Ulcerative Colitis - Will Diet Have An Effect?

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that is very similar to Crohn's disease. Both these diseases fall under a category of diseases that are classified under the blanket term "Inflammatory Bowel Disease" or IBD for short. Ulcerative colitis refers to inflammation of the colon. Endoscopic images show ulcerative colitis as patches of red inflammation. The symptoms of this disease, that's right, I used the word disease, not ailment because it is not a minor ailment like irritable bowel syndrome. It is quite serious and requires medical attention. Like I was saying, the symptoms of this disease are constant diarrhea and sometimes bloody stools. The severity of the disease varies from person to person. Sometimes, the symptoms just disappear on their own. But sometimes they keep getting more serious and require medical intervention.

Crohn's disease is also a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive system from the mouth to the anus. It is an auto-immune disease, that is, a disease where the body's immune system starts fighting against the body. Crohn's disease is said to be a man-made disease - a disease caused by the excesses of modern life and the demands it places on our health. This conclusion was made based on the fact that the more industrialized western countries report more cases of Crohn's disease. About half a million people in North America are affected by Crohn's disease and in Europe and about 30 people for every 100,000 people in Europe are affected.

The point is, there is definitely a link between Crohn's disease and modern, unhealthy lifestyles. So the question is, will diet help cure Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis? Actually, rather than cure, you should prevent ailments and diseases like ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and crohn's disease by following a healthy diet. There is no arguing the fact that a healthy diet indeed helps overall health and prevents many ailments, not the least of which are stomach and digestive system ailments. So yes, a healthy diet can help you fight these diseases. Cut down on fat, oil, grease, sugar, refined starch, white bread, artificial and processed foods full of sugars and artificial colors and sweeteners and preservatives and chemical. Eat more of whole grain bread, lean cuts of meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, nuts and legumes. Just follow a few basic universally accepted rules of healthy lifestyle and you'll do just fine.