Crohn’s Disease (CD) - Liver Doctor

A-Z Health Guide

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Crohn’s Disease – or ileitis as it is sometimes called – is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory reaction that may affect the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus. However, it most often attacks the last part of the small intestine where it joins the colon in the ileo-cecal area.

In Crohn’s Disease (CD), all layers of the bowel can be affected. The inflammation may eventually result in deep scarring leading to narrowing of the intestinal lumen. It is an autoimmune disease.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of CD can be many and may include:

abdominal pain
anemia
fatigue
flatulence
bleeding from the bowel
watery/bloody stools
chronic diarrhea
loud intestinal noises
fever
weight loss
loss of appetite
Fissures (cuts) in the anal area

Crohn’s Disease bears many similarities to Ulcerative Colitis.

Recommended books

Recommended treatment

Conventional treatment includes antibiotics, anti inflammatory drugs and/or surgery to remove the diseased portion of the intestine.

Diet changes are essential. Patients must remove gluten and dairy products from their diet. The diet must be 100% gluten and dairy free. Sometimes additional food sensitivities exist. See our recommendations for autoimmune conditions here.

Raw juicing

Raw Juices Can Save Your Life

Recipe for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ingredients

1 carrot
2 sticks celery
2 cabbage leaves or 2 dandelion leaves
2 inch (5cm) slice beetroot
2 apples or 2 pears
2 spinach or 2 kale leaves

Method

Wash, trim and chop and pass through juicer – make enough for one liter (32 oz) of juice per day. You may need to dilute the juice with 50% water (or even more water), as the inflamed intestines may not be able to handle a concentrated juice.
Drink small amounts, 100 to 200mls (3 to 7 oz) of the diluted juice, every few hours during the day, to make up a total of around one liter (32 oz).

Tropical Smoothie

Ingredients

1.5 cups milk – choose coconut, rice or almond milk
1 banana
1 tbsp slippery elm powder
1 scoop Ultimate Gut Health Powder
2 kiwi fruit or 1/2 cup blackberries or 6 strawberries or 1/2 paw paw
(You may use less fruit if the diarrhea is severe)

Method

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Diet

Diet must be adjusted according to the severity of the symptoms. The goals are good nutrition and prevention of a secondary infection. If the ileum is diseased, be aware that vitamin B 12 deficiency may occur.

Recommended supplements for Crohn’s disease

Magnesium Tablets or Powder
Take 2 tablets daily or 1/2 teaspoon daily in water or raw juice. Magnesium plays an essential role in maintaining and promoting efficient muscle function and nerve transmission. It is a potent muscle relaxant, useful in spasms, twitches and cramping. Magnesium is lost from the body during bouts of diarrhea.
Ultimate Gut Health powder
Take 1 level scoop daily. Ultimate Gut Health keeps your intestines as healthy as possible. Designed to soothe, heal and repair the gut lining, you will find your intestines love this powder.
N Acetyl L Cysteine (NAC)
Take 1 to 2 capsules twice daily 10 minutes before food. N-Acetyl-Cysteine is required for the body’s production of glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful natural antioxidant that assists detoxification and helps to reduce inflammation in the body.
Selenomune
Take 1 capsule daily with food. Selenium is very helpful for all autoimmune conditions because it helps to reduce inflammation and reduce auto-antibody production.
Vitamin D
Take 1 capsule daily with food. Many patients with an autoimmune condition have insufficient blood levels of vitamin D. This can worsen inflammation and fatigue. Vitamin D also helps to reduce auto-antibody production.