Why Fibre is so Important in our diet

Fibre:

Fibre keeps the lining of the digestive tract healthy. Fibre is found in cereals, fruits and vegetables, legumes(dried beans, peas and lentils,),nuts and seeds and whole grain breads. During times of flare ups one might want to avoid or minimize their intake of legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grain breads. Minimizing the intake of during times of flare up might help minimize the gas and bloating people with IBD experience.

There are two kinds of fibre Water-soluble and Insoluble Fibre.

Water-soluble Fibre: helps lower blood cholesterol and maitains healthy blood sugar. Some types of water-soluble fibre control diarrhea by giving more formation to stool. Water-soluble fibre is derived from fruit such as apples, grapefruit,oranges, and plums; vegetables and legumes such as carrots,lentils, potatoes, soybeans, split peas, and from grains sucha as barley,oat bran,oatmeal and psyllium seed.

Insoluble fibre, or roughage, stimulates bowel movements and makes a bigger bulkier stool. Insoluble fibre comes from cereals including bran cereals,unprocessed bran,whole-grain bread or whole-grain cereal;brown rice, baked poatoes(including the skin)and fruits such as apples(with skin), blueberries , raisins, raspberries and strawberries. A diet low in fibre maybe the cause of further complications such as diverticulosis.

Nutrition Part Two

In my last post I mentioned I would talk about the nutrients you need and how a poor diet can affect the body.

Nutrients You Need: Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fat

Carbohydrates should supply half of the day's energy. Their are two forms of carbohydrates Complex carbohydrates and Simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates come from whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, legumes(dried beans, peas, lentils),fruits and vegetables. Simple sugars come from sugar, honey, syrup, jam or jelly , candies soft drinks pastries,and the natural sugars in milk and fruit or fruit juices.

Simple sugar can pose a problem for those with IBD. Too much simple sugar can cause (or increase) diarrhea. That's because simple sugars cause more fluid to be drawn into the intestine, so food passes through quickly. Diarrhea can be somewhat controlled by limiting the consumption of concentrated sweets and desserts, soft drinks and undiluted fruit juices and dried fruits or high-sugar fruits such as grapes, pineapple and watermelon.

Proteins build and repair every cell in the body, and are especially important to growing children and to people who are ill or recovering from surgery. Proteins help wounds heal faster, repair the lining of the digestive tract, and help the tract product the enzymes that digest food and absorb nutrients. Foods that supply proteins include, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk legumes(dried beans, peas, lentils) and tofu.

Fat, the most concentrated source of energy, insulates the body and protects vital organs. Fish( in particular, cold-water fish, such as tuna, salmon, bluefish, mackerel and shellfish),is high in both fat and protein, and is easy to digest. Fats can be obtain in butter, margarine, vegetable oils, dairy, sauces and baked and fried food. Fat can be problematic for some people and should be monitored. More on fats in future posts.

Note: People with IBD are prone to losing protein from severe diarrhea. Signs and symptoms of protein deficiency include fatigue,brittle nails and dull, dry hair.

How a Poor Diet Affects the Body

There are many things that can happen to the body when it is deprived of appropriate nutritional intact...below is a list of things that could happened and how it could be caused by the lack of nutrients.....

• Anemia - can be caused by lack of Iron, Vitamin B12 or folic acid
• Bleeding & bruising - Vitamin K
• Bloating, diarrhea, gas - Maldigestion of carbohydrates and fat
• Bone fractures and pain - Protein, Vit. D, Calcium deficiency
• Delayed growth - lack of calories, malabsorbed proteins, fats or carbohydrate
• Lip and mouth sores - Iron, or B-Vitamin deficiency
• Muscle spasms - Electrolytes deficiency or imbalance
• Muscle wasting - Decrease caloric intact and malabsorption of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

It's not okay to just stop eating. People with IBD sometimes think they need to change their diet. They may feel too sick to eat, or are interested in trying a special diet plan. For whatever the reason for changing eating habits it's important to consult members of your health-care team. They will be able to help you design a diet specific to your needs.

In my next post I would like to talk about Fibre in the Diet, Medications and it's affect on nutrition and some of the common problems.

I hope you find this post informative and helpful...and if you know someone who might benefit from this post..please pass it along.

Good Health to you all!!

Nutrition Part One - Overview

There is so much to learn about Inflmmatory Bowel Disease and one area is that of Nutrition and Diet.

A lot of the information I am going to provide here is from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundations of Canada site. If you would like to find out more you can go to their web site....http://www.ccfc.ca/English/index.html

When I first started doing research on this topic I wanted some graphics to help demonstrate the effects IBD has on a person both pyhsically and the effects it has on self image. I came across the cover of this book....which I think illistrates very well how people with IBD can be effected.

I know that is exactly how I felt. It gets way to personal and at times very humbling....but it is necessary in order to get to the bottom of things(no pun intended). Acutally maybe there was...humour can be good and healthy. I digress.

NURTITION:

While good nutrition is universally important, it's even more so for people with IBD. That's because the better-nourished they are , the better their bodies will respond to the treatment of IBD.

People with IBD tend to eat less during periods of pain. Additionally when IBD is active, the digestive process is interrupted and nutrients are not absorbed effectively. Malnutrition may result.

People with IBD must be on guard for malnutrition which can happen very easily. People who are malnourished lose weight, lack energy, can become deficient in proteins,and essential vitamins and minerals and are more susuceptible to other illnesses.

Malnutrition can also be caused by malabsorption; the digestive tract's reduced ability to absorb all the nutrients offer to it.

Malabsorption may happen in IBD when:

• nutrients are lost through bleeding and diarrhea


• medications taken for IBD interact adversely with nutrients


• part of the intestine is surgically removed(that is, there is less absorptive tissue to process the nutrients in food).

A healthy diet is key component in the treatment of IBD. It's important that people with IBD consult their health-care team(doctor,dietitian, gastroenterologist and others)about the treatment that is most appropriate for their circumstances.

When symptoms are mild, a normal healthy diet and regular visits to your health professional may be advised. When symptoms are moderate,the person may be advised to change their diet slightly, and eat certain foods while avoiding others. Nutritional supplements may be recommended to reduce symptoms or compensate for weight loss.

Tomorrow I will post about the nutrients you need and how a poor diet affects the body.

Good Health to you all!

Understanding Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis

The two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) -- have several signs and symptoms in common, but they are very different conditions. One of the main differences between CD and UC is the location of the disease. CD can affect the digestive tract anywhere between the mouth and the anus, while UC only affects the large intestine (or colon). A second important difference is that CD inflammation involves all layers of the intestinal wall and UC affects only the inner lining.

Another key difference between CD and UC is the presence of co-morbid (or associated) conditions. Strictures, fistulas, and fissures tend to be more common in CD, while toxic megacolon is more common in UC. Distinguishing between the two forms of IBD can be difficult at times, but knowing the difference between the two is extremely important for treatment.

IBD is not the same as IBS although often they are confused and people think they are the same. IBD is a disease and IBS is a syndrome.

The annual incidence of Ulcerative colitis(UC) and Crohn's disease ranges from 1 to 10 per 100,000 people annually. The peak age-specific incidenc occurs near the age of 20, and a second smaller peak occurs near the age of 50. The prevalence of UC and Crhon's diseae ranges from 10 to 70 per 100,000 people, but recent studies have shown prevalence as high as 200 per 100,000 people. In the United States, males and females are equally affected, but both whites and people of Jewish decent are at much higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.

The Facts on Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the rectum and large intestine (colon). It's a chronic condition although symptoms can disappear for months at a time, only to flare up again unexpectedly. It typically first appears in men or women between the ages of 15 and 40, but occasionally this condition first occurs in people in their 60s.

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis

Researchers believe ulcerative colitis happens when the immune system overreacts in defending the body against a virus, bacteria, or dietary or environmental substance in the intestinal wall. It's still not clear what the exact trigger might be, but it's thought to vary from person to person.

Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease that tends to occur in people with a family history of the condition. It is related to other autoimmune conditions, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues instead of only fighting infections. Ulcerative colitis occurs most commonly in Caucasians, and particularly in people of Jewish heritage.

Certain environmental triggers can also lead to colitis. For example, people who live in cities are more at risk of developing the disease than those in rural areas.

Symptoms and Complications of Ulcerative Colitis

Bloody diarrhea is the main symptom of ulcerative colitis, caused by the inflammation in the bowel. People with colitis can have anywhere from three to 20 bowel movements daily, even losing control of their bowels and having diarrhea during sleep, in severe cases.

Other signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:

• lower abdominal pain and cramps (especially during defecation)
• rectal bleeding
• anemia (iron deficiency) due to blood loss in diarrhea
• urgency to defecate (urgent bowel movements) or incontinence (loss of bowel control)
• weight loss or other signs of malnutrition (e.g., tiredness or malaise)
• fever over 37.5ºC, especially when disease symptoms are severe

Some people with colitis develop arthritis, skin rashes, or inflammation of the eye, and about 4% get liver disease. In children, ulcerative colitis can lead to limited growth. There are also acute complications like bleeding and potentially severe inflammation of the intestinal wall (toxic megacolon).

A few people with ulcerative colitis will eventually develop colon cancer. Only people with severe inflammation extending to the upper colon - about one in three cases - have a much higher risk of developing colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer also increases over time, but regular examination by your doctor can help to reduce the risk.

(The above information on UC was obtained from CHealth)

The purpose of this blog.....

I haven't shared this on my main blog as I just didn't find that was an appropriate arena to discuss this topic, and it isn't the purpose of my main blog.

The idea of creating a blog specific to IBD came to me just the other morning as I was still experiencing my very first flare up of Ulcerative Colitis.

I want this blog to be a journal as well as a forum for others to ask questions about IBD(Inflammatory Bowel Disease). I will attempt to provide as much information as possible and provide links to sites that I think will provide additional information.

My eldest sister has suffered from Crohn's disease for over 35 years. I was recently diagnosised with Ulcerative Colitis last August, I have a brother and another sister who suffer from Irritable bowel.

About the Disease:

Inflammatory blowel disease(IBD)is a term used to describe two similar, yet distinct conditions: Crohn's deisease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is also known by other names including: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and pancolitis. These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the intestines to become inflamed, form sores(ulcers),bleed easily,scar and lose the normal smoothness of their innner lining. Symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain,cramping,fatigue,diarrhea,fever and joint pain.

No one know what causes IBD. It affects people regardless of race, gender or age. Although recent research is showing there might be a genetic link(hence so many in my family are affected),or they believe there may be an immunological response like an autoimmune disease.

IBD is unpredictable. Many people experience "flare-ups" (attacks)and then the disease seemingly goes away. The quiet periods are called "remission" and can vary in length from weeks to years. Most people will "relapse" and have multiple attacks. IBD symptoms may also vary in severity. Some people have mild symptoms and can be treated with a combination of drugs and nutritional therapy, while others experience debiliting symptoms and need to take potent drugs, visit hospital frequently, and/or have surgery.


My Story:

As I said at the beginning of this post I was diagnosised with Ulcerative Colitis in August 2007. I actually started getting symptoms last January 2007. After my colonoscopy in August, I was given a 6 week course treatment of Salofalk enemas. This meant self administering an enema every day for 6 weeks. This did eventually help ease my symptoms. But by the middle of October beginning of November my symptoms were coming back. The bloody mucosy stools, the constant cramping. Some days were more bearable than others. My magic bag became my best friend. The doctor had prescribed a drug called Apo Chlorax 5mg/2.5mg to be taken up to 4/day. There is a benzodiazipine in this drug which is to help relax you, and hence your bowel, it's great to for helping you sleep but it can be addicting and the less you have to use it the better. I tried to stay away from them. Two weeks ago the pain became the worst pain I have experienced since giving birth to my children. I mean at least with labour pain you know it will end eventually. Not so with IBD. You hope the pain will subside, in my case they pain got to a 9.5 out of a scale of 0-10. I was doubled over, all I wanted to do was rock and have my heating pad on me tummy. Hubby decided enough was enough. Off to emergency department we went. They took me in right away. The ER doctor saw me pretty quick. I had multiple view xrays of my abdomen to rule out a blockage. Upon my return I was given some narcotics. This in itself is a challenge for me as I am allergic to most narcotics. I was dehydrated. You see when you have flare ups the last thing you want to do is eat(Nutrition is something I want to cover in this blog)...you just want to rest your bowel and pray and hope that the pain goes away.

They started me on IV fluids, medications for the nausea,drugs to help decrease the acidity in my stomach and IV narcotics. I was then seen by a surgeon who started me on IV steroids(this helps decrease the inflammatory response), Asocal which is a medicaiton for colitis, and he started me back on the Salofalk enemas and admitted me to hospital. I spent two days in hospital. Once the steriods started to kick in the relief started to begin. I was discharged on oral steriods(prednisone)30mg once a day for 2 weeks, and was to continue with my enemas and to see him the following for another colonoscopy. At this point in time, I haven't eaten solid food for 4 days. The prep for the colonoscopy requires you to drink a medication that totally clears your bowel. There wasn't much in me, just clear fluids, but I did the prep. I was so dehydrated by the time it came to do the test, I also think my potassium was low due partially to the fact that my nutrional intact was poor and that prednisone depleats the body of much needed potassium(I will talk about signs and symptoms of decreased potassium in another post). I survived the colonoscopy and was told that I had ulcerative Proctitis(which is the lowest portion of the bowel)he took biopsies and I was told to stop the Asacol and to continue my prednisone and enemas and see him the following week.

So that is where I am at. I see the doctor on Friday hoping to get my results from my biopsies and a plan of attack.

I feel more confident this time that things will get taken care of. I felt like I got lost in the system. A lot about this disease is understanding the symptoms, and seeking medical attention as this won't go away by itself.

I will attempt to do post on Nutrional requirements, medications, current research and whatever anyone else would like to talk about or learn more about.

I dedicate this blog to all of you out there that suffer from IBD and that a cure may be found and that you know you are not alone and that with a few lifestyle changes one can lead a normal active life.