Crohn's Disease Symptoms And Natural Treatment

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the general term for inflammation diseases of the small intestine and colon. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is another form of IBD.
In Crohn's disease, the inflammation is generally in the lower part of the small intestine. But CD can also affect the entire digestive system from mouth to anus. Colitis, on the other hand, usually only occurs in the lower colon or rectum.

Crohn's Disease Symptoms and Complications
The range and severity of Crohn's disease symptoms can vary. This makes CD complicated to diagnose. However, the most common symptoms are:
o Abdominal pain, generally in the lower right area,
o With the pain being accompanied by diarrhea.
Other common Crohn's disease symptoms are:
o Rectal bleeding,
o Weight loss,
o Arthritis,
o Skin problems,
o And fever.
Persistent rectal bleeding is serious and can lead to anemia. Children with CD often suffer from malnutrition, delayed development and even stunted growth.
The most common Crohn's disease complications are:
o Blockage and narrowing of the intestine from inflammation and scar tissue;
o Sores or ulcers in the bladder, vagina or skin that often become infected;
o Small tears called fissures, which develop in the lining of the anus;
o Nutritional deficiencies caused by poor diet, loss of nutrients or mal-absorption;
o Arthritis, skin problems, inflammation of the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones and development of diseases of the liver and biliary system.

Who Gets Crohn's Disease and Why

A tendency towards Crohn's disease often runs in families, affecting both men and women. About one out of every five CD patients has a blood relative with IBD problems, usually a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Scientists are not clear if this connection is genetic or environmental, relating to diet and other family habits.
It's difficult to distinguish between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, since they both have such similar symptoms. These include:
o Abdominal pain and cramping,
o Frequent and often bloody diarrhea,
o Loss of body fluids and nutrients,
o Poor appetite, weight loss
o And persistent fatigue.
Medical tests are therefore necessary for the accurate diagnosis of an IBD.
Neither the specific cause nor cure is known for CD. Drug therapy and surgery can relieve symptoms, but do not offer any cure. Most patients are usually treated with anti-inflammatory medications, which have unpleasant and often serious side effects.
Most Crohn's Disease patients also need to avoid foods they personally find upsetting. This varies from one patient to another, but these usually include highly seasoned foods, raw fruits and vegetables and high lactose dairy products.

Natural Help for Crohn's Disease
Several recent studies reported in the Journal of Gastroenterology have shown that natural anti-inflammatory omega 3 fish oil, high in EPA, DPA and DHA fatty acids, can reduce the severity of inflammation from Chron's disease by more than 50%.
Taking fish oil also allows those suffering from the pain of inflammation from CD to discontinue potentially harmful anti-inflammatory and steroidal medications.
Because of the symptomatic loss of nutrients and dietary restrictions, natural, full spectrum food supplements, including pure, non-toxic fish oil capsules, are highly recommended to insure the nutrition necessary to stay as healthy as possible.

The best quality fish oil capsules are guaranteed to be toxin-free and to contain the full spectrum of all 8 important omega 3 fatty acids essential to optimum human nutrition. These are EPA, DHA, DPA, HPA, ETA, ETA (3), SDA AND ALA By Moss Greene

Arthritis Relief and Your Diet

Arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans and is referred to as the most common chronic disease in people over 40. Doctors believe there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, all sharing
one main characteristic: they all cause joint inflammation.
What can you do to relieve the symptoms of arthritis? A lot.
There is a great deal of debate in the medical world about the effects of overall
diet on arthritis and using diet toward alleviating the condition. Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out for a long time on other
common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. What is known however, is that overall dietary health is important and does come into play. Weight and nutrition are two factors that play a role in arthriticpain.
Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions, forcing some joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses the joints, causing overuse or more wear to components, and pain, especially in the knees.
If you suffer from arthritis make sure you eat good foods and get help from healthcare providers to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan.
To begin with, here are some vitamins, minerals, foods, supplements and herbal applications to consider.
Vitamins that have shown to reduce tissue swelling or provide relief include Vitamins B5, B6, B12, the antioxidant vitamins C and E, and vitamin K, which improves bone health.
Several independent studies have found that rheumatoid arthritis patients given increased doses of zinc showed marginal improvement. Other minerals to consider include Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese (not to be taken with calcium), Copper, Germanium and Sulfur.
The National Institutes of Health is studying the food supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, for use in relieving symptoms of pain and stiffness for some persons with osteoarthritis.
Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding.Fish oil supplements have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.Increasing dietary fish intake or fish oil capsules (omega 3 capsules) can relieve
inflammatory conditions like arthritis. For more information, see Omega 3 Fats
Glutathione is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and can be safely boosted by consuming its precursors available in the supplements, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) or undenatured whey protein.
For more information, see Glutathione.
Quercetin is also known to help reduce inflammation, while Type II Collagen plays a role in growth and repair of joints, articular cartilage and connective tissue. Because of the risk in overdosing, one should be discouraged from taking doses of vitamins that are higher than recommended without a physician's direction.
Some vitamins and minerals can actually worsen certain conditions, and the concentration that can be attained through vitamins can be dangerous. It is always better to increase in vitamin or mineral intake through your normal diet.
Foods To Avoid
There are many factors to consider with regards to arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and each factor may not apply to each individual. For example, certain people are allergic to specific foods, and these allergies
can indeed worsen arthritic conditions. The best way to approach the situation is to examine each arthritic condition and tailor one's approach based upon the specifics.
Ingesting foods that contain sodium nitrate or tartrazine can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to an arthritic condition connected to lupus.
Black walnuts can cause flare-ups in people a rare type of arthritis called Behcet's Disease.
With osteoarthritis, deterioration of cartilage is a concern. Since there is some evidence that Vitamin A, contributes to cartilage deterioration, those with osteoarthritis should avoid large doses of it.  Although clinical proof is not available, anecdotal evidence suggests that in the case of fibromyalgia, eliminating wheat, dairy, citrus, sugar, aspartame (Nutrasweet), alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco can provide relief.
Many nutritionists and naturopaths suggest that those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis avoid dairy products all together, as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoidarthritis flare-ups.
The report "ICured My Arthritis You Can Too" suggests that white flour aggravatesarthritis symptoms.
Disclaimer: The information here is not provided by medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.
By: Priya Shah

Vitamin Supplements to Promote Wellness and Anti-Aging

Vitamin Supplements to Promote Wellness and Anti-Aging

Don’t be fooled by clever packaging. For example, if you read somewhere that Omega 3 Fatty Acids are important to health and nutrition, keep a few things in mind 

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Fish Oil can easily turn rancid, so it’s important not to buy it in bulk. Purchase no more than a 30-day supply at a time. Give it a “sniff” before taking it. It should smell a touch fishy, but not rotten.

Cold water fish like salmon are rich in Omega 3s, but can also be contaminated with PBA’s or mercury. Read the label to ensure that the product you buy has gone thru a purification process. It will usually say “purified” or “distilled” on the label.

To be truly effective, your supplement should contain both EPA and DHA, not just one or the other. The label should tell you the levels of both.

Calcium

Not all calcium is created equal and absorbed by our bodies equally. For your body to use the calcium you take in, it’s important to have

adequate amount of other nutrients, vitamin D and magnesium especially. If you are taking a multi-vitamin that should be sufficient, or find a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D and magnesium.

Joint pain relief

Studies conducted in the U.S. and around the world have found that Vitamin D, Turmeric, Rose Hips and Boswellia all contribute to reducing joint pain

Rose Hips

Rose hips, the fruit of the rose plant, are rich with Vitamin C. They also contain vitamins D and E, essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants. Rose hip powder has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a multitude of ailments, including arthritis.

In 2007, research out of Germany & Denmark showed very positive results. Seventy-four rheumatoid arthritis sufferers participated in a six-month trial; half taking a rose hip remedy and half taking a placebo in addition to their other medications. The number of joints causing pain or discomfort fell by 40% for the group taking the rose hips, but did not change at all for the group taking the placebo. Activity levels among the rose hip group improved by 20%-25%, as well. Researchers were unclear what exactly in the rose hips produced such dramatic results, but it appears that they have both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Turmeric

Used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin that is a natural anti-inflammatory. Reducing inflammation helps reduce pain in joints.

Recent studies have shown that boswellic acids have an anti-inflammatory action much like the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used for inflammatory conditions.

Obviously, health and nutrition begins with consuming quality foods of nutritional value. But given today’s heavy use of pesticides, depleted soils, artificial fertilizers, imported foods with who-knows-what origins, in addition to the genetically modified crops of “FrankenFood” available to the public, supplemental vitamins and minerals seem a logical addition to wellness and health.

The special report, Eating Healthy to Reduce Your Pain, from Blue Spring Wellness will give you detailed information about the benefits and drawbacks of different food choices, as well as providing you with options for natural pain relief and delicious food!

by JIM ANGEL