Amy Dowden opens up about her battle with Crohn's disease
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Crohn’s disease (CD) is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. One of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation comes not from the pharmacy, but rather from the grocery store. With that in mind, what are the worst food types to avoid helping with the condition?
According to Health Harvard, the foods which cause the most inflammation include:
- Refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pastries
- French fries and other fried foods
- Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages
- Red meat and processed meat
- Margarine.
One study published in the US National Library of Medicine, looked at the increased consumption of refined carbs and how that affected patients with Crohn’s disease.
The nutritional habits of 63 patients with Crohn’s disease was explored in the study by means of questionnaires and compared with a control group.
“There existed no significant difference in the intake of other foodstuffs such as proteins, fats, vegetables or alcohol,” noted the study.
The high intake of refined carbohydrates, however, showed a great effect in patients with Crohn’s disease and may be partly due to its sugar content.
Another study looked at the effect of sugar on Crohn’s disease which was published in Hindawi.
Many surveys have shown that patients with Crohn’s disease habitually eat more than the average amount of some processed foods, namely those rich in added sugars, began the study.
It added: “Sugar rich meals lead to increased intestinal permeability which is a feature of Crohn’s disease patients and of their relatives.
“Replacement of added sugars and fibre depicted cereals by whole or unrefined foods is well tolerated by most patients with Crohn’s disease and it may reduce their need for surgery and hospital treatment.
“Until the pathogenesis of the disease is clarified the role of dietary factors remains debatable but the evidence incriminating a sugar rich highly processed diet in the etiology of Crohn’s disease, albeit indirect, is enough to justify further research in this area.”
It is estimated that Crohn’s Disease affects about one in every 650 people in the UK.
With medication, many people with Crohn’s have mild and infrequent symptoms of diarrhoea and pain, and their illness may not affect their lives very much, adds the charity.
Crohn’s can start at any age, but usually appears for the first time between the ages of 10 and 40.
Drug treatment for Crohn’s usually aims to reduce symptoms, control flare-ups and achieve remission.
The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach aches and cramps
- Blood in your poo
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Weight loss.
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