Science has finally caught up with natural health.
Natural health practitioners (including yours truly) have been saying for quite some time that Crohn’s is an autoimmune condition wherein your immune system attacks healthy tissue in the GI tract and stirs up inflammation, and since 70 percent of that immune system is in your gut flora, that’s where the problem lies.
Plus we’ve also been saying that medications like NSAIDs, birth control pills and most especially antibiotics destroy your friendly intestinal flora, which allows dangerous organisms to thrive and increases your susceptibility to Crohn’s. There has been a concurrent rise in Crohn’s cases and antibiotic prescriptions over the last three decades and that’s no coincidence.
So we’ve been telling people with Crohn’s (as well as its cousin ulcerative colitis) to take care of their gut flora, keep it strong to fight off dangerous microbes and encourage their immune system to behave like it should!
Well, science finally agrees. Hip hip hooray.
Here’s the scoop:
Study shows three distinct bacteria in the guts of Crohn’s sufferers
A recent study at the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center revealed that three specific bacterial and fungal species were highly correlated with Crohn’s disease—E. coli bacteria, Serratia marcescens bacteria and the fungus Candida tropicalis.
Research had previously identified E. coli as a culprit, but this is the first study to show the other two microbes are also highly common in the guts of people with this painful condition.
The researchers are hopeful that this “new” discovery will pave the way for “new” ways to treat Crohn’s disease including—wait for it—PROBIOTICS!
Who knew?
A three-step approach to ease the discomfort of Crohn’s
Now that science appears to be on board, here is the safe, natural three-step approach to getting real relief from Crohn’s by supporting sound immune functioning and gut health and curbing inflammation that I have been recommending for ages:
1- Encourage sound digestion
Encouraging sound digestion and nutrient absorption are essential for Crohn’s sufferers since the villi in their small intestine are prone to damage and this inhibits the assimilation of nutrients.
And a great way to help is to eat nutrient-packed meals that your body can more efficiently break down!
Concentrate on nutritious real foods (fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, fish, eggs and healthy fats) and stay far away from processed junk, fake foods, artificial sweeteners, refined carbs, and especially soda.
Also, support better digestion by simplifying your meals—pair proteins OR starches (never both together) with vegetables and salads. Simpler meals like this work in harmony with your body’s digestive enzymes and are much easier for your system to break down.
Here are some examples to help you:
- Steak, green beans, tossed salad
- Chicken, broccoli, Caesar salad
- Whole grain pasta, spring mix salad, sautéed escarole
- Turkey meatballs, mashed cauliflower, antipasto
2- Strengthen your gut wall
For people with Crohn’s, it's imperative to have a strong gut wall and help keep harmful bacteria and fungi in check.
In addition to having a healthy diet, supplementing with probiotic strains from both the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species can be a tremendous help.
The Lactobacillus species of probiotics reside in the small intestine, and Bifidobacteria live in the large intestine. Since Crohn’s can strike anywhere in your intestinal tract, it’s crucial to support the entire area!
In addition, the amino acid glutamine has also been shown to help enhance gut wall strength. Glutamine is found in foods such as beans, red meat, nuts, and fish.
3- Keep inflammation low
Keeping inflammation low in the intestines is vital for Crohn’s sufferers.
And a great way to help tame inflammation in any area of the body is to engage the power of Nature’s anti-inflammatory—Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
See what a difference in can make in how you feel when you support your gut health and counteract the underlying causes of Crohn’s.
