Inflammatory Bowel
Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a group of disorders associated with inflammation of the GI tract including Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and associated Celiac Disease. Symptoms include severe stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and bloody stool. The foods you eat come in direct contact with your GI tract either causing hurt or healing. Nutrition is the greatest asset to reducing symptoms and preventing damage. First steps to take will be to eliminate gluten, work on identifying food intolerances, and address nutrient deficiencies due to malabsorption.
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Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease: an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract causing inflammation, abdominal pain, and even ulcers. It involves patches of inflammation that can develop anywhere along the digestive tract including the small & large intestine. Because the intestines are where nutrients are absorbed in your body, damage to this area can often lead to nutritional deficiencies. Symptoms generally include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, joint pain, mouth sores, and skin issues.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis: an inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by inflammation and sores in the colon. Ulcerative Colitis includes localized inflammation of the digestive tract including your colon and rectum. The colon is responsible for removing water, nutrients, and electrolytes from your digested foods; therefore if you suffer from problems in this area it is important to address dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Symptoms of UC generally include bloody stools, abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, fatigue, joint pain, and mouth sores.
Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease: With Celiac Disease an immune reaction is triggered by the consumption of gluten causing inflammation and deterioration of the lining of the small intestine. Damage to the tiny villi that line your small intestine impair its ability to absorb nutrients from your food causing nutritional deficiencies. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and malnutrition. With this autoimmune disease dietary change is essential, all foods containing gluten must be avoided since that is the protein responsible for the immune reaction.
What is gluten? A protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Think of products made of flour: traditionally made cookies, cakes, bread, crackers, pasta, tortillas, and even in gravies, sauces, and breading i.e. ultra processed foods. But thankfully the answer is simple, when you stop eating gluten your small intestine begins to heal, soon your inflammation will go down, pain will decrease, and you will be able to absorb nutrients properly again.