Ulcerative colitis is a chronic health problem where the mucous membranes lining the colon become inflamed and develop ulcers, causing bloody diarrhea, pain, gas, bloating,
and hard stools. The colon muscles have to work harder to move these hardened stools through the colon. This can cause the mucous lining of the colon wall to bulge out into small
pouch like projections called diverticula. This normally occurs in the lower left section of the large intestine that is called the sigmoid
and is “S-shaped” part of the colon; however, it may occur in any part of the colon. Enteritis and
Ileitis are types of inflammation of the small intestine often associated with colitis.
Ulcerative colitis can range from mild to severe. Common complications are diarrhea and bleeding. A rarer complication is toxic
megacolon, in which the intestinal wall weakens and balloons out,
threatening to rupture. The cause or causes of most cases of colitis are
unknown, but risk factors include: poor eating habits, stress, and food
allergies.
Ulcerative colitis can also be caused by infectious agents such as bacteria. This type of colitis is
many times related to use of antibiotics which alter the normal
levels of bowel fora. Symptoms may include bloody diarrhea, bloating, gas, pain, stool
hardening, and absorption problems. Things that make it worse are poor eating habits,
stress, food allergies, and overuse of
antibiotics. See Immunity for a good
herbal antibiotic. A good colon
cleansing and restoration formula can help as well as drinking more water. Reduce
fats, oils, milk, cheese, soft drinks, and caffeine. Eat lots of vegetables and fish.
Ulcerative colitis can also indicate an increased risk of colon
cancer. Proper diet, plenty of water, and a good nutritional
supplementation as shown below can help both prevent and heal
colitis.
| Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Acidophilus |
10 |
friendly bacteria needed for good bowel
and colon health. Maybe combined with Lactobacillus rhanosus,
Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus plantarum in a combination
such as Botana Cleanse (see link below) |
| Aloe Vera |
10 |
herb that helps heal the colon and also aides in lowering stress. |
| Red
Clover |
10 |
herb that is helpful for ulcerative
colitis in cleansing and detoxifying |
| Dandelion |
10 |
herb that works with red clover |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
vitamin B complex, magnesium, calcium, chromium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, and multi
enzyme, all serve to help people with ulcerative colitis. The nutrients
contained in a daily supplement are needed for good general health and
well being. |
| vitamin A |
9 |
vitamin A is an anti-oxidant protects the mucous membranes that become inflamed with
ulcerative
colitis and it also helps in healing. |
| Carotenoids |
9 |
work with vitamin A |
| vitamin E |
9 |
vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that provides healing and has been shown to help prevent
bowel cancer. |
| vitamin B |
9 |
vitamin B complex is needed for breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates as well
as good digestion. |
| Pyridoxine |
9 |
vitamin B6 aids in digestion issues |
| Folic
acid |
9 |
people with ulcerative colitis are often
deficient in folic acid. It also helps protect against colon cancer. |
| Glutamine |
8 |
aids in maintaining the villi which are
the absorption surfaces for the intestines |
| Omega fatty
acids |
8 |
important for protecting the lining of the colon and anti-inflammation associated with
ulcerative
colitis. Fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish and plant
sources of flax seed, and borage seed |
| Magnesium |
8 |
low intake of magnesium has been linked to
ulcerative colitis and a good source of magnesium is a
quality multi-vitamin & mineral supplement especially one
that also includes calcium, chromium, and zinc. |
| Calcium |
8 |
companion to
magnesium (see above) |
| vitamin C |
8 |
vitamin C helps boost the immune system and
it promotes healing of mucous membranes. It can
be taken in a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement
form. |
| Bioflavonoids |
8 |
work with vitamin C |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
