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Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune condition and is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In Crohn’s disease, the immune system mistakenly starts attacking the digestive system, causinginflammation. It is a life-long condition and persistent inflammation leads to several digestive system complications.
Common complications of Crohn’s disease may include narrowing of the digestive tract and life-threatening bleeding. The inflammation usually occurs in the small and large intestines, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus.
According to the reports, more thanhalf a million people in America have Crohn’s disease. Reports also indicate that the prevalence of Crohn’s disease is significantly increasing over time.
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, and you can only manage the symptoms with treatment options, including medications, diet, and lifestyle changes.
The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease vary depending on the part of the digestive system affected. The severity of symptoms also varies — sometimes, you may experience little to no symptoms.
Some common signs and symptoms that you may experience during active inflammation include:
Crohn’s disease can also lead to inflammation in the joints, eyes, liver, and skin. In such conditions, you will experience other symptoms combined with those related to the digestive system.
Researchers have been studying the possible causes of Crohn’s disease for decades but haven’t found the exact cause. There are several suggested mechanisms to explain how Crohn’s disease occurs, which include:
Theexplanation for this association is that environmental factors cause changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota and disturb the immune system.
You don’t experience the symptoms of Crohn’s disease with a similar severity all the time. Sometimes, you may experience flare-ups or severity in symptoms, while other times, you may feel relief from the symptoms.
Factors that can worsen the Crohn’s disease ortrigger flare-ups include:
Crohn’s disease is a life-long condition, and there is no complete cure for it. Symptom management and improving quality of life are the goals of treatment options for Crohn’s disease.
Some common treatments for Crohn’s disease include:
Depending on the severity of inflammation, your doctor will prescribe you medications. Ideally, medicine will not only help reduce the inflammation but also provide relief from the symptoms for longer periods.
Medications for Crohn’s disease include:
These medications can result in side effects such as headache, diarrhea,nausea, and vomiting.
The side effects of using corticosteroids in Crohn’s disease can includeacne, hypertension, weight gain, and osteoporosis.
Biologics may also cause side effects such as headache, fever, itching, and nausea.
Medications don’t work for every individual with Crohn’s disease, and some may require surgery for the management of symptoms. Surgery also becomes essential when Crohn’s disease results in complications such as narrowing of the digestive tract or continuous bleeding.
Some common surgical procedures for Crohn’s disease include:
According to thereports, around 60% of people get some type of surgery for the management of Crohn’s disease and its complications.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you may have noticed that certain foods trigger the symptoms and may result in flare-ups. Avoiding these foods can help manage Crohn’s disease symptoms and improve quality of life. Similarly, foods that can relieve diarrhea and have anti-inflammatory properties can benefit you in Crohn’s disease.
Studies show the protective effects of physical activity and exercise on the development of Crohn’s disease.Research also highlights the effectiveness of physical activity in reducing the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Foods that work for one patient with Crohn’s disease may not work for another. It’s because we all vary in our genetic makeup and environmental factors. However, certain food choices seem to work for most patients. These include:
Proteins from fish meat aid inhealing and recovery from inflammation.Studies also reveal that omega-3 fatty acids present in fatty fish have anti-inflammatory properties. But not all fish have the same fat content and certain fats can be hard to process for the inflamed digestive system.
So, choose fish with the ideal combinations of omega-3s and protein. Here are some options:
Eggs are rich in lean protein, which can help recover body tissues. They also contain plenty ofvitamins and minerals with anti-inflammatory properties.
A low-residue diet effectively reduces the pressure on the digestive tract. It results in fewer bowel movements and even, sometimes, bowel rest.Studies show that bowel rest can be helpful in the management of Crohn’s disease.
Some low-residue foods include:
Fruits and vegetables are sources ofnatural antioxidants and can be effective against inflammation. They are also a good source of fiber, which canhelp in treating diarrhea, a common symptom of Crohn’s disease.
Some antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are:
Fiber is an extremely healthy food ingredient to add to your diet as it has plenty of health benefits.Research shows that fiber is effective in weight management,heart diseases, reducing inflammation, and promoting digestive health. However, studies on the effect of fiber on Crohn’s disease are limited.
Asystematic review of the relationship between macronutrient intake and the risk of Crohn’s disease shows that fiber can reduce the risk of developing Crohn’s disease. Anotherstudy shows a similar result, which is that fiber intake is associated with a lower risk of Crohn’s disease. Plenty of other studies indicate the protective role of fiber against the incidence of Crohn’s disease.
The debate now is whether fiber is effective when the disease is developed, and studies show mixed results on that.
A recentstudy shows that consuming a fiber-rich diet helps relieve the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Another shows how fiberreduces the risk of flare-ups in patients with Crohn’s disease.
However, insoluble fiber may worsen the symptoms by causing blockage when there is severe inflammation and narrowing of the intestines.
So, consume fiber foods in moderation and choose sources of soluble fiber for Crohn’s disease.
A good idea would be to evaluate the impact of fiber and other foods with the help of a healthcare professional.
Foods that trigger flare-ups in Crohn’s disease vary for every individual. If you find that a certain food is causing the severity of symptoms and resulting in discomfort, limit or avoid consuming that food.
Here are some foods that most people find as a trigger for Crohn’s disease symptoms:
While a great nutritional source, whole grains may not help you with Crohn’s disease. Instead, the high insoluble fiber content in whole grains may result in additional load over the inflamed digestive tract. This load over the digestive system may aggravate the flare-ups in Crohn’s disease.
Fried foods are high in trans fat - theunhealthy type of fat.Studies reveal that trans fats can induce intestinal inflammation, which can worsen the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. They are also hard to process for the digestive system, especially when affected by Crohn’s disease.
If you are lactose intolerant and have Crohn’s disease, dairy products such as milk, cheese, and cream will worsen the condition. Even if you are not lactose intolerant, the fat content in dairy products canworsen the symptoms.
Replace full-fat dairy products with low-fat products to get the required nutrients.
Soft drinks can causeabdominal bloating, increasing the discomfort of Crohn’s disease. They also contain plenty ofprocessed sugar. According tostudies, sugar in soft drinks alters gut microbiota and can cause inflammation.
Spicy foods can irritate the digestive system and aggravate the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Astudy shows that spicy foods are associated with increasing the severity of symptoms in IBD patients with Crohn’s disease.
There are limited studies on the direct influence of powdered superfoods on Crohn’s disease management. However, powdered superfoods are packed with properties that can help you fight the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Studies show that powdered superfoods made from fruits and vegetables contain plenty of vitamins and minerals and are effective in tissue repair. They are also rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which can help in Crohn’s disease.
If you want to benefit from the healthy properties of superfoods,Organic Green Powder is an excellent choice to include in your diet. Consult a nutritionist to finalize a personalizedmeal plan for your condition and see how powdered superfoods can help you.
The main cause of Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune response, in which the immune system attacks the digestive tract and causes inflammation. What triggers the autoimmune response is not known yet.
Can you live a long life with Crohn’s disease?Yes, you can live a long life with Crohn’s disease, and studies don’t show any association of Crohn’s disease with life expectancy. You must opt for treatment options, diet, and lifestyle changes for a better quality of life.