Good and Bad Foods for Stomach Ulcers

Not all foods are good for the stomach. When the stomach is suffering from ulcers, it is but wise to know what are the good and bad foods for stomach ulcers.

Ulcers are sores in the lining of the digestive tract. Types of ulcers are identified where they occur. Doudenal ulcers are ulcers in the duodenum. Ulcers in the stomach are known as gastric ulcers and ulcers in the esophagus are called esophageal ulcers.

What Causes Stomach Ulcers

There are various causes for stomach ulcers to occur but all are linked to food and proper hygiene. Before, most doctors believed that ulcers are mainly caused by stress and by eating too much acidic foods. But that all changed after a laboratory experiment discovered that a bacteria called H. pylori causes the infection in the digestive tract forming sores. Acidic foods and gastric juices can only aggravate the sores by burning the digestive tract walls.

Ulcers in the stomach are also caused by some anti-inflammatory medicines. These medications are what doctors usually give to patients with arthritis. These can be corrosive to the stomach lining, so if taken for a prolonged period of time, can increase the risk for ulcers. Naproxen, ibuprofen and aspirin are some of the known anti-inflammatory medicines that may trigger stomach ulcers.

How to Treat Ulcers

As mentioned earlier, stomach ulcers are mainly caused by an infection. So the primary recommendation that your doctor will give you will be to treat the sores by killing the bacteria first. This medication will last for 2 to 3 weeks or until there's no more trace of the bacteria in your stool. However, this treatment may not always be effective for people suffering from other diseases like diabetes and arthritis.

So to avoid any complication, why not treat stomach ulcers naturally?

The Bad Foods

Obviously, you wouldn't want to experience its symptoms. You don't want to feel the pain and see blood in your stool. Hence, you must avoid acidic foods that may trigger these symptoms. Alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and high intake of sodium (or salt) can all contribute to this ailment. The first three increase the production of acids in the stomach while sodium can irritate its walls.

Sodium is not only contained in salt but most medicines and vitamin supplements contain sodium at a level unnecessary for our bodies. If you are taking some other medications, you must drink lots of fluids, especially pure water to help eliminate excessive sodium fast.

The Good Foods for Stomach Ulcers

Adding oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and halibut in your diet is very effective in treating ulcers naturally. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in high levels in oily fish, and studies show that Omega-3 increases the production of prostaglandins, a compound known to protect the walls of the digestive tract.

Antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables also help lower the risk of developing ulcers by protecting the lining of the stomach. They also help relieve symptoms when ulcers are already present. Dieticians recommend bananas, kiwi, apricots, raw cabbage juice, carrots and bell peppers.

Other good foods for stomach ulcers are almonds, whole grains, wheatgerm, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. These foods are good sources of amino acids, the building block of proteins which are proven to help repair damaged portions of the stomach lining.

IBD Diet for People With Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis, is an inflammation of the intestines in the digestive system. These ailments cause the intestines to form ulcers and swellings, and scars. The most widespread symptoms of IBD are diarrhea, acute abdominal pain, cramping, fever and weariness. Diet and nutrition may play a vital role in IBD management to avoid becoming malnourished and severe weight loss.

Recommended IBD Diet for People with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis:

• Drinking eight (8) to ten (10) glasses to prevent dehydration and constipation.
• Your doctor or your trusted dietitian may propose a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement to replenish lost nutrients in the body whilst experiencing IBD disease.
• Have a food intake that is high in fiber when IBD is still manageable like grain products, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Cooking and steaming the vegetables before eating is more tolerable than eating them raw for most patients.
• During a disease flare, lower intake of high fiber foods and pursue a low fiber diet or even a low residue diet may give the bowel a rest and reduce symptoms.
• Refrain away from lactose-containing foods like as dairy products if you are lactose intolerance, or else, you may have lactase enzymes and lactase pretreated foods.
• It is essential to maintain nourishing your body even at some point of a disease flare. You may have small meals taken frequently in a day. Eating a diet that is high in protein such as lean meats, fish and eggs, may aid you alleviate symptoms of IBD. Your registered dietitian may give you pre-digested nutritional drinks (an elemental diet) to give your bowel a form of relaxation and recover lost nutrients to allow the body to recuperate.
• Reduce coffee, alcohol and sorbitol (a kind of sweetener usually used in making ice creams) as these may aggravate IBD symptoms.
• Reduce intake of foods that has high gas contents like those vegetables that belongs to the cabbage family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts). Additionally, dried peas and lentils, onions, chives, and peppers, and even carbonated drinks should also be taken with limitations.
• Lower fat intake if a portion of the intestines has been removed by virtue of Crohn's surgery. High fat foods typically cause diarrhea and gas build up on the body.
• If the ileum in the small intestines has been resected, an injection of Vitamin B12 injection may be needed.
• According to some studies fish and flax seed oil may aid you manage IBD. Some also cites the part of prebiotics like psyllium in the treatment of the ailment. Alas, probiotics may also be useful in the recovery of the intestines from inflammation and damage.

Survivor Reveals How to Reduce Ulcerative Colitis Pain

If there is one aspect of a colitis attack that every sufferer regards with some apprehension it is the build up and at times the ferocity of the resultant abdominal pain. Even though other symptoms such as diarrhea which results in frequent trips to the toilet coupled with the appearance of blood, tiredness and a loss of appetite have to be endured, it is the associated abdominal pain that is the number one symptom to be concerned about.

Abdominal pain endured during a colitis attack is the result of inflammation of the large colon. The area that is affected becomes inflamed and will excrete both blood and bowel mucus. This in turn alters the frequency and consistency of the feces with the result being that the sufferer has to go to the toilet much more frequently and experience pain when emptying the bowel.

The abdominal pain is created in two different ways. Firstly, when matter within the colon is in contact with the inflammation this antagonizes it. At its very worst, the effect can be compared to using a food grater against an open wound. Secondly, the body's movement can create this pain as the affected part of the colon will move and force contact with more of the colon.

An easy and effective method of reducing the pain is to try and eliminate all unnecessary body movement. This will entail accepting that the daily routines of life are put on hold. When experiencing a full relapse, there is little point in trying to do anything other than rest and eliminate movement as the consequences will be to inflame the symptoms unnecessarily. Laying down flat in bed is one of the most effective methods of reducing the pain. Movement is eliminated and as the colon is therefore still, its walls will not be coming into contact with each other. This position will also help reduce the movement of the bloodied diarrhea within the colon so as to reduce its likelihood of coming into contact with the inflammation, thus less pain.

When symptoms are at their worst, a sufferer maybe faced with the prospect of every time that they move they will have to get to the toilet. This indicates severe inflammation and will result in pain when emptying the bowels. A doctor may prescribe steroid foam to be administered directly onto the inflamed area in order to ensure the medication is concentrated where it is required most.

Whilst trying to eradicate movement is particularly important in the quest to reduce abdominal pain, the colitis sufferer should also attempt to be proactive in not unerringly planting the seeds for avoidable instances of the pain to occur. As an example, the role of diet is also very important when experiencing a relapse and through effective colitis management techniques, the sufferer can attempt to mitigate the chances of increasing ulcerative colitis pain unnecessarily.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting (D&V) - Some Common Causative Agents and Their Management (Part 2)

Diarrhoea and Vomiting (D&V) - Some Common Causative Agents and Their Management (Part 2)

Travellers Diarrhoea (TD):

This is classically defined as passage of three or more unformed stools within a 24 hour period during or shortly after a period of foreign travel.

It is frequently encountered by individuals travelling to developing countries although no country is exempt in our modern day 'jet age'.

Aetiology:

Most common cause of TD is the ingestion of faecally contaminated food or water.

A number of viral, parasitic and bacterial organisms can cause TD. Among the common enteroviruses which have been implicated include: Coxsackie, Polio and echoviruses while the common parasites include Entamoeba histolytica (Amoebiasis/Amoebic dysentery) and Giardia lamblia (Giardiasis) but the majority of cases are associated with bacteria, particularly the pathogen enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC).

Here is a list of the most common causes of TD:

(1)  Enterotoxigenic E.coli

(2)  Shigellosis spp. (bacillary dysentery)

(3)  Aeromonas spp.

(4)  Salmonella spp.(Already discussed in Part 1)

(5)  Non-Cholera Vibrio spp.

(6)  Camphylobacter  jejuni

(7)  Pleisonias Shigelloides

Pathogenesis:

The bacterial organisms produce either a heat-labile or a heat-stable enterotoxin, causing marked secretory diarrhea and vomiting after 1- 2 days incubation.

Treatment:

(a) If diarrhea is associated with severe dehydration, intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement is indicated.

This is of particular importance in the case of diarrhea associated with Vibrio.

(b)Antibiotics: These can be used to limit the duration of symptoms and prophylaxis may help to prevent the disease.

(c) In most cases the illness is usually mild and self-limiting after 3 - 4days. Most important supportive treatment is fluid and electrolyte replacement; either orally (if there is no vomiting) or intravenously if there is.

Campylobacter jejuni:

Aetiology and Pathogenesis:

This infection is basically a zoonosis (a disease of animals that may secondarily be transmitted to man). The organism inhabits the gut of cattle and poultry, the commonest source of infection being chicken or contaminated milk.

There is also an association with pet puppies.

Campylobacter infection is now the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the U.K., even though most of the cases are sporadic.

The incubation period is 2-5days.

Clinical Features & Treatment:

Severe colicky abdominal pain which mimics surgical pathology at times ensues and is followed by nausea, vomiting and quite significant diarrhoea which may become blood stained as the illness progresses.

Majority of Campylobacter infections affect fit, young adults and are self-limiting after 4-7 days.

10-20% will have prolonged symptomatology warranting treatment with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or a macrolide, while another 1% of cases will develop bacteraemia and distant foci of infection.

Non-infectious Diarrhoea:

Among the common causative agents of non-infectious diarrhoea the following should be considered:

-      Drugs:These include purgatives (most common); antibiotics, and digoxin (rare).

-      Others:

Diverticulitis:- This occurs commonly.

Diabetes, thyrotoxicosis (rare)

Spastic colon / Nervous diarrhoea (common)

Malabsorption syndromes - especially following vagotomy (an operation to divide the Vagus nerve around the stomach area)

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Colonic carcinoma - at times manifests with spurious diarrhoea secondary to partial obstruction.

The Thyroid Adrenal Pancreas Connection

The Thyroid-Adrenal-Pancreas Axis

In addition to gastrointestinal and blood sugar disorders, adrenal gland dysfunction is the most commonly seen imbalance in today's society. Adrenal gland imbalances are also one of the major factors that cause thyroid hormone imbalance. Stress from work, relationships, electronics, poor diet choices such as consumption of refined carbohydrates and trans fats, infections, and environmental toxins all contribute to adrenal disorders.

The Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are about the size of a walnut and lie on top of the kidneys. The outer adrenal cortex comprises eighty percent of the gland and produces many hormones including cortisol and DHEA from cholesterol. Ninety percent of the cholesterol in the body is made by the liver and only ten percent comes from the diet. Cholesterol converts into the hormone pregnenolone in the adrenal cortex which then converts to cortisol, the stress hormone, or DHEA, the sex hormone source, immune enhancer and anabolic. Cortisol is our "fight or flight" stress hormone. Cortisol slows down digestion, suppresses immune function and raises blood sugar as a survival mechanism when we are under stress. The problem arises when this becomes chronic and over time, elevated cortisol will tear down your body. Cortisol is secreted on a circadian rhythm with highest production in the morning that slowly tapers off as the day progresses. Sleep is when our bodies repair and rejuvenate but high cortisol during sleep will prevent this from happening.

Hormones Secreted by the Adrenal Glands

DHEA
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor to estrogens, progesterone and testosterone. DHEA is extremely important for immune system function and anabolic (building up) processes in the body. DHEA levels begin to decline after age thirty-five but cortisol can remain elevated during continuing periods of stress. Low DHEA levels are also found in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis and of course, thyroid disorders.

Healthy adrenal glands are required for the conversion of inactive T4 into active T3.
When the adrenals have reached a state of fatigue, they are no longer producing sufficient cortisol or DHEA. This leaves individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases from an inability to compensate for the stresses they encounter on a daily basis. It is very important to treat the adrenal glands before commencing treatment of the thyroid. Increasing thyroid hormone production while the adrenals are in fatigue can overwhelm the adrenals and lead to further exhaustion. I have found that once the adrenal glands are healthy and the other related system/factors associated with thyroid imbalance are optimized, there is no need to treat the thyroid directly.

The inner medulla produces adrenalin and noradrenalin also known as norepinephrine and epinephrine. The cortex is under the control of hormones produced in the brain and the medulla is under the control of the nervous system.

Healthy adrenal glands are vital for women who are peri- and post-menopausal. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing the majority of sex hormones in a menopausal woman once the ovaries stop functioning. If the adrenal glands are fatigued and not ready for menopause, there will be an exaggeration of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, weight gain, sleep problems, bone loss, mood swings, depression, anxiety, loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. Healthy adrenals ensure an easy transition into menopause and beyond. A vast majority of the women I see in practice approach menopause with adrenal fatigue leading to severe menopausal symptoms and hormone dysfunction.

Aldosterone
Aldosterone is produced by the cortex and causes sodium absorption and potassium excretion. Low salt diets and high water intake put a major stress on the adrenal glands to retain as much salt as possible as the blood becomes more diluted from the extra water intake. One of the easiest ways to maintain healthy adrenals is to consume a half- teaspoon of unrefined celtic sea salt every morning with a few glasses of water. It's important to consume half of your bodyweight in ounces of water every day but it must be balanced with salt to remove stress from the adrenal glands.

Cortisol
Cortisol is also produced by the cortex which increases blood sugar when it is low or if the body is under stress. Cortisol will cause glucose production in the liver or it will strip muscle tissue of protein to make glucose. Excess cortisol over long periods of time can increase the risk of diabetes due to prolonged blood sugar elevations.

Adrenaline
Adrenaline produced by the adrenal medulla will also raise blood sugar if there is stress on the body. Adrenaline will also increase fat circulation so that it can be burned as energy. This is not a good scenario for someone who is sitting at a desk and under major stress. Large amounts of fat and sugar floating in the bloodstream should be utilized to run from a saber-toothed tiger which is our built-in survival mechanism. If there is no activity, the excess sugar will be converted into fat and stored mainly around the mid-section, hips and thighs.

The adrenal cortex communicates with the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus reads the amount of circulating hormones and tells the pituitary to make hormones that directly tell the cortex to make hormones. This is called the HPA axis or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

All hormones are secreted on a circadian rhythm over a 24-hour period. Cortisol is especially representative of this rhythm as cortisol production is the highest in the early morning and then slowly tapers off as the day progresses. Cortisol levels are lowest at night so that the body can repair itself to the best of its ability. You lose two-thirds of your stored sugar while sleeping and cortisol production ensures balanced blood sugar during the night. If the adrenals are fatigued, you may have trouble staying asleep as the body will make adrenaline to raise blood sugar due to inadequate cortisol production which is enough to wake you up. If your adrenals are in overdrive with too much cortisol production, then you probably have trouble falling asleep. If you are a slow starter in the morning, your adrenals are probably fatigued and can't make adequate cortisol to raise blood sugar and get you going in the morning.

The adrenals will go through phases of adaptation to stress beginning with elevated cortisol due to the initial stress. In the second stage, the adrenals will begin to use sex hormone precursors to make cortisol and DHEA will drop. The final stage is adrenal exhaustion/fatigue when the adrenals can no longer produce cortisol and DHEA. If you have adrenal gland dysfunction you may have the following symptoms:

Can't fall asleep
Can't stay asleep
Fatigue
Salt or sugar cravings
Allergies
Slow to start in the morning
Headaches
Weakened immune system
Ulcers
Need to eat to relieve fatigue
Irritable before meals
Shaky or lightheaded if meals are missed
Blurred vision
Crave caffeine or cigarettes
Feeling full or bloated
Dizziness
Asthma
Varicose veins
Hemorrhoids

Remember that the hormone aldosterone made in the adrenal cortex regulates blood volume through sodium retention and potassium excretion. If you have the following symptoms you have low aldosterone levels indicating adrenal gland dysfunction:

Craving salt
Fluid retention in the arms and legs
Pupils do not stay constricted when exposed to light
Rough or sandpaper tongue
Excessive urination - up to 15-20 times/day
Excessive sweating even without activity

Your natural physician will order a salivary hormone profile to measure cortisol production at four different times throughout the day. This allows your physician to observe adrenal gland dysfunction during all parts of the day and will dictate the type of treatment you will receive. Symptoms cannot adequately diagnose if the adrenals are in fatigue or if they are hyperfunctioning. This is why testing is so vital to properly assess adrenal gland function. In addition, it gives a baseline to compare to follow-up testing so treatment can be adjusted accordingly.

Blood sugar is intricately related to adrenal gland function and vice versa. Chronically elevated cortisol levels from adrenal stress will cause insulin receptor insensitivity. This basically means that when insulin binds to cell receptors to allow glucose (blood sugar) entry into the cell, the receptors may not respond which leaves sugar floating in the blood stream. Remember that excess sugar will be converted into fat and stored mainly around the abdomen, hips and thighs. This also puts extra stress on the pancreas to make more insulin to deal with the excess blood sugar which increases the risk of diabetes. As discussed earlier, cortisol is very important for blood sugar stability.

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which there is inadequate cortisol to raise blood sugar into the normal range. We usually see adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia together. Hypoglycemics develop symptoms of low blood sugar and need to eat something to normalize blood sugar levels. They may feel shaky, irritable, light-headed, fatigued or may crave sugar because their adrenal glands cannot raise blood sugar into the normal range. Once hypoglycemics rejuvenate their adrenal glands, the symptoms will subside. It's important for hypoglycemics to eat frequently throughout the day and not skip meals. Each meal should be a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fats as a low-carb meal or too many carbs will further throw off blood sugar levels.

You may ask which comes first - adrenal dysfunction or blood sugar dysfunction? It doesn't matter because when one starts to become imbalanced so goes the other. This is also important to understand in treatment because both aspects should be addressed at the same time for optimal results.

So how does all this relate to optimal thyroid function? In the chapter on thyroid hormone physiology, we discussed the enzyme that converts inactive T4 (thyroxine) into active T3 (triiodothyronine). Remember that 93 percent of the hormone produced by the thyroid is inactive T4 until it is activated mainly in the liver by an enzyme. Cortisol directly inhibits this enzyme (5'-deiodinase) which converts inactive T4 into active T3. This in part can lead to low T3 levels. In addition, elevated cortisol will cause thyroid hormone receptor insensitivity meaning that even if T3 levels are adequate, they may not be able to bind normally to receptor sites. Cortisol will also increase the production of reverse T3 which is inactive. Cortisol can also lower the levels of protein that binds to thyroid hormone so it can circulate in a stable structure. Iodine, as you know from a previous chapter, is extremely vital to thyroid health but high levels of cortisol will increase the excretion of iodide from the kidney. And finally, elevated cortisol will inhibit TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) production by disrupting hypothalamic-pituitary feedback leading to suboptimal TSH production in the range of 1.0-1.5. Has your physician adequately assessed your adrenals before treatment? It is very irresponsible for any physician to treat thyroid hormone dysfunction without thoroughly assessing adrenal gland physiology and of course, blood sugar.

Regarding cortisol's effect on thyroid hormones, Werner and Ingbar's The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text, (8th edition), states: "Serum TSH, TBG (thyroid-binding protein), T4 and T3 concentrations are slightly decreased, albeit usually within the respective ranges of normal; serum free T4 values are normal."11

As discussed in our chapter on the liver, impaired detoxification can lead to abnormal thyroid function. Again, the adrenals come into play because elevated cortisol inhibits proper liver detoxification. It is sometimes necessary to support liver detoxification pathways while treating the adrenal glands and thyroid to optimize results and metabolize toxins, excess hormones and thyroid-disrupting chemicals. Signs of impaired liver detoxification include nausea, constipation, bloating, lack of response to treatment, acne, acne during menstrual cycle, medication sensitivity, and pale skin upon pressure.

There is also a powerful Adrenal-Gut connection as well. Elevated cortisol levels slowly eat away at the immune system that lines the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Cortisol also increases inflammation in the GI tract and prevents the cells that line the GI tract from regenerating which increases the risk of ulcers. This leads to increased infections from parasites, yeast, mold, fungi, viruses, and bacteria which further stresses the adrenal glands creating a vicious cycle. Leaky gut is another consequence of chronically elevated cortisol levels which is a condition in which gaps open in the intestinal barrier allowing undigested proteins and toxins to enter the bloodstream uninhibited. This puts a major stress on the body's immune system and can lead to immune dysfunction, adrenal stress, chronic fatigue and thyroid hormone imbalance.

Adrenals that are functioning at a low level tend to exhibit various symptoms and patterns. Adrenal-fatigued people usually have to run on caffeine and sugar throughout the day to keep going. They are dragging out of bed and say, "I need my coffee before I can do anything." This is a sad state because it indicates an extremely unhealthy individual who requires a legal drug just to function. These individuals crave sweets and crash many times throughout the day, especially in the afternoon, and need a "pick me up" such as another cup of coffee or something sweet. This further drives blood sugar and hormone imbalances leading to weight gain, insomnia, fatigue and an underactive thyroid gland. In addition, these people can usually fall asleep without problems but will wake up during the night. This happens because there is inadequate cortisol production to stabilize blood sugar so the adrenals release adrenaline instead which raises blood sugar but is also too stimulatory resulting in waking up and insomnia.

People with adrenal hyperfunctioning usually cannot fall asleep because there is too much cortisol production which has an excitatory effect on the nervous system. There are many possible causes of elevated cortisol that lead to too much cortisol production and eventually adrenal fatigue. The following cause adrenal stress:

1. Anemia - red blood cells cannot deliver oxygen to body tissues


2. Blood sugar imbalances


3. Low cholesterol - statin medications such as Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, etc.


4. Infections


5. Gums


6. Urinary tract


7. Gastrointestinal


8. Mold, yeast or fungus


9. Lyme Disease/Tick-Borne Infections


10. Chronic virus


11. Dehydration - especially in athletes or those who fly frequently (it is important to drink half of bodyweight in ounces of water every day)


12. Poor dietary habits (skipping meals, high intake of simple carbohydrates, etc.)


13. Eating foods you are sensitive/allergic to


14. Leaky gut


15. Liver detoxification issues


16. Essential fatty acid deficiencies


17. Not enough sleep


18. Overexercise


19. Emotional stressors (usually severe)


20. Heavy metals


21. Autoimmune adrenals


22. Chronic use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Prozac, etc.)


23. Chronic pain


24. Environmental toxin exposures - damages mitochondria


25. Surgical menopause


26. Chronic tissue injury or inflammation (autoimmune condition)

It takes a great deal of time and effort to do the proper detective work to find out why someone is ill. The supplements covered here are meant to complement diet and lifestyle changes. In order for a treatment plan to be successful, it is very important that the following guidelines are adhered to without deviation.

Adrenal stimulants will disrupt your treatment plan and consist of the following:

Inadequate sleep
Eating sugar/simple carbohydrates
Caffeine and decaffeinated beverages
Nicotine
Alcohol
Food allergies
Trans fats (hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils)
Artificial sweeteners
Excess exercise

As long as blood sugar levels are out of balance, it will be extremely difficult to restore proper adrenal function. Practice the following guidelines to ensure stable blood sugar levels:

1. Always eat breakfast that includes more protein than carbohydrates


2. Eat every two to three hours


3. Snack on protein and fat such as nuts, eggs and seeds


4. Do not drink juice - this includes ALL juices which are nothing more than plant sugar


5. Consume protein at every meal

Blood sugar imbalances and a condition known as insulin resistance are major factors in optimizing thyroid and adrenal health. Insulin resistance basically means that insulin receptors are no longer able to respond to insulin. Insulin binds to receptors and allows blood sugar to enter cells. With insulin resistance, insulin's effects are negated leaving excess blood sugar. The following symptoms can indicate insulin resistance:

Fatigue
Sugar cravings
Abdominal obesity
High blood pressure
Inability to lose weight
Always feeling hungry
Fatigue after meals
Aches and pains all over
High cholesterol, glucose, and triglycerides
Low HDL ("good" cholesterol)

Remember that impaired liver detoxification can significantly affect optimal thyroid hormone function. Elevated insulin levels will reduce glutathione levels inhibiting the liver's ability to detoxify. This will affect the conversion of inactive T4 into active T3, increase thyroid-disrupting chemicals and may lead to excess estrogen levels which inhibit thyroid hormone function.

Thyroid hormone's main function is to regulate metabolism through the burning of sugar, fat and protein. Insulin resistance prevents adequate sugar transport into the cell decreasing the available fuel for energy production. This puts an increased strain on the thyroid to make more hormone and can eventually lead to hypothyroidism.

We have already discussed the importance of adrenal gland function and its relationship to optimal thyroid health. The following supplements will help to correct adrenal gland dysfunction. It's very important to have the adrenal hormones cortisol and DHEA tested to ensure precise treatment. Adaptogens are compounds that help to normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. They will help adrenals that are in a state of fatigue, high stress or a combination of both. The feedback loop of the HPA axis is key in balancing adrenal hormones, and adaptogens are vital in healing this process.

Supplements That Help Correct Adrenal Gland Dysfunction

Magnolia & Phellodendron
Magnolia is a tree native to the rain forests of China. Its bark has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes including the regulation of stress and anxiety. Phellodendron grows in northeastern China and Japan. Together, these extracts restore cortisol and DHEA production in the adrenal gland. They bind to stress hormone receptors promoting relaxation and feelings of well-being.

Perilla oil & MCTs
These essential oils have natural stress-reducing effects. Perilla oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which stimulate repair and are anti-inflammatory. MCTs reduce cell acids and help to produce energy in the cell's mitochondria. MCTs are easy to assimilate and metabolize which is extremely important for those with delicate stomachs and impaired absorption.

Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that is similar to panax ginseng. It has the ability to normalize adrenal stress syndromes. Stress responses can have many adverse affects on health and this herb will reduce these effects.

Eleutherococcus
Eleutherococcus senticosus is an adaptogen that supports the HPA axis under times of stress as well as enhance athletic performance. Eleutherococcus will enhance physical work capacity as well as brain function when under stress.

Panax Ginseng
Panax ginseng is also known as Korean ginseng and is an adaptogen. Panax ginseng optimizes the functioning of the HPA axis. It has been shown to enhance physical performance, stamina and energy production. Panax ginseng will shift metabolism into a fat-burning state as opposed to a sugar-burning state due to an increase in oxygen availability for muscles.

Rhodiola
Rhodiola is popular in traditional Eastern European and Asian medical systems. Rhodiola is an adaptogen that has been shown to enhance immune function and brain function. It also has antidepressant properties, protects the heart and protects against cancer. Rhodiola will prevent adrenaline roller coasters due to high stress.

Holy Basil
Holy basil is an adaptogen that reduces cortisol production from stress, supports blood sugar, has antihistamine properties, optimizes the functioning of the HPA axis, improves the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, improves immune function, and enhances athletic performance.

Pantethine
Pantethine is required for adrenal hormone production. However, it will not over-stimulate cortisol production under times of stress but has the opposite effect.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabara)
Licorice contains compounds that increase the half-life of cortisol which removes stress on the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. It also has been shown to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and also reduce/minimize allergic responses. Licorice is antibacterial and antiviral. Due to estrogen's negative effect on thyroid function, licorice is of great benefit because it helps normalize estrogen metabolism.

Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone is the "mother of all hormones" and is made from cholesterol in the adrenal gland. Pregnenolone converts into cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Pregnenolone is a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to boost mood, improve memory and optimize brain function.

DHEA
DHEA is made by the adrenal glands and will convert into estrogen and testosterone. In men, it will mainly convert into estrogen and in women, DHEA will mainly convert into testosterone. DHEA has its own effects including resensitizing insulin receptors, boosting the immune system, preventing bone loss, enhancing memory and lowering cholesterol. When under stress, the body will make cortisol at the expense of DHEA.

Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine's greatest benefit is its ability to lower cortisol levels by optimizing the brain's relationship with the adrenal glands. After only ten days of high doses of PS, research has shown that excessive cortisol levels can be decreased in healthy men. PS has also been shown to enhance brain function and memory, decrease anxiety and depression, improve mood, and enhance metabolism. It is also an antioxidant. It is very difficult for the body to make PS as it requires many nutrients for production. Supplementation is vital for optimizing adrenal function so cortisol cannot have its negative effects on the body and the thyroid.

Supplements that Balance Blood Sugar

Blood sugar imbalances will greatly influence the ability of your thyroid to function optimally. The following supplements are vital in balancing blood sugar.

Huckleberry/Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
The extract from the leaves of this plant has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and has been used traditionally to treat diabetes.

Galega Officinalis (French lilac)
This plant has been utilized since the Middle Ages in the treatment of diabetes. French lilac lowers blood sugar by decreasing insulin resistance. Prescription medications for blood sugar control such as Metformin are derived from the active ingredients in French lilac.

Gymnema Sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre has been shown to regenerate the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This herb will enhance the effects of insulin, reduce fasting blood sugar, decrease the need for insulin and help with insulin resistance. It will not cause a state of hypoglycemia, however.

Chromium
Chromium stabilizes blood sugar and insulin levels after meals. It will also ensure optimal delivery of blood sugar into your cells. Deficiencies in this nutrient can lead to insulin resistance, high cholesterol and abnormalities in sugar's ability to bind to red blood cells.

Zinc
Zinc's role in blood sugar management includes optimizing insulin metabolism, protecting insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and improving insulin sensitivity which ensures optimal uptake of sugar into your cells.

Vanadium
Vanadium is very important for insulin resistance by improving transport of sugar into your cells due to its insulin-like effects on cell receptors.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
ALA is another important nutrient for insulin resistance and is also a strong antioxidant. ALA increases energy production by your cells, optimizes sugar metabolism and lowers lactic acid levels.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E should not be taken in its alpha tocopherol form. Mixed tocopherols including gamma and delta tocopherol are the preferred form of delivery. Vitamin E improves insulin sensitivity, lowers blood fats, is a powerful antioxidant and lowers the so-called "bad" LDL cholesterol.

Biotin
Biotin is important in supporting the liver's utilization of sugar. This nutrient will enhance insulin's effects as well as lower blood sugar levels after meals.

Magnesium
Entire books have been written on the king of minerals. Magnesium is involved in approximately 350 reactions in the body and deficiencies in our society are rampant. Magnesium deficiency will lead to insulin resistance and abnormal sugar metabolism. Magnesium appears to enhance insulin secretion by the pancreas.

L-carnitine
L-carnitine is a di-peptide compound that shuttles fatty acids in the cell to be burned as energy. Carnitine has similar effects on blood sugar by supporting sugar transport into cells.

Low Residue Diet

The Low Residue diet is one that focuses on near elimination of foods that remain in your intestinal tract, such as fiber. In fact, a low fiber diet and the low residue diet are generally used interchangeably because they're so alike. While the two diets are similar, the low residue diet is a more restrictive diet than the low fiber diet.

The amount of undigested items and fiber that pass through your intestine are limited on the low reside diet. Because of this, the diet will lower the amount of stools you will have which will help to alleviate diarrhea, stomach pain, or other flare ups of the inflammatory bowel disease kind.

The low residue diet lacks nutrients, so it is not a good idea to stay on the diet for too long. The amount of time to be on the diet should be determined by your doctor.

The benefits to the low residue diet include alleviating annoyances with your digestive system. Low residue diet is normally prescribed from your doctor after surgery (generally abdominal) or if you happen to be experiencing a flare up of some digestive problems such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or diverticulitis.

If you're looking for the kinds of food to eat on the diet, you should look at the Nutrient & Calorie label on the backs of food. You will want to look for food that doesn't have any dietary fiber. If you're a fan of breaded or pasta products, you will want to look for grains that are refined (which are usually listed as the first ingredient on the label).

Other examples of foods that can be eaten on the low reside diet are:

- Juiced vegetables and fruits that do not contain pulp or seeds.
- Most dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and pudding (which need to be limited to no more than two cups a day).
- Lean meat (fish, chicken, turkey, eggs).
- Oils (that don't arrive from nuts or olives) such as butter and margarine.
- Salad dressings, syrups, and honey.

Foods that should be avoided are:

- Whole wheat (bread, crackers, pasta etc)
- Fruits and vegetables that are whole and not juiced.
- Treats that include pieces of fruit, vegetables, or nuts.
- Nuts and nut butters (for instance, peanut butter).

The low residue diet doesn't provide the needed amount of nutrients to remain a diet that's healthy. If you are going to use the low residue diet, be sure to stay on for a short period of time. Symptoms are generally alleviated within a day or two.

You can see what diet works for me and get more information.

Basic Coping Methods for Common Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Incontinence underwear can help you manage your problems with ulcerative colitis. What is ulcerative colitis and how do you know if you are suffering from it or not? There are many symptoms to this problem and you need to speak with your doctor to be sure that you do have it. Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis but the main indicator is dealing with rectal irritation.

Many people find that one of the big causes of ulcerative colitis comes from the way in which you handle the emotional stress in your life. Emotional stress will take its toll on your body and it can often lead to many of the painful symptoms. It can flare up without any type of reason, which can baffle doctors. This often causes you to be in a lot of pain or to have fecal incontinence. When this happens you need the protection of quality adult diapers or incontinence underwear that will capture the fecal matter and prevent you from being embarrassed.

An infection of the bladder or of the bowels can end up causing you to struggle with incontinence and the pain of ulcerative colitis. Diarrhea often causes many infections to occur and this can lead to a flare up with your disease. It also makes it painful to pass gas or to pass the fecal matter. This is why you need to have adult diapers or other incontinence products that will give you the protection you need.

You will need to take medications if you have ulcerative colitis. This will help the inflammation in the large intestine and will prevent the ulcers from forming in the colon. If you have chronic abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and diarrhea you likely have ulcerative colitis and you need to seek out medical treatment immediately. It is vital to be tested as you could have Crohn's disease and you will need to have additional treatments. You can learn about treatment options as well and figure out common triggers that doctors believe lead to flare ups with ulcerative colitis.

Changing your diet is one of the best things that you can do in order help manage ulcerative colitis. You need to avoid certain foods that are believed to trigger problems. These foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fried foods. The dietary needs for individuals with ulcerative colitis is hard for you to manage and adapt to but the longer you are on the diet, the easier it will be for you to adjust to it. Reduce your intake of dairy products as they too lead to problems with the digestive track. Increasing your intake of folic acid is a great way to manage your condition.

Depending upon the severity of your condition you may need to go in for surgery. This is a great option as it may help you get back to normal. A part of your rectum and colon will be removed and it helps to allow for normal bowel movements again. For individuals that have been dealing with rectal leakage because of ulcerative colitis, this can be a blessing as you may no longer need to wear adult diapers.

Maintaining a healthy body is also important to help you with ulcerative colitis problems. You need to work hard on exercising the body to help relax the bowels and give you control over them again. Having a relaxing workout session helps to decrease stress and many believe that it causes them to gain control again so they do not need adult diapers or other incontinence products.

Ulcerative Colitis - Healing a Leaky Gut

Did you know that your digestive tract is the size of a small football pitch?

If you've got colitis then this football pitch sized bodily organ has become damaged at one or various points along its enormous area. When the cells of the digestive tract become damaged it makes the digestive tract more permeable - hence the term Leaky Gut. When your gut is leaky like this it can let through the digestive wall some incompletely digested food particles.

Some research has been done into the link between IBD and Intestinal Permeability and one study found that Crohns patients had a six fold increase in intestinal permeability.

A leaky gut can lead to food sensitivities as any food particles leaking out of the digestive tract may cause an immune response in the body, leading to inflammation. Elemental diets where patients are fed a diet of pure nutrients have been shown to bring about a reduction in intestinal permeability. Researchers have also found that low-allergenic diets where grains and dairy are avoided can produce welcome relief from Ulcerative Colitis.

How to fix a leaky gut?

There are several steps we can take to heal a leaky gut -

· Initially identify any foods you may be allergic to or have intolerance to. Try a York Test which is a pin prick blood test that you can do at home. A small blood sample is sent away to a lab where they test it to look for any anti bodies to specific foods. It will tell you if you have any food intolerances.

· Next you need to get some probiotics in there, to correct any in balance between the good and bad bacteria, and correct any Dysbiosis in the gut. You need more good than bad! A good Probiotic is Primal Defense or VSL-3. Probiotics have been shown in several medical studies to be very helpful in the treatment of colitis.

· Get some l-glutamine powder, glutamine is an amino acid which is very useful for healing the digestive tract. Glutamine is the preferred 'fuel' for the cells lining the mucosa of the small intestine called enterocytes. These cells have the ability to take up glutamine directly rather than waiting for it to be supplied through the blood stream. Glutamine is also required for the production of both intestinal mucus and Secretary Immunoglobulin Type A (SIgA).

As a result of these functions, a good supply of glutamine will help repair a leaky gut. Glutamine also has the benefit of helping to prevent bacteria from getting from the gut to the bloodstream. You can buy l-Glutamine powder, or try juicing Cabbage as this is a good source of Glutamine.

The Facts on Krill Oil and If it is Really Better Than Fish Oil

Krill oil is derived from krill and is similar to fish oil. Krill are small shrimp-like crustaceans that live in the cold depths of the ocean and although they are very small, they make up the largest animal biomass on the planet. Both krill and fish oils contain the complete essential fatty acids, omega 3 fats, EPA and DHA.

Krill oil contains astanxanthin, which is a key benefit. Astanxanthin is an excellent antioxidant that helps increase the ORAC potency of this oil to 48 times that of fish oil and helps protect you against ultraviolet light. The omega 3 fats found in krill oil are in the phospholipid form whereas fish oil is in the triglyceride form. Since the fat cells in your cell walls are in the phospholipid form, this makes krill oil much more absorbable

So why should we consume krill oil or even fish oil?

Our intake of Omega 6 fats and Omega 3 fats averages around 20:1 with 20 being omega 6 fats. Since the ideal ratio of omega 6 fats to omega 3 fats is 1:1, we consume too few Omega 3 fats and way too many Omega 6 fats. This can mean a serious danger to your health.

We consume vegetable oils every day, which are all packed with omega 6 fats, such as corn, safflower and sunflower oil. This is one of the reasons we are consuming so many omega 6 fats.

The belief of many scientists is that inflammation, sensitivity to pain and thickening of the blood can be triggered when we consume large quantities of omega 6 fats.

If you have prolonged inflammation or chronic inflammation, there can be an extraordinary change in the type of cells that are at the site which can cause the tissue to simultaneously try to both heal and destroy itself.

Many different proteins are susceptible to genetic mutation during the inflammation process which can impair the normal function of that protein.

This chronic inflammation may cause Crohn's disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and many other diseases.

It has been found through research of scientific studies that you may reduce your incidence of inflammatory disease by increasing your essential fatty acids so that your ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 is equal.

In A Perfect World

It is a fact that the majority of our fish supply is heavily contaminated with pollutants, heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins. So while it would be great to increase our omega 3 fatty acid consumption through fish, unfortunately the toxins make it difficult to do.

Fish oil supplements can become rancid quickly as they are very perishable, therefore, you would need to take extra antioxidants. The upside to consuming krill oil supplements is that it has 48 times the antioxidant potency as traditional fish oil so the risk of rancidity is not the same.

There are many benefits for a variety of health issues such as anti-aging, protection of cell membranes, healthy cholesterol levels, healthy liver function, relief of normal PMS symptoms, boost to your immune system and other issues, when consuming krill oil.

Many studies have been published concerning this oil and complete essential fatty acids.

Two grams per day of an oil, either krill (supplement), fish (supplement), or a control (olive oil) were randomly given to 76 overweight and obese men and women in a double blind parallel arm trial for 4 weeks in one of the studies.

Scientists found that after 4 weeks, the levels of EPA and DHA concentrations significantly increased with the participants consuming the krill oil supplements than with those consuming the fish oil supplements or the control.

The result was that at the end of the treatment, the EPA concentration on average was higher in the krill oil participants when compared with the fish oil participants. Therefore, what we have seen is that the quantities of EPA and DHA in these oils is absorbed equally as well whether it is from fish or krill.

It has been proven through another study that HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol improved 44% with Neptune Krill Oil and only a 4.2% improvement was seen in fish oil. Conversely LDL cholesterol which is your bad cholesterol decreased 32% with Neptune Krill Oil and only a 2% reduction was seen in normal fish oil. So what this tells us is that krill oil was more effective than fish oil in improving cholesterol levels.

We need to get the ratio of Omega 6 fats equal with the Omega 3 Fats. These studies make it very clear that we need to specifically be consuming complete essential fatty acids and more omega 3 fats.

Always look at the quality when choosing any supplement. Unfortunately due to the potential risks of toxins, we cannot rely on normal fish consumption for essential fatty acids, so we are left with omega 3 supplements.

Since krill oil is becoming more and more popular, you will find many other types of krill oil released that may not be of the same quality as Neptune krill oil (NKO) so be sure to purchase a quality supplement.

The harvesting of the Neptune type is in cold waters far away from potential pollutants and is in compliance with international fishing standards To provide an essential fatty acid oil free of contaminants such as heavy metals and PCBs, the biological benefits of this essential fatty acid are preserved through a cold extraction method. We will see continued research showing the benefit of krill oil supplements over fish oil supplements. Choose the high quality Neptune Krill Oil.

Colitis - Up To 2,000,000 Americans Have It

Introduction

Colitis (also called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (your large intestine or bowels) producing sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be identified using flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these tests, a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are evaluated. Colitis may be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or even many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its cause has been determine and specific treatment can be applied.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can return in up to 20% of people with this disorder, thus requiring treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The two most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild symptoms. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some people. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. Some people have remissions, periods when the symptoms go away, that last for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.

Treatment

Treatment for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and usually starts with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to reduce swelling. Treatment may also include taking nutritional supplements to restore normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The aim is to control the inflammation, reduce symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients.

Treatment varies depending upon which parts of the colon are involved. Each person experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each individual. Sometimes the doctor will recommend removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other drugs threaten the patients health. If you are already under treatment for inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, contact your doctor if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools.

Also see your doctor if you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, Frequent loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than 1 other person who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your stool, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen.

You should go to the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your doctor will consider the possible causes of your colitis and any complications that need urgent treatment.

Conclusion

Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can be caused by many different disease processes and is generally found in younger people, before they reach age 30. Up to 2 million people in the US are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more incidence of of the disease than non-Jewish people. It affects men and women equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of people with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with people of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also seen in Whites. People with this disease usually have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.

Many tests are used to diagnose the disease. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate methods for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible conditions, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Sometimes x rays using a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no known cure for it, but therapies are available that may dramatically reduce the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your doctor will decide which tests you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.

Protein and Osteoporosis - Myths and Facts

Osteoporosis is a general decrease in peak bone mass which may be a part of normal aging in most cases, however, the actual bone loss can lead to fragile and easily broken bones especially in the wrists and hips. It affects women more often than men with about 翹 of American women suffering from some level of osteoporosis to some degree. (It only affects 1/8 of men).

There are several factors that increase risk and certain demographic groups are more likely to have severe osteoporosis than others. These include Asian, American and Caucasian women. Risk factors include: smoking, heavy use of alcohol, steroid medication use, anticonvulsants, heparin (an anti coagulant medication) inflammatory bowel disease (both Chrohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis) and a sedentary life style. Small framed women are most susceptible and those who have family history, particularly of vertebrae fractures are also high risk groups.

Symptoms of osteoporosis include backache, a possible loss of height, abdominal distension and Dowager's Hump. Women who are at increased risk or those who show any of the symptoms of osteoporosis should have a bone scan which can determine how thin or thick the bone mass is. The National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests bone scans for:

- All women at age 65 or older

- Post-menopausal women under age 65 with one or more of the major osteoporosis risk factors

- Post-menopausal women who have broken a bone

- Those on long term estrogen replacement therapy

- Women who have taken glucorticoids for two months or longer

- Those with medical conditions that increases their risk

- Women who have lost one inch or more in height

- Women with a body mass index that is below 18.

Preventing osteoporosis is much easier than trying to deal with it once it is started. There are medications that can restore some bone density, but it does not work for everyone and can take a long time to start. There are several steps that can be taken to make sure that the bone density stays strong- including a healthy diet and weight bearing exercise. In addition, making sure that there is enough calcium in the diet is very important as well.

It is a persistent myth that protein can cause or exacerbate osteoporosis in the general public, however, that has been repeatedly shown to be false in numerous studies. The theory is that increased protein raises the acidity of the blood causing the body to use mineral from the bones to buffer the blood and bring this acid level back down to its normal range.

Early studies suggested that protein caused a faster rate of exertion of calcium in the urine, however newer studies are showing that 1) this is not actually true and 2) the results that were retrieved with the early studies were possibly skewed. Newer studies are showing that in some cases, the reverse might actually be true, however there are several factors that have to be considered-

- Earlier tests may not have taken into account mitigating factors including overall general health, dietary intake, activity level, gender and family history

- Athletes, who already have denser bones than others are typically the ones that are eating the higher protein amounts that were used in the earlier testing.

Most of the people who are at higher risk of osteoporosis are in their sixties or seventies. Most of this age group is not eating high protein diets to begin with, however they should be increasing their overall protein intake as well as their calcium intake, to protect against osteoporosis and other conditions and diseases that they may be facing.

Older adults typically do not have good appetites nor do they eat a healthy and well balanced diet. There are several reasons that older people, especially women, stop eating but it increases their risk for a number of vitamin and mineral deficiencies which may also increase their risk for osteoporosis.

Phosphorous is also a problem with those at high risk for osteoporosis. Sources for phosphorous includes: soda, halibut, non-fat yogurt, skim milk, salmon, chicken breast, oatmeal, extra lean ground beef, broccoli and lima beans. Nearly all (85%) of the phosphorous in the body is located in the bones and is vital for many of the chemical reactions in the body. However, the balance of calcium to phosphorous is so delicate that too much phosphorous will leach calcium from the bones and into the blood stream where it will eventually be filtered by the kidneys and then excreted by the bladder in the urine. It may be this imbalance that suggests that protein is the culprit (most of the foods that are high in phosphorous are also protein foods).

Eating a Better Diet for Health and Well Being

Experts suggest that seniors should increase their protein intake regardless of their activity level, however they should also increase their activity level. Weight bearing exercise can help maintain their bone density and prevent them from getting osteoporosis or can slow the progression of the disease. To have the energy that is needed to accomplish these exercises as well as being able to build lean muscle mass, the diet has to include the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Because of the lack of appetite, using a protein supplement between meals or as a meal replacement might be beneficial to the older adult.

Protein, because it is so important to the body, must be consumed in the right amounts, but the right types of protein may also be a beneficial consideration as well. After all, not all proteins are created equally. Soy protein, for instance has been shown to decrease bone loss in postmenopausal women as well as another of additional health benefits. Miso, which is a fermented soy bean pasted favored by the Japanese, has been shown to increase bone density in post menopausal women as well as decreasing breast cancer risk.

Protein Supplements to Try

Soy protein and soy products such as miso are good sources of phytoestrogens, however, there are other protein sources that might be beneficial to the newly active, older adult, making sure that they are getting enough protein in their diet and possibly enough calories as well.

Soy protein is not only found in food sources, but in powdered supplement form, as both an isolate and a concentrate. There are some people who are allergic to soy however, so be careful when starting it as a supplement and always check with your doctor before adding any kind of supplement to your diet.

Blood in Stool - 7 Reasons Found in the Colon

Blood in stool is often discovered with some perplexity, accompanied appropriately by exclamations of 'bloody' (not expletive). Dots of blood, scarlet red, stand out unmistakably on excrement. Maroon red blotches of blood besmirches the toilet tissue. Bright red spots of blood dribble into the toilet bowl or down the legs. Quite naturally, a sudden bout of fear causes our hearts to jump a beat or two.

No undue alarm is warranted yet as the hemorrhaging (technical word for bleeding) could be any one of 7 possible causes arising from the colon. Mindful attention to ensure early diagnosis and correct treatment will reduce any unsettling lifestyle changes as the best part of the 7 causes are treatable. Do not be unconcerned. Commence close monitoring. Without delay, consult your doctor if bleeding and pain lingers for more than a week.

Appropriate treatment following proper diagnosis can often quickly resolve the problem. More critically, blood in stool may be the consequence of some type of cancer.

Melena or Hematochezia

Hematochezia (maroon or bright red colored blood) or melena (black sticky or tarry stools) are two medical categorizations for the less technical term rectal bleeding. Whilst recognised as rectal bleeding as the exit is the rectum, the origins of the blood may be any of 7 causes in the colon (large intestine). Cancer, colon polyps, diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal ischemia and peptic ulcer are the 7 known causes in the colon.

Colorectal Cancer

This is the third most frequent form of cancer on earth and the third most frequent reason for of cancer-related death with a fatality toll of around 640,000 annually. It is the reason why one should see a medical specialist for continual blood in stool.

Tumours in the colon, appendix and rectum are classified as colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy (visual inspection by micro-camera inserted via the anus) is the chief means of ascertaining colorectal cancer. Treatment focuses on surgical excision and chemotherapy. Timely discovery often leads to a total cure. Those over 50 and those with family history of cancers are classified under the higher risk group. Colorectal cancer is gender blind, affecting both women and men, with no conspicuous bias for either sex.

This next point bears taking note. Quite in contrast to what is reported elsewhere, colorectal cancer commonly produces occult (not visible to the naked eye) blood in feces i.e it is NOT a regular reason for visible blood in stool! According to the University of Michigan Health System, colorectal cancer does cause bleeding but special tests are requisite to confirm the presence of occult blood. Crucial accompanying symptoms to watch out for are diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss, appetite loss and incessant fatigue.

Colon Polyp

Affixing on the walls of the intestines or the rectum, polyps are frequently benign and may be raised or flat. Those above 50 years of age and with a family history of polyps and colorectal cancer are prone to polyps. Contributory factors include lack of exercise, obesity, alcohol and smoking. It would seem that no one knows the real cause.

Whilst benign, polyps are usually excised during colonoscopy as they can become malignant. Polyps do not usually cause noticeable symptoms. But in others, blood in stool is present.

Diverticulosis

Pouches (diverticula) stretching from the colon wall is distinctive of diverticulosis. Diverticula growth is postulated to be a result of abnormal colon pressure, the causes of which are not entirely distinct. Contributory factors include deprivation of dietary fiber. If food gets embedded in diverticula, infection may set in leading to diverticulitis. Complications from diverticulitis can ensue if an infected diverticulum ruptures and disseminates bacteria to the abdominal cavity lining. The possibly deadly peritonitis can materialise.

Diverticulosis do not cause distinct symptoms in most people. Mild cramps, constipation and bloating are some noted symptoms. Yet others suffer more acutely, including nausea, vomiting and rectal bleeding as the most common symptoms. The peril of peritonitis emphasizes the need that blood in stool should first be examined by a doctor. A CT (computed tomography) scan is 98% efficacious in diagnosing diverticulitis.

Ulcerative Colitis

IBD or inflammatory bowel disease, under which colitis is classified, affects the large intestine (colon) and the small intestine. Inflammation by itself is a healthy bodily response to heal damaged tissue. Like a tap that must be turned off, inflammation sets off curing of injured tissue but must terminate thereafter or greater tissue harm may ensue. Ulcerative colitis is caused by ulcers which are erosion of the mucous membrane lining.

Apart from other symptoms, blood in stool is frequent. The risk of peritonitis from colitis is the key reason for diagnosing it as the cause of rectal bleeding.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is an auto-immune disease whereby the body's immune system provokes harmful inflammation by assailing the gastrointestinal tract. It can develop in any part of of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. But it usually affects the small and large intestine (colon).

Smoking, genetic makeup and industrial environmental exposure are believed to be contributory causal factors even though definitive causes are unknown. The symptoms are blood in stool, abdominal cramps, severe bloody diarrhea, blood on toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl, fever and weight loss.

Often termed as granulomatous colitis, Crohn's disease can go into abeyance and happen again periodically throughout life. Currently, there is no known surgical or pharmaceutical solution for Crohn's disease. Early detection is important for efficacious control of the symptoms and checking recurrences.

Intestinal Ischemia

Ischemia is a suppression in blood supply to any part of the body. Dysfunctional arteries result in tissue damage due to the deprivation of blood nutrients and oxygen. Intestinal ischemia is the depletion blood supply causing inflammation of the large intestine; a result of blood clots, blood vessel constriction and general high blood pressure.

Symptoms include blood in stool, urgent and violent bowel movements, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, abdominal bloating and fever. Urgent medical attention is needed to rejuvenate intestinal blood supply if there is serious consistent pain. It may be crucial to surgically circumvent blocked blood vessels and remove blood clots and damaged tissue. To arrest clots and infections, respective medication includes anticoagulants and antibiotics.

Peptic Ulcer

An exceedingly painful ulcer, this is located in the gastrointestinal tract. An erosion of the mucosal membrane that is at least 0.5cm in diameter is an ulcer. Commonly mistaken to occur in the stomach, peptic ulcers are actually prevalent in the duodenum (initial part of the small intestine). Peptic ulcers are largely presumed to be caused by a bacterium that inflicts chronic gastritis.

Symptoms include blood in stool (melena), abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, appetite and weight loss, vomiting of blood and at the extreme, perforation of the intestine. This can lead to possibly deadly peritonitis and requires emergency surgery. Antibiotics and antacids can be used to cure milder cases.

Hemorrhoids

The above 7 causes is the rationale why rectal bleeding demands the skills of a medical doctor who can render a precise diagnosis. Appropriate treatment and medication, possibly including surgery, can accelerate the path to recovery.

Lest you be too distressed by the above narrated causes, blood in stool is most usually due to the relatively innocuous internal or external hemorrhoids.

Ulcerative Colitis And Crohn's Disease - Diet Recommendation

Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease are different conditions of the inflammatory bowel syndrome. Since the colon is affected, the diseases need healthy diets to accompany medicines and treatment.

Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are forms of inflammatory and irritable bowel syndrome. The difference between the two conditions is little and it is indeed difficult to understand the difference. Though the treatments for the two are dissimilar, both the diseases share the same symptoms and need similar diet recommendations.

Since the diseases take into account irritable bowel syndrome and colon is affected in both cases, the diets should be healthy. If you are suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, pay heed to the following aspects:
- Increase your fluid intake to keep your body hydrated. Normally, with any of the irritable bowel syndrome thus mentioned, you must drink eight to ten glasses of fluid everyday. This will further help calm down inflamed colon and to prevent constipation. Drink vegetable juices along with your daily dose of water.
- Eat small frequent meals. Eat a high-protein diet. Taking lean meat and fish can be helpful.
- Do not take in caffeine and alcohol.
- Do not eat foods that encourage production of gases. For instance, keep away from dried peas, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli and lentils.
- You must limit your fat intake while you are down with irritable bowel syndrome. Food rich in fats may result in diarrhea.
- It is advised that you keep away from dairy products.

Whether you suffer from ulcerative colitis or from Crohn's disease, it is advised that you follow a low-fiber diet when you experience a flare-up. A low-fiber diet would include:
- Plain cereals
- Refined pasta, noodles and white rice
- Refined white bread, muffins and buns
- Fruit juices and vegetable juices
- Vegetables like beets, peeled potatoes, beans, cucumbers, lettuce and carrots

The following items must be eliminated from your low-fiber diet chart:
- Whole grains
- Prune juice
- Raw and dried fruits(like berries and raisins)
- Nuts and seeds

When the irritable bowel syndrome is under control, it is recommended that you switch over to a high-fiber diet. Since the colon is affected in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the diet needs special attention. A proper diet restores health along with medicines and treatment. A high-fiber diet would include:
- Whole grain breads, muffins and buns
- Whole wheat pasta
- Whole grains like brown rice and corns
- Cooked cereals
- Dried fruits like raisins, apricots and dates
- Berries
- Fruits like apples, mangoes, kiwis and oranges
- Green and leafy vegetables
- Nuts and seeds

As a victim of ulcerative colitis or from Crohn's disease, you might find the following tips helpful in controlling irritable bowel syndrome:
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Avoid food that has high fat content.
- Eat six small meals instead of three large meals.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Learn to deal with stress.

Should You Be Worried About These Antacid Side Effects?

Before we go into the side effects of antacids it's important to gain an understanding about what they are and what they can do.

Antacids are used in the treatment of acid reflux or GERD. Their alkaline properties are designed to neutralise stomach acid. They should not be confused with other GERD/Acid reflux treatments such as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI's) and H2 blockers. These two types work differently as they effect the stomachs secretion of acid.

It's important to point out those antacids, PPI's and H2 blockers I've just mentioned will not cure or fix your condition - all they do is suppress the symptoms. By suppressing stomach acid they can temporarily ease the pain, however you need to keep using them.

The fact is, antacids should not be used for more than a period of 2 weeks, and this instruction is often emphasised on the packaging.

Adverse Effects Of Acid Suppression

The suppression of acid can eventually lead to a number of health complications. It turns out that stomach acid does more than prepare food for digestion. It plays a vital role in helping the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

For example, vitamin B12 needs to be absorbed in the stomach. With a lack of acid this can lead to the malabsorption of B12 and many other vitamins. Vitamin B12 is essential for the body's metabolism as well as maintaining the functioning of the central nervous system.

Stomach acid also kills off any bacteria contained within the food we eat. Obviously with lower levels of acid the risk of food poisoning and bacterial infections such as E-coli increase.

Adverse Effects On The Digestive System

But most importantly, is how the overuse of antacids can disturb the micro bacterial balance of the digestive system. The key component, that ensures the health of your digestive system and your whole body, is the beneficial bacteria or micro flora that lines the walls of your intestines.

There are literally billions of these microscopic bacteria. They're like a protective wall that keeps out disease causing bacteria and toxins from overrunning your body. They also assist in the functions of absorption and elimination and if that wasn't enough they also support your body's immune system.

But here's the thing, these bacteria can easily be destroyed by the overuse of antacids and antibiotics. When this happens the bad bacteria and the fungal infections such as Candida have a free reign to spread and cause havoc within your digestive system.

Once these bad guys take over there begins a gradual breakdown of the body's digestive health beginning with indigestion, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation. This eventually progresses to more chronic conditions of ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.

Other antacid side effects can include;

繚 Diarrhea

繚 Nausea

繚 Joint pain

繚 Itchy skin

繚 Rectal bleeding

繚 Flu like symptoms

繚 Fatigue

繚 Constipation

繚 Swelling around the feet and ankles.

Do You Avoid Ulcerative Colitis Cure Claims?

It is the nirvana that anyone that has been diagnosed with colitis seeks. Imagining the familiar pattern of relapses and remissions disappearing along with the pain and discomfort that the disease brings. The weight loss, the feeling of great tiredness, even exhaustion could all be a memory if only there appeared a vision offering the great hope of an ulcerative colitis cure.

Today, with greater numbers of media outlets, there are bold claims emerging that this one formula or secret plan contains the elixir that the medical profession have been investigating for decades and decades and still not found. The large amounts of money that is invested each year into research by charities, universities and drug companies, undertaking complex experiments and trials has still not found the elixir.

There have been some breakthroughs in recent years as to better understanding of colitis, including some interesting findings within genetics, yet the work continues and the hope is there that one day there will be a definitive reason why the disease occurs and how it can be cured. Until that day, sufferers will have to continue taking the prescribed medications and trying to control their own disease to live life as normally as possible.

These bold "cure" claims are often argued and "evidenced" on the use of diet or natural herbal or vitamin cures. Diet is a very important factor during both periods of relapse and remission in providing the sufferer with the nutrients and vitamins in fighting the disease. It is important to understand how the likes of diet plays a part in reducing the chances of instigating colitis symptoms such as diarrhea both when in periods of remission and relapse. Yet to make the claim that colitis can be cured by just eliminating a certain food or food group may not be the entire story.

When in remission, there are still times that colitis symptoms may appear. This could in fact be a one time occurrence where diarrhea and perhaps some blood appear then the bowel returns to normal function. This may or may not be able to be traced to something that was eaten. But was this just a reaction to the food that manifested itself as diarrhea and some blood because the sufferer has colitis and they are now more susceptible to irritation caused by certain foods? It is perhaps the fact that colitis may have caused the reaction rather than the food causing the colitis. If these foods are avoided, is colitis cured?

It is important to recognise that diet can play a part in trying to manage the symptoms of colitis and avoiding certain food or food groups can be the answer to reduce provoking a reaction in the sufferer's bowel. Yet by eliminating such won't in itself be an ulcerative colitis cure but a means of avoiding certain symptoms that colitis brings. It is an important aspect for the sufferer to understand in managing their daily life with colitis and it is invaluable to seek the experience of others who have endured the challenge in order to ease their undoubted anxieties.

Treatment Options for Crohns Ileitis

The gene that causes psoriasis can be present in a person who suffers from crohns ileitis. This type of Crohn's disease affects only the ileum, which is the last and lowest portion of the small intestine, and is the closest to the colon. This form of Crohn's disease is one of the more common types, but is not as common as ileocolitis, which is a form of Crohn's that affects both the ileum and the colon.

What can a Crohn's ileitis sufferer experience? The inflammation of the ileum often causes diarrhea and cramping or abdominal pain in the lower right region of the abdomen and near the belly button. Sometimes pain may be so severe it imitates appendicitis. These symptoms are usually most pronounced after a meal. Left untreated, crohns ileits can lead to inflammatory masses, obstruction of the small intestines, and the development of fistulas.

In addition, Crohn's disease that affects the ileum can cause malabsorption of the B12 vitamin. It can also cause folate deficiency which can obstruct red blood cell development and increase a person's risk of becoming anaemic.

How does crohns ileitis occur? It is still not known what causes Crohn's disease, or why a person's immune system malfunctions. However, like all ailments, the condition starts small. Miniscule pockets of inflammation persist and eventually spread. Once this occurs, the bowel lining can develop ulcers and the wall of the bowel can thicken. If not treated, the bowel will eventually narrow or become obstructed, requiring the sufferer to undergo surgery such as having part of their intestines or bowel removed.

What are the treatment options? The type of treatment for crohns ileitis depends on the severity of the disease, and whether or not a person is experiencing an active case of Crohn's.

Nevertheless, a Crohn's sufferer can try alternative therapies such as reducing stress, exercising, and maintaining a balanced, nutritious and Crohn's-friendly diet.

Providing your body with the rest it needs, the energy it requires, and eliminating foods that aggravate the condition, is the perfect compliment to medications and can help prevent flare ups and surgery. Other alternative/complimentary treatments for Crohn's ileitis include botanical remedies, supplements, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and homeopathy.

Aside from alternative remedies, the following are the most common types of medical treatment used:

Cortisone or Steroids (Prednisone) - Theses types of medications are very powerful and are prescribed to those with severe crohns ileitis. Their purpose is to bring the disease under control fast and put the patient in remission. The drug is typically administered by enema or pill and can be quite effective in relieving Crohn's symptoms.

However, some common side effects include indigestion, nervousness, restlessness, and increased appetite. Other rare side effects may include mental depression, hallucinations, skin rash or hives, etc. For those who are taking this medication for the long-term, side effects may include acne, nausea, constant abdominal pain, trouble sleeping, unusual bruising, rapid weight gain, etc.

Immune System Suppressors (Imuran, Purinethol) - These medications are designed to suppress the overreacting immune system, and are administered orally. These meds are generally used for long-term treatment to maintain remission of the disease, and are primarily prescribed for those who suffer from a severe case of crohns ileitis.

The side effects associated with immune system suppressors include, but are not limited to: darkening of the skin, headache, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, itchy skin or skin rash, etc.

Infliximab (Remicade) - This is a new type of drug treatment that is showing much promise for those who suffer from moderate to severe Crohn's disease. Remicade is designed to block the body's inflammation response. Remicade is administered via intravenous infusion over the course of several hours and is a short-term treatment. It has been effective at helping Crohn's sufferers achieve relief of their symptoms and remission.

The side effects of Remicade include, but are not limited to: Abdominal pain, nausea, sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, tightness in chest, etc.

Be sure to speak to your doctor about all treatment options for crohns ileitis, and bring any side effects you experience to your doctor's attention immediately.

Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms and Pregnancy

Ulcerative colitis symptoms and signs can generally differ, depending on how severe and where the inflammation occurs. Consequently, categorization of ulcerative colitis symptoms depends on its site. The course of ulcerative colitis varies, with episodes of acute ulcerative colitis frequently periodic with intervals of remission. Ultimately, the gravity of the disease typically remains the same.

If a you suffer from ulcerative colitis symptoms and are pregnant or thinking about starting a family you and your partner will naturally worry about the effects of the ulcerative colitis symptoms on the pregnancy, and about the consequence the of pregnancy on your disease. After the birth it is likely that worries will be raised about the effects of the ulcerative colitis medications on breast milk. The good news is that most of women with ulcerative colitis symptoms have normal fertility and can anticipate a normal pregnancy, delivery and growth of a healthy baby.

You can increase the chances of having a healthy baby by eating a varied and balanced diet for ulcerative colitis which is enhanced with supplements of vitamins and minerals. If you have active disease, on steroid medication or are underweight, then it is essential to increase nutrition and seeking advice from a dietician who can advice you about ulcerative colitis symptoms and diet. A good way to remain healthy throughout your pregnancy is regularly exercise.

A folic acid supplement should be taken before conception and for the first twelve weeks of your pregnancy. This is normal practice for any pregnant woman and helps to lessen the risk of spina bifida in the baby. It is however more important for people with crohn's disease because folic acid is more difficult to absorb when this disease is present. If you are taking ulcerative colitis medications such as sulphasalazine, you will require additional folic acid because this also interferes with the absorption rate of folic acid. Daily supplements of 2000-5000 micrograms are recommended for pregnant women with ulcerative colitis symptoms rather than the typical 400 micrograms daily.

The most important message for sufferers of ulcerative colitis symptoms and pregnancy is that the baby can be expected to be healthy if your ulcerative colitis health is good and kept under control. Ulcerative colitis drugs and medications should therefore be taken as advised before and during your pregnancy.

Parents who have been given an ulcerative colitis diagnosis are to some extent more likely to have a child who contracts ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease. However, even with genetic tendency, other added factors are required to trigger the disease. Research has suggested that parental smoking during pregnancy is another factor linked to the development of ulcerative colitis symptoms in children

If your ulcerative colitis symptoms are in remission at the start of your pregnancy, the likelihood of delivering a perfectly healthy baby are similar to those of a woman without ulcerative colitis signs and symptoms. If you have flare-ups during pregnancy or the disease is active at the beginning the risks to the baby are doubled and it is more likely to be premature or have a low birth weight. This is still a small risk and the baby is likely to be healthy. However, severe flare-ups are very dangerous and a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Another concern you will probably have will be the side effects of ulcerative colitis drugs. Usually however the threat to the baby is related to the action of the disease rather than the ulcerative colitis medications.

Understanding Crohn's Disease: Worse Than Most People Think but no Reason to Despair

The numerous medical details behind the ailment commonly known as "Crohn's Disease" are rather complex; especially to those of us who don't have dozens of years of clinical training in our professional past. In the simplest terms, Crohn's Disease results from an inflammation often located in the small intestine (a.k.a. "the ileum"). There is some strong evidence that suggests that this inflammation is caused by a virus. Though generally localized in the small intestine, this inflammation has the potential to adversely affect any area of the entire digestive tract. As a result, the bowels are constantly agitated and often compelled to empty, leading to diarrhea, discomfort, and pain.

Indeed, this is a very simple way of grasping the essence of Crohn's Disease, and to truly understand the details, a great deal of medical study and experience is necessary. Yet with this being said, there's one thing that can be concluded without hesitation; something that doesn't take years to study or grasp. For the millions of people who suffer from Crohn's Disease, their life is unfairly filled with pain, often constant discomfort, and a looming fear of being unable to control their bowel movements.

It's fair to say - in fact, it's an understatement to say - that people who suffer from Crohn's Disease are forced to dramatically change their entire lifestyle. Some people - and this is not dramatic at all - have been forced to quit their jobs, or cancel vacations simply because of the tremendous stress that the disease places on a sufferers physical and emotional health.

Treatment Options

The US National Institute of Health (NIH) outlines the treatment "options" that Crohn's Disease sufferers are often forced to choose from: drugs or surgery. The NIH also points out, very clearly, that according to them there is no cure for Crohn's Disease. As a result, pharmaceutical and surgical treatment methods focus on symptom management; they do not and cannot cure the disease. At the very most, they can mitigate some of the pain and discomfort; though, naturally, with the introduction of side effects that can adversely affect other biological systems, including emotional health. Some of the side effects include:

· nausea

· vomiting

· heartburn

· diarrhea

· headache

Drugs

The NIH points out that pharmaceutical remedies (for lack of a better word) containing the ingredient mesalamine are common prescribed to people suffering from Crohn's Disease. Mesalamine is an anti-inflammatory, and seeks to target the inflammation in the ileum. However, drugs containing mesalamine (such as Sulfasalazine) are not curative; they can not treat the inflammation. They can merely mask it to some extent. The body is still suffering and the problem still remains, but the drug controls some of the felt inflammation.

If the problem is more severely felt, some patients may be prescribed steroids (corticosteroids). These drugs, as can be assumed, lead to severe side effects if taken over a longer period of time, including those noted above. Steroids can also make a person more vulnerable to infection, which can thus expose them to additional health problems aside from the Crohn's Disease that they're trying to address.
Other drugs, such as Infliximab, have been approved by the FDA for those suffering from more severe Crohn's Disease. But it is not free from side-effects either and for the common Crohn's sufferer it is prohibitively expensive. And some people develop antibodies rendering its effect void.

Surgery

One of the most remarkable things about the human body is its regenerative properties; break some skin, and new cells rush to the exposed area. Break a bone, and immediately the body sends in reinforcements to start the healing process. Generally, this is seen as a wonderful - indeed mysterious - quality of the inexplicable intelligence of the human body.

Ironically, however, this is not always such a positive thing. For example, Crohn's Disease sufferers sometimes opt for surgery to remove the inflammed area of the ileum. Yet, remarkably, it often grows back in some other part of the intestine. In this light, surgical options for Crohn's Disease sufferers is not always a method of releving pain and suffering; it's a last resort measure to address an even more serious problem in the area, such as intestinal bleeding or the formation of an abscess. In such dire situations, surgery may take place; but it is only temporary, and done to treat the bigger problem. The Crohn's Disease remains.

Some Crohn's Disease sufferers also opt (or are persuaded to opt by their doctor) a surgical solution called a colectomy. A colectomy literally cuts off the entire colon, and body waste is expelled through a small opening near the abdomen. The fact that some people in the medical community consider this a "solution" - forcing people to wear a pouch around their stomach to collect waste that previously flowed through their (now surgically removed) colon -- is a testament to the fact that people with Crohn's Disease are not provided with the real solution that they deserve: one that actually treats the problem at the source.

Over-The-Counter Remedies

When comparing Crohn's disease to other ailments it might surprise that there exist only very few herbal products and over-the-counter medications for Crohn's disease. And most of these are just tablets containing vitamins or minerals which are meant to replenish any deficits which can result as a consequence of Crohn's disease. To some extent these products can alleviate secondary symptoms but they do not address the cause of the disease. Aloe vera products have been quite popular but by now the scientific community has debunked its efficacy except for skin related disorders.
The only herbal product on the market which is designed only for Crohn's disease is SedaCrohn. It is still relatively new on the market but reports from Crohn's sufferers are promising. SedaCrohn acts by two separate mechanisms. First of all it has immune-modulating properties which apparently are able to inhibit the inflammation. And secondly, perhaps more interestingly, it has proven antiviral properties and thus attack what many researchers believe is the underlying cause of Crohn's Disease: a virus.
As a consequence, many users of SedaCrohn report that their flare-ups have disappeared for much longer intervals or even copmletely after taking SedaCrohn for several months. If this is the long awaited natural relief remains to be seen.

Drugs, Surgery, or Natural Remedies?

The best way to deal with Crohn's differs from person to person. There is probably no way to avoid prescription drugs completely for all the time. But at the same time its certainly advisable to take one's fate in its own hand and try to find the dietary changes or natural products which work best for himself or herself.

Anal Fissure and Fistula

What are anal fissures and fistulas?
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus or the skin around it. An anal fistula is an abnormal track or channel from the anus that opens onto the skin surrounding the anus.

What causes anal fissures and fistulas and who is at risk?
Frequently, no cause is found for the development of an anal fissure. The most commonly associated condition is constipation.

Anal fistulas are associated with a number of conditions that result in inflammation of the digestive tract. These include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (see separate Factsheet). More commonly, however, fistulas are caused by infection and abscess (collection of pus) in one of the glands near to the anus. Multiple anal fissures may also be associated with these conditions.

What are the common symptoms and complications of anal fissures and fistulas? Sudden and severe pain in or around the anus is the characteristic symptom of an anal fissure. The pain often occurs during or shortly after the passage of a hard stool, but may also occur spontaneously.

After that, the pain occurs now and then and is severe, sharp and often shooting in nature; it is often made worse by a bowel movement. As a result, sufferers often avoid opening their bowels, which makes the constipation worse and prevents the fissure from healing. The condition is frequently associated with something called a 'sentinel pile'. This pile, or haemorrhoid, is a small vein that has dropped down from inside the anus to lie outside. It may bleed from time to time and a streak of bright red blood on the toilet paper may be seen.

Anal fistula is most commonly associated with an abscess near the anus, which gives rise to pain in or around the anus that may be dull and throbbing. The abscess releases pus, which may be blood-stained and soil the underclothes. The formation of a fistula results in the often continuous seepage of pus or sometimes a more thin and watery fluid, again often streaked with blood, from the anus. If the underlying abscess is large enough it may cause a fever and a feeling of being generally unwell.

If a fistula has been caused by an inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, other symptoms of the disease may be present. These may include diarrhea, abdominal pains, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.

What is the treatment for anal fissures and fistulas?

Self-care action plan
Avoiding constipation by eating a diet rich in fibre (including plenty of fruit and vegetables) helps to prevent anal fissures from occurring. Such a diet also helps the healing process.

Medicines
If diet alone is insufficient to control constipation, a number of medicines can be used, many of which are available as over-the-counter preparations from a pharmacist with no need for a prescription. These include lactulose, taken as a liquid, and tablets such as senna. Creams or ointments that contain pain-killing local anaesthetic agents are very useful at relieving the pain of anal fissures. Relief of the pain reduces the spasm in the muscles of the anus, which often prevents the fissure from healing.

Surgery
If all the above measures fail, a variety of operations is available for the treatment of anal fissures. These include stretching of the anus, which is carried out under general anaesthetic (during which you will be asleep) and although normally performed as a day case, may require you to stay in hospital overnight. This procedure results in temporary weakening of the muscles around the anus, relieving the spasm and allowing healing to occur. Alternatively, a 'sphincterotomy' may be performed. This, again, is carried out under a general anaesthetic and involves cutting some of the muscle fibres around the anus. A chronic (long-term) fissure that does not respond to the above treatments often has to be cut out and then sewn up with stitches.

If an abscess is the cause of an anal fistula, it can only be treated surgically. The operation involves cutting into the abscess and draining the pus. If a fistula is present it will also need to be tackled surgically. This operation involves cutting into the fistula and 'laying it open' to allow healing to occur. This will involve a stay in hospital.

More rarely, when the fistula is caused by an associated inflammatory disease of the bowel, the particular disease often also requires specific treatment. This may involve taking steroid tablets to reduce the inflammation but if severe, surgery may also be required.

If you do have an operation for an anal fissure or fistula, you will be given instructions as to what to do when you get home. This is likely to include information about the importance of having a daily bath, how to avoid constipation, and when you should return to the doctor for a follow-up.

Complementary therapy
Relaxation therapy, the Alexander technique, yoga and tai-chi may help to relieve the stress and the underlying increase in muscle tension associated with the pain of an anal fissure, and may help to promote healing. These techniques may also promote a sense of well-being, which may be useful in such chronic painful conditions.

What is the outcome of anal fissures and fistulas?
Anal fissure is usually harmless and heals on its own, although it can be a very painful condition. Complete recovery is usual, and often occurs spontaneously; only rarely is surgery required.

Anal fistula, although rarely a serious condition, often requires surgical treatment, but again complete recovery is usual.