Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder and as such can respond well to dietary, nutritional and herbal intervention. The main aim of any intervention is to decrease the inflammation.
Generally the control of Crohns disease is a life-long commitment to restore the balance of the digestive system and to recognise the triggers of symptoms. Medical intervention prescribes the use of steroids to break the cycle of inflammation in the small bowel, however this does not always address the other contributing factors.
I have included a list of suggestions that may aid in improving your symptoms, however I would strongly suggest that you seek the services of a Naturopath or holistic general practitioner who can assess your case, its history and possible triggers, diet and specifics to develop a treatment protocol that is specialised and tailored to your needs.
Many of the best herbs and nutrients are available in combination in practitioner-only supplements and herbal formulas. Accessing the services of a professional will enable you to be prescribed these products.
DIETThere is no one diet plan which has been proven to reduce the symptoms and inflammation of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohns disease, however there are many foods which when avoided can help to reduce the discomfort (pain, gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea).
The following are some general dietary recommendations in Crohns disease:
- Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet as this tends to slow down bowel transit time and therefore increase the stasis and inflammation in the lower bowel
- Drink at least 2-3 litres of water per day to keep the bowels regular.
- Avoid sugar, processed and refined foods
- Eat small, frequent meals rather than heavy meals and avoid overeating
- Reduce gas producing foods (lentils, beans, legumes, cabbage, raw vegetables, onions, broccoli)
- Avoid abrasive foods which can aggravate the inflammation present in the bowel. These foods are wheat and wholegrain products, unsoaked grains, nuts and seeds
- Keep a symptom diary to help determine which foods cause an exacerbation of symptoms.
- Avoiding foods which trigger a bout of inflammation can help you to better manage the condition and give the intestines time to heal
- Consume foods which are gentle to the digestive tract and provide mucilaginous effects such as papaya and bananas.
- During flare ups avoid inflammatory foods such as tea, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, dairy, wheat and sugar
- Avoid wheat based foods such as breads, cereals and pasta. This is due to wheat being extremely abrasive to the bowels and a highly inflammatory grain.
- Consume only soaked grains as the soaking process releases the mucopolysaccharides from the foods to help calm and soothe the inflamed area of the bowel
- Begin each morning with a small warm glass of water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed in it.
- Lemon has a cleansing action on the bowels and provides antioxidants to the digestive tract to help reduce inflammation
- Fish oil contains Eicosapentaenoic Acid EPA a potent anti-inflammatory which may help to reduce the inflammation of the mucus membranes
- Have some slippery elm powder before meals as this is a gentle demulcent to help soothe the bowel, reduce inflammation and ensure proper assimilation of nutrients.
The following are a list of foods which most suffers of Crohns disease find exacerbate the condition:
- Alcohol, carbonated beverages
- Coffee, tea, chocolate
- Corn husks
- Dairy products (lactose intolerance)
- Fatty and deep fried foods
- High fibre foods and gas producing foods
- Raw vegetables and fruits
Fish Oils:
Studies suggest that Fish oils can reduce the rate of relapse of Crohn's disease sufferers. Fish oils are used for a variety of reasons for their anti-inflammatory effect. To obtain a good therapeutic-effect dosage is important. I recommend the use of a high quality liquid fish oil like the one manufactured by Ethical Nutrients as it allows you to obtain the equivalent of 9 capsules in just a teaspoon of liquid. This higher dosage ensures that the best possible anti-inflammatory effect is obtained.
Inner Health/Probiotics/Prebiotics:
Using a beneficial bacteria supplement like Inner Health is essential in any bowel disorder. For chronic and severe conditions like Crohn's disease a higher dosage than one a day may be necessary. It is also a good idea to combine the use of a probiotic with a prebiotic. Prebiotics are usually fibres and plant sugars that promote the growth of the bacteria in the large bowel. The improvement in bacteria function generally moves to better overall digestive health. Slippery elm is a commonly prescribed prebiotic. Not only does it act as a vehicle of movement to move the bacteria into the large bowel it also soothes and heals the gastric and bowel mucosa. This fibre has been used in Naturopathy for a variety of bowel disorders that include diarrhoea, constipation, Irritable Bowel, Diverticulitis, Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis.
Nutrients that repair:
Incorporating nutrients that aid in tissue repair and digestive repair is also important. The use of Glutamine an amino acid, is common to aid in the healing of the digestive system as well as immune function. Other immune enhancing and antioxidant nutrients may also aid in the repair of the digestive system these include Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin A.
B12:
People with Crohn’s disease are more prone to deficiencies of B12 as the absorption of B12 is affected by the inflammation of the disease. Using a sublingual (under the tongue) tablet of B12 may help to prevent the deficiency. B12 is important for nervous system function, healthy blood cell formation and oxygen transportation.
Turmeric:
Turmeric contains a compound known as Curcumin which has had a lot of interest lately for its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties.
Boswellia:
A resinous herb that is also used in treating the inflammation of Crohn's disease. Preliminary studies on Boswellia extract demonstrated its ability to both prevent and relieve inflammation. Analgesic activity was also found. Unlike conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents Boswellia does not cause ulceration.
Digestive enzymes:
The use of digestive enzymes will not only aid the break down and absorption of nutrients from foods but may also aid in the resolution of inflammation in the body. The use of Bromelain (found in pineapples) helps to decrease inflammation in injury. Choose a digestive enzyme that is plant-based and covers a range of different enzymes. Eating foods like paw paw and pineapple will also aid digestion.
Diet:
Initially there is cause to exclude trigger foods and foods that are hard to digest from the diet. Many cases of Crohns disease have a history of months to years of non-specific symptoms that are similar to Dysbiosis or Irritable Bowels syndrome. Excluding foods that are triggers for these conditions such as processed dairy, high sugar foods, wheat (in certain individuals), gluten (when inflammation and symptoms are severe) and foods that contain artificial colours, preservatives and flavours may aid the initial stages of healing and decreasing the inflammation. Discussing this with your Naturopath will aid in identifying triggers.
Stress and emotions:
Our digestive systems and their overall health is reliant on our nervous systems being relaxed and able to carry out the functions of normal digestion. Many sufferers will find that they experience flare ups of their symptoms when they are under pressure at work, home or under some sort of emotional stress. Learning to understand your own responses to situations and adjusting behaviour if possible may aid in the healing of the digestive system. Whilst not all experiences can be avoided our outlook and the way we deal with them can be modified. For example in times of great stress it is quite common for people to neglect their diet and eat foods that are fast and generally not healthy for them. During times of stress it is important that we supply our bodies with nutrient rich foods that are easy to digest so that it has the resources to continue with daily functions.