6 Ways to manage inflammatory bowel disease

With the changing times where wholesome meals are frequently replaced with easier and unhealthier options, more and more cases of inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis appear every year. This disease can develop in anyone, irrespective of their age or family history.

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary, depending on the age and severity of the disease. Most people experience mild symptoms but depending upon the location of the inflammation, ulcerative colitis can cause some serious trouble. Some of the common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhoea, rectal and abdominal pain, and stunted growth in children.

Sometimes if the inflammation is severe, it can also cause bleeding and pus discharge in the digestive tract. The usual course of treatment for ulcerative colitis is drug therapy as it needs to be managed quickly before the condition worsens. But certain lifestyle and diet changes can help with the prevention and management of ulcerative colitis.

Follow a healing diet

It is very important for a person suffering from ulcerative colitis to follow a healing diet and allow the body to repair the damage. Any food allergies should be taken very seriously as ingesting something that you are allergic to can trigger a severe immune response which in turn can make the swelling worse.

Exercise is important

Moderate intensity exercise has proved to be very beneficial for people suffering from ulcerative colitis. Exercise improves blood circulation and helps the body to repair the damage and moderate the immune response. Include a couple of hours of activity in your schedule to minimize inflammation in your digestive tract.

Also read : Home remedies for stomach pain

Relax

Stress is often cited as a root cause of inflammatory bowel disease. Eliminating stress from your life can have far reaching health benefits and help relieve the pain associated with this disease. Include 3 minutes of meditation in your lifestyle, or take a long relaxing walk, involve yourself in something that interests you to drive the stress away. Yoga and meditation are great options to help you destress and combat ulcerative colitis.

Avoid food triggers

Certain foods such as caffeine and alcohol can worsen the symptoms and cause severe pain and inflammation. Though each person has different food sensitivities, there are some common food items which can trigger inflammation. Here are some foods which a patient of ulcerative colitis should remove from their diet –

• High fiber foods
• Raw vegetables and fruits
• refined flour and sugar
• Foods containing sulfur or sulfate
• Red Meat

Add omega 3 in your diet

Omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce gastrointestinal inflammation. Adding food items such as fatty fish, cod liver oil and nuts in your diet can also help alleviate pain and inflammation. If you are a chronic colitis sufferer, always consult with your doctor before changing your diet.

Also read: Treat Stomach Problems with Curd

Therapy to manage pain and stress

Constant pain and suffering can affect the quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis. Consult a therapist who specialises in the area of pain management to manage pain and stress.

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