2:33 PM (GMT -6)
No, I didn't ask why - I know my sister takes some med that she can't have grapefruit with so I just took the advice.

Posted 2/22/2008 3:59 PM (GMT -6)
I don't feel that oranges, mangoes, or tomatoes bother me if eaten in small amounts. Lemons seem to be harder on me. I won't touch a grapefruit, they cause problems with lots of meds and last time years ago I had one, it was very strong. Not worth the risk. I drink a glass of orange juice every day.
Posted 2/22/2008 4:20 PM (GMT -6)
I drank a bottle of my favourite drink today(Finches sparkling orange) and i swear my whole colon is on fire,
Posted 2/22/2008 8:13 PM (GMT -6)
Beth,

Also watch citric acid as an additive to foods.  My husband stopped citrus fruits first,saw some improvement for a while.  Then we cut out citric acid containing foods.  You have to read every label as it is in the most unusual foods sometimes.  good luck.

no citric

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