Coping With Crohn's Disease - Video

An inspirational video about coping with Crohn's Disease:

Crohns Disease Diet May Help Relieve Symptoms

by Patsy Hamilton

A Chrons disease diet plan may vary from individual to individual and may need to be changed, depending on whether symptoms are present or in remission. By following an individualized Crohn diet, disease help or relief of symptoms may be achieved.

A complete Crohns disease diet plan is important, but may need to be altered when pain and symptoms are present. At all times, but especially when diarrhea is present, proper hydration is important, so individuals should consume at least eight 8 ounce glasses of plain water per day. Purified or bottled drinking water is best, because some studies suggest that symptoms could be aggravated by chlorine or other chemicals in tap water.

When symptoms are absent adequate amounts of dietary fiber should be included in a Crohn diet, disease help is achieved by reducing the likelihood of constipation which can increase inflammation and may bring on symptoms. During flare-ups dietary fiber should be reduced. Milk and dairy products cause flare-ups in those who are lactose intolerant and in some other people. Research in London indicates that Crohns may be caused by a bacteria sometimes present in milk, even after pasteurization. If avoiding milk is necessary or desirable, adequate amounts of calcium must be obtained from other sources. Most seafood and fish are good alternative sources of calcium and contain essential omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, twice a week is recommended by many nutritional experts for good health.

During periods when pain and other symptoms are present, eating small meals several times is often recommended for Crohn diet disease help. A high protein low carb diet is sometimes recommended as a Crohns disease diet, because this regimen has been shown to relieve symptoms in some individuals. Choosing lean sources of protein is important, because fats have been shown to increase diarrhea in some people. Nutritionists sometimes recommend pre-digested nutritional drinks or an "elemental diet" to replace lost nutrients and give the bowel a rest.

Certain foods and products are known to aggravate and increase symptoms and should be avoided. Foods containing sorbitol (an artificial sweetener found in many sugar free products) should be avoided by those people who have an inflammatory bowel disease. Caffeine and alcohol can increase diarrhea and have no nutritional value. Gas producing foods, such as vegetables in the cabbage family, dried peas, lentils (beans), onions, chives, peppers and carbonated drinks can all aggravate symptoms. Over the counter medications that may cause flare-ups include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as motrin, and ibuprofen.

Most doctors and dieticians recommend a daily multi-vitamin that includes iron to supplement a complete Crohn diet, disease help is achieved by avoiding inadequate nutrition and anemia. Supplementation with aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides (AMP) may also be helpful for the Crohns disease diet. AMP is a natural anti-inflammatory and has been proven to subdue pain and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. To learn more about AMP or for general information about Crohns and other digestive problems, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.


About the Author

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and currently writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Read more at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

Alternative Crohn's Disease Therapies And Cam

by Tom Nelson

Diet is not the only way to reverse, cure, and control symptoms of Crohn's disease. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is another method that many patients are finding effective in controlling this ailment. CAMs are practices, systems and products that are not considered part of conventional medicine, but rather are used in conjunction with conventional Crohn's disease treatments to help ease the system.

One such therapy useful in treating and said by many to cure Crohn's is probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms, usually good bacteria that help rebuild a person's immune system. These good bacteria can be types of organisms, yeast or algae, and are available in different types of food supplements. Another CAM treatment that can be used is acupuncture. The practitioner would concentrate on the areas that are afflicted and use the needles in the appropriate positions along the body. Other types of Crohn's disease treatment include: behavioral therapy; hypnosis; meditation; relaxation therapy; and biofeedback. The success of a CAM in helping the symptoms also depends on how much a patient believes in the therapy.

A type of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease therapies continue to be explored in case studies and research labs in hope to rid this chronic disorder of the digestive tract that can affect everything from the mouth to the anus.

The majority of patients with Crohns disease have irritation of the intestines, a break down of the microflora, usually focused in the smaller of the two. It can affect the colon, although any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be harmed. Doctor's have not yet been able to determine the exact cause of Crohn's disease and are less open minded to alternative therapies. Some things that may cause it can include a weakened immune systems, genetics, and environmental hazards. There is a possibility that the inflammatory bowel disease is part of the body's defense mechanism.

There are a number of symptoms that are associated with Crohn's disease, ranging from mild to severe. They include diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping with fever, bleeding from the rectum, and appetite and weight loss. Fatigue is also a common symptom and other bodily organs can be affected. Children who develop Crohns may have delayed growth and sexual development problems. Fistulas and fissures in the body can also develop as a result from Crohns disease. There are five types of Crohns disease and depending on which part of the body is affected and the severity of the symptoms will determine how severe a case a patient may have. Two often the more severe the case of Crohn's the more patients seek out alternative Crohn's Disease therapies when conventional medicine doesn't work.

Because of the nature of Crohn's disease, a proper diet and alternative medicine therapies may go a long way to controlling the symptoms and severity of each individual patients case and even provide a cure. Diets high in protein (especially from oily fish such as salmon and tuna) help fight the protein deficiency caused by diarrhea. Complex carbohydrates found in vegetables and fruit provide needed fiber. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine. Omega-3 fatty acids and food rich in potassium should also be consumed as part of the diet.

If a patient is considering use a complementary and alternative medicine to treat their symptoms of Crohns disease, they need to discuss each option in detail with their primary care physician. With a firm game plan in hand, may sufferers of this debilitating condition can find relief from alternative therapies.

About the Author

Read an amazing story about an alternative Crohn's Disease therapy, Cure for Crohns Disease, sickness to health. Tom Nelson believes in taking a more holistic approach to treating and curing chronic diseases.

Crohn's Diet: How To Formulate A Plan

by Sandra Kim Leong

Crohns Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, which can cause you embarrassing symptoms. You suffer from abdominal pain. Stool consistency may be solid or watery, and sometimes bloody. In severe cases, an individual with this condition may have more than 20 bowel movements a day and may need to awaken at night to defecate. All in all, your symptoms can affect the quality of your life. However, you can reduce the symptoms with a suitable Crohns diet.

Mostly, a diet for Crohns disease means that you have to stop eating particular types of foods. These foods are food allergies that you may not be aware that you have sensitivities to. Hence, you would need to carefully make a record of the foods you eat and your symptoms. You may see a correlation between symptoms and specific foods. Some of the foods that people are commonly allergic to include wheat, milk, eggs, food additives, food colorings, peanuts, and more. By determining whether you have a food allergy or not, you may be able to help decrease the incidence of your Crohns symptoms.

There are also some other foods that can be irritating to your digestive system. It is best that you reduce the consumption of these foods for your Crohns diet. Common foods on this list include caffeine, fatty foods, chocolate, sugar, and alcohol. Refined and processed foods may also be a trigger for your symptoms. The less that you consume such foods, the better it is.

You are then left with a list of foods that are considered safe. While you may think that not many make it to list, you can find different ways of cooking them. There are several recipe books for all kinds of special diets, including for Crohns diet. You can enjoy delicious meals even though you have Crohns disease.

Adding more fiber to your Crohns diet will help. Fiber can help bulk up your diet, which can help reduce the consistency of watery stools. Fiber rich foods are found in vegetables, fruits, oat bran and psyllium husks. Add fiber in each of your three meals on a daily basis can do much for help.

You can find that once you start making diet changes, the severity and frequency of your Crohns disease symptoms will reduce. For a crohns diet, it may sound tedious that you need to maintain a food diary at the start but it can be really worth your trouble. Your food diary can then help you know how to plan your meals for home cooking. And even if you need to eat out on a social basis, you know what is safe on the menu to order.

About the Author:

Sandra Kim Leong writes on bowel cleansing to prevent digestive disorders and upsets. Get free tips from her newsletter at http://www.detox-cleansing-diet.comdiet.com.

What is the best Crohns Disease Diet?

Unfortunately there is no single effective Crohn's disease diet which will reduce symptoms for all patients. A Chrons disease diet may vary from individual to individual and may need to be changed, depending on symptoms or complications.

Most dietitians with experience of Crohn's disease simply recommend a healthy balanced diet free of any foods that aggravate the symptoms. Generally, foods that make Crohn's disease symptoms worse are processed products, gas-forming fruits and vegetables, alcohol, lactose, caffeine and foods high in fat. These foods are usually excluded from the diet.

Choosing a proper diet for Crohn's disease is important. The identification of trigger foods and the introduction of foods that help ease symptoms, while restricting those that cause the symptoms to worsen is a slow but essential part of overcoming Chron's disease.

Crohn's Disease patients should avoid the following foods and liquids:

• Dairy foods
• High fiber foods (especially during flare-ups)
• Hot spicy foods
• Alcohol & caffeine
• Foods containing saturated fats, found in meat and dairy products. However some fats such as in fish oil may actually be helpful.
• Products containing corn or gluten, those made from wheat, oats, barley, or triticale
• Foods, such as soy, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes
• Gas-producing foods such as cabbage family vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts), dried peas and lentils, onions and chives, peppers and carbonated drinks
• Simple sugars
• Dried fruits or high-sugar fruits, such as grapes, watermelon, or pineapple

Beneficial Foods:

• Fluids to keep the body hydrated and prevent constipation
• A high protein diet with lean meats

Crohns Disease Diet

The role of diet and nutrition is very important in Crohn's disease and should be considered as an important add-on treatment to medical therapies. Although there is no evidence to show that the condition is caused by nutritional factors, the food you eat can affect the symptoms of Crohn's Disease.

Dietary guidelines for Crohn's disease vary depending on the severity of the disease, location of the inflammation, and symptoms. As crohns disease is characterized by inflammation along the digestive tract it is often difficult for the body to absorb enough of the essential nutrients that it needs to function well. In addition, people with Crohn's disease often experience a decrease in appetite. Poor nutrition may also make it more difficult to recover from flares of the disease.

During an acute phase of crohns disease, bulky foods, milk and milk products may increase diarrhea and cramping. Generally, the patient is advised to eat a well-balanced diet, with adequate protein and calories. Diet may have to be restricted based on symptoms or complications.

Because Crohn's Disease affects the area of the intestines where a lot of the absorption of nutrients takes place, taking supplements is usually advised. The greatest amount of digestion takes place just beyond the stomach, in what we consider to be the workhorse of the digestive system, the small intestine. An inflamed intestine as in the case with Crohn's Disease is not able to fully absorb and digest the nutrients from food. As a result Crohn's Disease sufferers are often unable to properly digest and absorb carbohydrates, fats, proteins as well as many vitamins and minerals. Over 40 percent of individuals diagnosed with Crohns Disease showed that they can eat enough food but can't absorb food adequately, especially carbohydrates. A high quality nutritional supplement can provide the nutrients the body needs for proper health.

General dietary guidelines for Crohn's disease:

• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Drink plenty of fluids to offset losses from diarrhea
• Consult with your doctor if you need to take vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements
• Limit high-fiber foods (whole grains, raw vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts)
• Avoid specific foods that seem to make symptoms worse
  
• Limit dairy products

Crohns Disease Diet – Recipes

Just because you suffer from Crohn's Disease doesn't mean all your food has to be tasteless.

Here are some recipes you can try:

Banana Bread made with soy milk

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of Fleichman's Unsalted Margarine
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease a loaf pan.
2. Beat together margarine and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas until smooth.
3. Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
4. Alternately stir flour mixture and milk into egg mixture until dry ingredients are just moistened.
5. Spoon batter into prepared pan, filling two-thirds full. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve warm.

BBQ Cups

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury Hungry Jack biscuits (although most any prepackaged biscuit would work)
• chicken cut into small pieces or ground hamburger meat
• BBQ sauce
• lactose-free cheese

Directions:

1. Cook chicken in skillet until done. It should be white and tender, but not overdone or cook hamburger meat in skillet until done.
2. Mix chicken or meat with BBQ sauce. Set aside.
3. Spray muffin pan with nonstick spray. Take biscuits and push the centers down to create a cup shaped dough piece. Put each dough cup into muffin pan. Fill empty muffin slots with water. Bake in oven for about 5minutes at 400 degrees.
4. After 5 minutes, take biscuits from the oven and stuff BBQ chicken/meat pieces into each one. Cover top of cup with piece of cheese.
5. Put back in oven for another three minutes or so until the cheese melts and the biscuits finish baking.