Crohn's disease affects around 1.4 million Americans. Characterized by inflammation of the lining of the GI tract, Crohn's can lead to painful symptoms. Crohn's disease symptoms include diarrhea, intestinal cramping, nausea, and fatigue, among other health problems. (1)
While conventional treatment for Crohn's disease often includes medication, of course, following a Crohn's disease diet and implementing complementary treatments can help manage Crohn's disease symptoms naturally.
Crohn's Disease Symptoms
So you understand, CD is an inflammatory bowel disease and also likely an autoimmune condition. Once established, its symptoms can wax and wane, which is why vigilant care will help you manage the disease over time. (2)
Note that some believe that Crohn's and IBD is not an autoimmune condition but the body attacking something foreign in the gut, like a virus or bacterium. (3)
Here are some common Crohn's disease symptoms, as well as secondary effects resulting from CD: (4)
- Diarrhea and loose stools
- Intestinal cramping and abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and fatigue
- Blood in stool
- Ulcers and mouth sores
- Reduced appetite and weight loss
- Perianal disease (5)
- Inflammation of the skin, eyes, joints, liver or bile duct
- Developmental delays in children
Please Note: inflammation of the GI tract can also lead to constipation. The stool just can't get through! So try Oxy-Powder, which liquifies stool, making it easier to move through a narrow GI tract.
Crohn's Disease Treatments
1. Eat a Crohn's Disease Diet
When symptoms flare, that's when you really want to focus on eating well for your gut. An ideal diet for Crohn's disease includes removing potential problem foods and replacing them with anti-inflammatory foods. Specifically, remove dairy, sugar, gluten, alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods from your diet to prevent inflammation. Then replace these foods with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and clean protein sources. (6)
2. Monitor Your Symptoms
Perhaps the most important part of Crohn's disease treatment involves monitoring symptoms. For example, Crohn's disease symptoms often arise when your body doesn't respond well to something you ate. If you pay attention to which types of foods cause you problems, then you can keep them out of your diet. (7)
3. Drink Plenty of Fluids
Now, we know that drinking plenty of fluids helps digestion and our bodies on many levels. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Lack of fluids affects digestion. Therefore, as part of Crohn's disease treatment, it's important to drink plenty of fluids. Water, herbal tea, and kombucha drinks can help you stay hydrated while providing your body with the nutrients it needs.
Also don't forget you need electrolytes throughout the day, not just when exercising. Adding a dash of sea salt to every glass of water will boost your hydration!
4. Manage Stress Levels
Stress can increase muscle tension, cramping, and inflammation. In fact, research continues to explore the link between stress levels and inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn's. (8)
So discover new strategies to manage stress and take a load off your GI tract. Explore traditional stress relief measures, like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga. Or consider mindful movement exercises, like Tai Chi, as well as body massage and muscle relaxation. Lower stress levels are a natural treatment for Crohn's disease. (9)
5. Take Supplements
Crohn's can affect the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Treatment for Crohn's disease includes natural supplements to help ensure that the body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs. Try Vitamin B12, iron, a probiotic, or a high-quality multivitamin. (10)
6. Avoid Medications
Crohn's disease treatment includes avoiding medications that can interfere with normal digestion and proper gut health. And yes, taking these medications even before you develop IBD may increase your risk of the disease! So avoid or use sparingly medications including antibiotics, contraceptives, and NSAIDs (pain killers like aspirin and ibuprofen). (11)
As always, please contact your trusted healthcare professional if you have any concerns about this condition or the medications you're using.
7. Replenish Good Bacteria in the Gut
Studies suggest that adding more friendly bacteria to the gut may work as a treatment for Crohn's disease. Probiotics help fill the gut with helpful bacteria and support a healthy digestive system. As a treatment for Crohn's disease, take a probiotic supplement or fill your diet with probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, kefir, and kombucha. (12)
Kimchi is another good probiotic food, but the spiciness of kimchi may cause irritation to the GI tract.
Pro Tip: Irritable Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are different conditions. Learn the difference to better help yourself and those you love. (13)
