Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are the two conditions that fall under the label of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Unlike Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), IBD is categorized by inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract, leading to a number of symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, malaise, and abdominal cramping. Conventional therapies typically involve anti-inflammatory medications and/or immune modulating drugs.
There are many natural therapies that are effective for treating IBD. Some treatments are individualized to each case, such as homeopathy, and will not be discussed here. However, the general therapies that are helpful for most IBD patients will be listed in this article. Because IBD is a serious condition with a variety of treatment options, it is best to work with a doctor for proper monitoring and to determine the best treatments for you.
Diet: The foods you consume have a large impact on your digestive tract, especially if you have IBD. Because each person is different and may have specific sensitivities to foods, it is difficult to recommend a diet that works in 100% of people. Also, if you have severe, active IBD, it may be best to let your digestive tract recover with a period of medically-supervised fasting. However, the general dietary guideline for IBD patients is to adopt a whole foods diet, consisting of unprocessed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high quality proteins, and healthy fats. Details and examples are as follows:
Fruits and vegetables provide your body with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, which help your cells function optimally: Dark leafy greens, yellow/orange veggies, non-potato root veggies (turnips, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, carrots), peas, green/yellow beans, onions, leeks, garlic, fresh green herbs, berries, apricots, plums, cherries, kiwi, figs. Note: it is best to avoid potatoes and corn if you have IBD.
Adequate protein intake is very important for IBD patients because it helps prevent loss of muscle mass and provides amino acids for cellular repair. Protein should be included in every meal, and protein snacks are recommended between meals for those who are losing weight: Organic lean meats (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, goat, venison), fish (salmon, bass, haddock, herring, mackerel, trout, tilapia, sole), eggs, nuts/seeds, beans, rice-based protein powder.
Healthy fats are important, because they protect cellular health and cell-to-cell communication: Omega 3 fatty acids: found in salmon and cold ocean fish, and walnuts, Brazil nuts, butternuts, chia seeds, hickory nuts, macadamia nuts, beans of various types, peanuts, olives, spinach.
Whole grains are a good source of healthy carbohydrates to provide your body with fuel for energy. Some patients with IBD find that they do best eliminating carbohydrates from the diet, especially the ones that contain gluten: Brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet (all gluten free).
Avoid dairy completely, as most dairy products contain lactose (a molecule that can be difficult for a compromised digestive tract o break down). Try unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk instead.
Avoid processed food products, foods with sugar/preservatives/chemicals/artificial colors, foods with trans-fats, and foods sprayed with pesticides (eat organic foods). Such foods have a negative impact on the digestive tract and immune functions: DO NOT EAT: sugar, processed meats (bologna, hot dogs, etc), canned fruits/veggies, overly-processed grains (commercial cereals, breads, pasta, crackers, etc). Basically, try to avoid any foods that are “man-made.”
Probiotics: there are billions of micro-organisms that naturally live inside of your digestive tract. These organisms help you digest food and keep your intestines healthy. Often times, people with IBD have low levels of healthy bacteria (called Probiotics). The best way to increase your levels of healthy bacteria is to take powdered or encapsulated Probiotics. These can be found at many stores in the supplement or vitamin section. My favorite brand is Culturelle, as it is well-researched, and can be stored at room temperature.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa): there have been many recent studies of Turmeric as a treatment for IBD. The herb has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, useful for reducing the inflammation found in IBD patients.
Nutrient replacement: People with IBD often have nutrient deficiencies, as a result of poor absorption of vitamins and minerals. The most common nutrient deficiencies include: B- Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, zinc, other minerals. Oral vitamin/mineral replacement is often sufficient to correct the nutritional deficiency, but sometimes Intravenous (IV) nutrient replacement is a better option for immediate results.
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