Walking through the supermarket this week I was struck by what a statement fall makes in the world of food! There was spice everywhere, and the most wonderful offerings of pumpkin everything. The produce is a rich and seductive hue, featuring dark eggplant and deep greens. Nuts and grains are abundant, and even the sight of scary Jack-o-Lanterns feels perfect as the crisp air returns.

All of us know that we need to be mindful of what we eat, but Ostomates need to be even more so. We are encouraged to keep our weight stable, neither losing nor gaining noticeable amounts; we are encouraged to vary our diet so we get adequate amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates. In fact, we are truly “like everyone else: but we have the added demands of staying healthy, and here are a few things to remember:

Hydration is most important, regardless of the season. However, when it is not hot or cold, but temperate and pleasant, we may not realize we must drink our required amount to keep all systems in our body hydrated.

We must chew, chew and chew! If there is anything I have learned about food-caused obstructions, it is that chewing is the key! Almost any food is acceptable to most, with some of us knowing what is a trigger. But overwhelmingly, it is about helping food flow easily through the stoma that will be most helpful.

Variation on our diet is also helpful, since feeling denied has a tendency to make us feel as if we are victims in some way. We are totally in charge of making healthy choices, and I encourage you to practice those healthy choices for 80 % of your diet. Dessert and fun food such as pizza, etc. are all acceptable, as long as there is balance in your diet.

Lastly, please keep up on your immunizations! Flu, pneumonia, Shingles are all terrible drains on anyone’s health, but add in our dehydration issues and the threshold for poor health is lowered. Recently I was reminded that my ileostomy lowers my threshold considerably, and a temperature of 101 is closer to 103 in anyone without one.

Stay well and let me know if you have anything to add to this conversation…

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