Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a set of diseases that develop chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. These conditions include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The former is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, while the latter is characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum.. As explained by the experts at the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit entity dedicated to clinical practice, education and research, “Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease generally present with diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and loss of consciousness. weight”.
Crohn’s disease
Medline Plus, the website of the National Library of Medicine of the United States, mentions the symptoms that include this disorder, which can be severe, mild or can occur intermittently.
- Crampy abdominal (belly area) pain.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Lack of appetite and weight loss.
- Feeling that you need to have a bowel movement, even though your bowels are already empty. It can involve straining, pain, and cramping.
- Watery diarrhea, which may be bloody.
- Constipation.
- Ulcers or inflammation of the eyes.
- Drainage of pus, mucus, or stool from the area around the rectum or anus (caused by something called a fistula).
- Swelling and joint pain.
- mouth ulcers
- Rectal bleeding and blood in the stool.
- bleeding gums
- Red, tender bumps (nodules) under the skin that may develop into skin ulcers.
Healthy nutrition
In case of presenting symptoms of this disease, it is advisable to consult a doctor to receive the appropriate professional care. In this way, start timely treatment to avoid health complications.
Medline Plus explains that a balanced diet can be a key tool to supplement the treatment of Crohn’s disease.
Some of the recommendations related to food, by this entity, are:
- Eat small portions of food throughout the day.
- Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water during the day.
- Avoid eating high-fiber foods like beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn.
- Avoid eating fatty, greasy, fried foods or sauces.
- Reduce the consumption of dairy products, in case you have problems digesting dairy fats. An option for this may be to eat products such as cheese, low in lactose.
- Avoid eating spicy foods or products.
As explained by the Vtb portal, mushrooms are characterized by their low calorie content and their contribution of nutrients to the human body. They also have large amounts of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
According to this web portal, mushrooms work as prebiotics. “Prebiotics are specialized plant fibers. They act as fertilizers that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestine. Prebiotics are found in many fruits and vegetables, especially those that contain complex carbohydrates, such as fiber and resistant starch.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Doctors do not yet know the exact cause of this syndrome. In each person, the symptoms can vary and last for a long period of time. Medline Plus mentions the most common:
- Pain, cramping, or bloating in the abdomen related to having a bowel movement.
- Changes in the appearance of the stool.
- Changes in how often you have bowel movements.
- Gas increase.
- Swelling.
- Mucus in the stool.
In case of presenting symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor to receive the appropriate professional advice and start treatment in a timely manner. “Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet to help treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Changes may include eating more fiber, avoiding gluten, or following a special diet called a low-FODMAP diet.