The topic is about whether it's safe to eat cooked zucchini skin if you have an ostomy, specifically a colostomy. The person is planning to make oven-baked zucchini strips with Parmesan, salt, and pepper, and is curious if they should remove the skin. Here are some helpful insights and advice:
1. Start with a small portion of zucchini skin to see how your body reacts. If you tolerate it well, you can gradually increase the amount.
2. The way you cook zucchini can make a difference. Baking in foil, steaming, sautéing, stir-frying, or deep-frying can soften the skin, making it less likely to cause any blockage.
3. Chewing thoroughly is important. Make sure to chew the zucchini skin until it's mushy to help with digestion.
4. People with a colostomy generally tolerate most foods, including zucchini skin. Those with an ileostomy have also reported success if the zucchini is well-cooked and well-chewed.
5. Everyone is different, so what works for one person might not work for another. It's important to experiment and find what suits you best.
6. As your stoma and bowel heal over time, you may find that your tolerance for different foods improves. Newly created ostomies might be more sensitive initially.
7. Zucchini can provide helpful roughage for many with a colostomy, which can prevent issues like "pancaking." However, if you're prone to blockages, it's wise to avoid large amounts of insoluble fiber. Oatmeal is a safer option for soluble fiber.
8. Some people choose to lightly peel or shave the zucchini skin to reduce fiber content while maintaining the vegetable's structure.
9. Many people with colostomies, ileostomies, and urostomies have reported eating zucchini skin, both raw and cooked, without any problems.
See full discusison