Crohn's Disease Nutrition
Being a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease whose common symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, weight loss, fever bleeding and abdominal pain. It is a disease which is more prevalent in the developed world with approximately some 2 million people feared to have it.
Since Crohn’s disease has tendency to reduce the appetite of the victims, as well as weight loss and also reduced rate of the body to absorb mineral salt and vitamins, it is quite important for every victim to maintain a healthy diet and proper nutrition. Managing the disease well means you will have to restrict yourself to certain specific foods. You need to see your nutritionist to find the best diet that can help you cope with this condition.
Because this condition has no cure, it heavily relies on immunosuppressive drugs, steroids, antibiotics and proper nutrition for treatment. You do not have a choice but to adhere to a strict nutritional guide that will help mitigate the effects of this disease.
Good health for everyone means eating right in terms of the quantity and quality of food we take in everyday. But for people with Crohn’s disease, it is a must that they eat right since this condition is known to deplete the body of important nutrients. Intakes of enough protein, calories, vitamins (A, D, C, B-12) is mandatory. In addition, folic acid and mineral salts such as calcium and zinc are also required for one to stay healthy.
You need to especially include the following foods in your diet: fruits sand vegetables, dairy, cereals and grains and meat or other protein sources. You must also observe how certain foods affect your body for you to come up with a proper diet. Try to eliminate those foods that exacerbate your symptoms.
The tips below will help you stay healthy if adhered to.
-Partake of three meals a day aside from three smaller meals everyday
-Make sure you have a source of protein at every meal. This could be meat, chicken, egg or tofu.
-Do include dairy products which not only provide protein but also calories and vitamins
-Remember also to eat foods with extra fats as advised by your doctor. Fat-rich foods include nuts, peanut butter, and margarine and canola oil. Fats provide more calories (twice) than even carbohydrates or proteins.
-Also remember to take plenty of vitamins in every meal.
Showing posts with label Crohn's Disease Diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crohn's Disease Diet. Show all posts
Monday, June 23, 2014
Crohn?s Disease Information
Crohn?s Disease Information
Anyone suffering with Crohn?s Disease knows well the misery that this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will cause to the digestive tract. The disease starts out with just a twinge in the lower bowels and gradually progresses until the symptoms range from abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, malnutrition, blood in the stool, ulcers and severe weight loss. Once this disease is fully active, symptoms progress from the simply annoying to the severe and dangerous. Patients begin to develope fevers, chronic fatigue, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, and in children, even delayed growth and or sexual developement.
Researchers?have yet to locate the exact cause of Crohn?s disease. For years many doctors?suspected that diet and stress were the culprits but now these factors are known to only aggravate the condition. Currently the two possible causes being investigated are that the immune system it having a difficult time fighting off a virus or bacterium because the system is abnormal in some way.
There are a number of risk factors for Crohn?s Disease. While you can contract it at any age the most likely ages are between 20 and 30. Caucasians have a much higher chance to contract Crohn?s than any ethnic group other than Ashkenazi Jews and if you have a close family member with it there is a 1 in 5 chance that you will develope the disease also. Smokers are more likely to need surgery after developing Crohn?s than are non-smokers and finally, if you live in an urban area or in an industrialized country, you are more likely to contract Crohn?s, or if you live in a northern climate. Many doctors recommend careful use of both Isotretinion (Accutane), and any non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibrprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, which, while not shown to cause Crohn?s can cause similar symptoms, or aggravate existing conditions.
Research has yet to locate a cure for Crohn?s Disease, but there are therapies and medications that can assist in reducing the symptoms to tolerable levels, or even bring a lasting remission. The primary end goal of any treatment is to reduce the symptoms, such as the painful inflammation. Two common treatments are the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and Immune system supressors. While both of these treatments work on different areas, both are used to reduce the main problem which is the inflammation. Other treatments include the use of anti-biotics to attack abcesses that may develope and laxatives, pain relievers, iron suppliments and special diets.
Anyone suffering with Crohn?s Disease knows well the misery that this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will cause to the digestive tract. The disease starts out with just a twinge in the lower bowels and gradually progresses until the symptoms range from abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, malnutrition, blood in the stool, ulcers and severe weight loss. Once this disease is fully active, symptoms progress from the simply annoying to the severe and dangerous. Patients begin to develope fevers, chronic fatigue, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, and in children, even delayed growth and or sexual developement.
Researchers?have yet to locate the exact cause of Crohn?s disease. For years many doctors?suspected that diet and stress were the culprits but now these factors are known to only aggravate the condition. Currently the two possible causes being investigated are that the immune system it having a difficult time fighting off a virus or bacterium because the system is abnormal in some way.
There are a number of risk factors for Crohn?s Disease. While you can contract it at any age the most likely ages are between 20 and 30. Caucasians have a much higher chance to contract Crohn?s than any ethnic group other than Ashkenazi Jews and if you have a close family member with it there is a 1 in 5 chance that you will develope the disease also. Smokers are more likely to need surgery after developing Crohn?s than are non-smokers and finally, if you live in an urban area or in an industrialized country, you are more likely to contract Crohn?s, or if you live in a northern climate. Many doctors recommend careful use of both Isotretinion (Accutane), and any non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibrprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, which, while not shown to cause Crohn?s can cause similar symptoms, or aggravate existing conditions.
Research has yet to locate a cure for Crohn?s Disease, but there are therapies and medications that can assist in reducing the symptoms to tolerable levels, or even bring a lasting remission. The primary end goal of any treatment is to reduce the symptoms, such as the painful inflammation. Two common treatments are the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and Immune system supressors. While both of these treatments work on different areas, both are used to reduce the main problem which is the inflammation. Other treatments include the use of anti-biotics to attack abcesses that may develope and laxatives, pain relievers, iron suppliments and special diets.
Crohn's Disease Diet
Crohn's Disease Diet
Crohn's disease patients often experience several problems related to nutrition due to the nature of the disease. The patient is more prawn to suffer bouts of diarrhea and fevers which are usually accompanied by loss of appetite. As a result, the patient is in serious need of a diet that can adequately counter the calorie loses occasioned by the symptoms of the disease.
Judging from the above paragraph, a crohn's disease patient should have a diet that enriches him/her in terms of minerals, proteins and vitamins so that the patient can be able to prevent nutritional deficiencies. The foods taken should also minimize stress on the patient's digestive tract since such patients frequently surfer indigestion. The emphasis here is to get the patient to consume foods in small portions frequently so that the digestive system does not get overloaded unnecessarily. Most people take approximately three main meals per day, a patient suffering from crohn's disease should however try to increase the number of times they take meals to about six or more but at the same time reduce the amounts consumed per session.
With the knowledge about the factors to consider when preparing a crohn's disease patient's diet lets now have a look at the most effective diets that can enhance the patient's health. As an introduction, it is quite important to take lots of fluids in your diet if you are a victim of this disease as most patients experience diarrhea and fever which lead to water loss from the body. The fluids should help in reducing your body's dehydration as well as in cleaning your digestive system. Water or fluids play a major role in cleansing a person's body in general
High fiber foods should be taken as they helping breaking down of other foods. It is nonetheless very important to ensure that you only take the high fiber foods during times when the disease is under control. In times of flare ups however, try to steer clear of fiber foods and citrus juices as they are likely to create high inflammation to the intestines.
Some crohn's disease patients can be quite intolerant to lactose and related stuff. It is important to know your status regarding this matter. If you are confirmed to experience problems with these categories of foods please stay clear of milk and other dairy products. If in any case situations force you to take dairy products, then it is important to ensure that they are lactase pretreated. Lastly it is very important to steer clear of caffeine, alcohol and narcotics as they will only worsen your situation.
Crohn's disease patients often experience several problems related to nutrition due to the nature of the disease. The patient is more prawn to suffer bouts of diarrhea and fevers which are usually accompanied by loss of appetite. As a result, the patient is in serious need of a diet that can adequately counter the calorie loses occasioned by the symptoms of the disease.
Judging from the above paragraph, a crohn's disease patient should have a diet that enriches him/her in terms of minerals, proteins and vitamins so that the patient can be able to prevent nutritional deficiencies. The foods taken should also minimize stress on the patient's digestive tract since such patients frequently surfer indigestion. The emphasis here is to get the patient to consume foods in small portions frequently so that the digestive system does not get overloaded unnecessarily. Most people take approximately three main meals per day, a patient suffering from crohn's disease should however try to increase the number of times they take meals to about six or more but at the same time reduce the amounts consumed per session.
With the knowledge about the factors to consider when preparing a crohn's disease patient's diet lets now have a look at the most effective diets that can enhance the patient's health. As an introduction, it is quite important to take lots of fluids in your diet if you are a victim of this disease as most patients experience diarrhea and fever which lead to water loss from the body. The fluids should help in reducing your body's dehydration as well as in cleaning your digestive system. Water or fluids play a major role in cleansing a person's body in general
High fiber foods should be taken as they helping breaking down of other foods. It is nonetheless very important to ensure that you only take the high fiber foods during times when the disease is under control. In times of flare ups however, try to steer clear of fiber foods and citrus juices as they are likely to create high inflammation to the intestines.
Some crohn's disease patients can be quite intolerant to lactose and related stuff. It is important to know your status regarding this matter. If you are confirmed to experience problems with these categories of foods please stay clear of milk and other dairy products. If in any case situations force you to take dairy products, then it is important to ensure that they are lactase pretreated. Lastly it is very important to steer clear of caffeine, alcohol and narcotics as they will only worsen your situation.
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