CROHN’S DISEASE, WHAT IS IT?•Knowledge about Crohns Disease is the key when it comes to taking the necessary steps to improving ones health.•THE FOLLOWING INFO IS

THE FIRST STEP IN A JOURNEY OF SELF-

IMPROVEMENT, PROVIDING; THE SYMPTOMS, AND THE BATTLE FOR PROPER DIET

AND NUTRITION IN COMBATING CROHN'S.

SO, WHAT IS IT? In 1932 three doctors published a paper describing

the features of what is known today as Crohn’s Disease (CD), a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), or commonly recognized as the digestive tract.

•There is no limitation or discrimination of what exact area of the GI tract that the CD focuses on; any area from the mouth to the anus can be claimed victim to this devastating disease.•However, the majority of diagnosed cases of Crohn's Disease are focused in the small intestine and or the colon.

Chron’s Disease is part of a larger group of illnesses, which are labelled as IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

Chron’s Disease

IBD

Colitis

Diet IBD Diet for Crohn's Disease and Colitis Drink lots of fluid (8 - 10 servings daily) to keep body

hydrated and prevent constipation Your doctor or your registered dietitian may recommend a

daily multivitamin-mineral supplement to replace lost nutrients

Eat a high fiber diet when IBD is under control. Click here for a list of high fiber foods. Some patients find cooking and steaming the vegetables more tolerable than eating them raw

During a flare up, however, limit high fiber foods and follow a low fiber diet or even a low residue diet to give the bowel a rest and minimize symptoms. Click here for a list of low fiber foods.

Avoid lactose-containing foods such as dairy if you are lactose intolerance. Otherwise, you may use lactase enzymes and lactase pretreated foods. For details, please read Lactose Intolerance Management

It is very important to continue nourishing your body even during a flare-up. Try small frequent meals. Eating a high protein diet with lean meats, fish and eggs, may help relieve symptoms of IBD. Your registered dietitian may recommend pre-digested nutritional drinks (elemental diet) to give your bowel a rest and replenish lost nutrients so that your body can repair itself

Limit caffeine, alcohol and sorbitol (a type of sweetener) as these may exacerbate IBD symptoms. Click here for a list of food products containing sorbitol

Limit 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

Reduce fat intake if part of the intestines has been surgically removed. High fat foods usually cause diarrhea and gas for this group of patients

If the ileum (part of the small intestines) has been resected, a Vitamin B12 injection may be required

Some studies found that fish oil and flax seed oil may be helpful in managing IBD. Some also suggested the role of prebiotics such as psyllium in the healing process. Furthermore, probiotics (live culture) may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the intestines.

Diagnosis

Due to the similarity of Crohn's and Colitis the diagnosis is difficult. Approximately ten percent of colitis cases are determined to be what is called indeterminate colitis due to the fact that neither CD nor Ulcerative Colitis can be diagnosed with exact accuracy in these cases.

The common bond that holds these two diseases is that they both are targeted from abnormal immune system response.With a sufferer of CD their immune system wrongfully declares war on healthy bacteria, food, and other materials located in the intestine, confusing healthy matter for foreign unhealthy invading matter.The body's response is to send backup support, which is in the form of white blood cells into the lining of the intestine, which results in chronic inflammation. IBD SYMPTOMS ARE THEN EXPERIENCED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE CELLS PRODUCE HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT PERSISTENTLY LEADS TO BOWEL INJURY AND ULCERATIONS.