How to Manage Your Gut Health With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

What are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases? Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are a group of disorders that adversely affect your intestines by producing chronic inflammation, causing pain and swelling.

IBD includes mainly two types : 

• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease can affect any part from the mouth to the anus and causes pain and swelling in the digestive tract. The small intestine and upper part of the large intestine are mostly affected. The patches of inflammation mark it.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis causes swelling and ulcers in the large intestine. The colon and rectum are severely affected due to continuous inflammation of the large intestine.

IBD is observed in the age group between mid-teens and early 30s.

Three factors are known to play a role in developing IBD:

• Immune System: In people with IBD, the Immune system functions abnormally by considering food as a foreign substance, triggering inflammation.
   
• Genetics: 25% of the diseased population have a family history of the disease.
   
• Environmental Triggers: Smoking, stress, certain medications, and depression can trigger inflammatory responses in people with a family history of the disease.

Symptoms of IBD: What Makes IBD Different from IBS?

Symptoms of IBD may be mild or severe and follow a pattern of appearing suddenly or coming on gradually.

IBD symptoms show a period of flares and remission.

•  Periods of symptoms are IBD flares.
•  Periods without symptoms are called IBD remissions.

Common symptoms seen in IBD include:

• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhoea 
• Constipation
• Bowel urgency
• Gas 
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Mucus/blood in stool
• Upset stomach

Other symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Lowered energy level
• Fever
• Itchy and red eyes
• Joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rashes 
• Skin ulcers
• Visual defects

Complications of IBD: Identifying the Red Flags

People with IBD are likely to develop various complications, including:

• High risk of developing colorectal cancer
• Anal fistula 
• Anal stenosis or stricture (narrowing of the anal canal)
• Anemia 
• Kidney stones
• Liver cirrhosis 
• Bile duct inflammation
• Malabsorption 
• Malnutrition 
• Osteoporosis
• Perforated bowel
• Severe intestinal swelling

Managing IBD through Lifestyle Adjustments 

Before getting into this question, let us first answer a FAQ - How can one prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Even though specific treatments can help manage this lifelong condition, there is nothing much you can do to prevent this condition.

The dietary and lifestyle changes that may control the symptoms include:

• Consider Smaller Meal Portions: Eat smaller meals between two to four hours.
   
• Stress Management: meditation, movement like tai chi, listening to music, or walking.
   
• Stay Active: Get quality sleep and stay physically active.
   
• Track Down Your Trigger Foods: Identify foods that trigger IBD flares.
   
• Reduce Consumption of Intestine Irritating Foods: Minimise consuming foods that are fibrous, spicy, greasy or made with milk.
   
• During Symptomatic Period/Flares: Choose soft, light, less inflammatory foods.
   
• Stay away from carbonated beverages and the ones containing caffeine and alcohol.
   
• Stay Hydrated: Drink more water to prevent dehydration.
   
• Quit smoking.

Dietary Management for IBD: Relieving the Discomforts Naturally

No specific diet plan has proven effective in preventing or controlling IBD. Managing your diet with certain modifications can help in managing your disease effectively.

What To Eat?

To relieve the discomfort and pain during symptomatic attacks naturally, consume the following:

• Low-Fibre Foods: They are easy to digest and are gut-friendly.
   
• Cooked Vegetables: Well-cooked fresh or frozen vegetables such as green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes, and pureed squash should be used.
   
• White Foods: Employ these and the ones with less than 2 grams of fibre per serving.
   
• Ripe Bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew, apples without skin, and watermelon can fill your refreshing, healthy bowl of snacks.
   
• Include enough protein in your diet.
   
• Lean beef and pork prepared without added fat are a bonus.
   
• You can consume well-cooked meats, poultry, salmon, low-sodium and low-fat meat varieties in moderation.
   
• Well-cooked eggs, tofu, almonds, and sunflower can be good protein sources and specific essential vitamins.
   
• Limit added fats and oils.
   
• Drink plenty of fluids.
   
• Lactose-free milk
   
• Fortified non-dairy milks
   
• Coconut or rice milk
   
• Fortified pea milk and soy milk
   
• Yoghurt/ lactose-free yoghurt

Role of Probiotics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Studies have also shown that certain probiotic bacteria can prevent or decrease the severity of intestinal inflammation, and some of the clinical evidence also supports the use of probiotics in IBD.

How Can Probiotics Help in Benefiting Patients with IBD?

Probiotic bacteria may regulate the host-microbe interaction in a way that helps in minimising the inflammatory responses of the patients.

In What Specific Conditions Might Probiotics be Effective?

Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria offer benefits for IBD patients. Consuming these can help you improve the intestinal microbiome, modulating immune responses and protecting the intestinal lining.

Management Strategies for IBD - A Holistic Approach

Top 5 Super drinks to alleviate IBD:

1. Flaxseed Water: Stimulates digestion while fighting inflammation.
2. Aloe Juice: Relieves digestive and intestinal disorders.
3. Chamomile Infusion: Acts effectively to alleviate and combat colitis.
4. Coconut Water: Fights dehydration. Also, it is a source of mineral salts, vitamins and fibre and is known to relieve ulcerative colitis.
5. Guava Juice: Helps regulate bowel movement and supports colitis recovery while providing relief.

When Should I Consult a Healthcare Professional?

Check for these symptoms:

• Unexplained /Excess weight loss
• Extreme abdominal pain 
• Diarrhoea
• Fever 
• Signs of infection
• IBD flare
• Frequent occurrence of Upset stomach

To Conclude

IBD is a lifelong condition where no specific measures are available to prevent the disease, but lifestyle changes with certain dietary modifications can help effectively manage the situation. Tracking down your trigger foods to relieve the condition and feed your body enough proteins is essential. 

Do not hesitate to consult a healthcare professional whenever you suffer from symptoms that cause prolonged pain and discomfort. Get connected to the Health Experts at Nirva to get your IBD management plan fixed now!