Crohn's Disease - Prevention

Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, affects up to 480,000 Americans. Crohn's disease involves chronic inflammation of random areas of the colon and intestines, causing severe diarrhea, acute abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, and fatique. The disease has no cure but can be managed with medication and diet. The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, although there appears to be a genetic factor. If a parent has Crohn's, you have a higher chance of developing the disease. There is currently no medically documented way to prevent Crohn's disease. However, you may be able to reduce the likelihood of developing Crohn's disease through your lifestyle and diet. Here are some tips to help you lessen your chances of developing Crohn's disease.

How to Avoid Crohn's Disease

• Quit smoking. Smoking may contribute to the development of Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease patients who smoke experience more acute symptoms and frequent flare-ups than nonsmoking patients.

• Limit the consumption of alcohol. Overindulgence in alcoholic beverages has a negative effect on the digestive tract, leading to a gastrointestinal environment that may become susceptible to Crohn's disease.

• Eat a large quantity of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables will provide essential vitamins and nutrients. This food group is also easy to digest. Foods that are easy on the digestive tract are gentle to your colon and intestines. Crohn's is less likely to form in a healthy gastrointestinal system. These types of food also keep you satisfied so that you are not tempted to constantly snack on junk food.

• Get plenty of fiber in your diet. A high fiber diet will keep your colon and intestines healthy. Lack of fiber can cause constipation and prevent the bowels from functioning properly. Unhealthy bowel habits and constipation may lead to chronic conditions such as Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

• Follow a low-fat diet. Studies have shown that high fat, low-fiber diets may contribute to Crohn's disease. Select low fat foods that are easy to digest.

• Reduce sugar in your diet. Excessive sugar can cause hormonal imbalances, obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. High sugar diets may also lead to Crohn's disease.

• Eat a well-balanced diet that provides enough protein to keep the body healthy. Consult a nutritionist to develop a diet plan for your specific needs. Let the nutritionist know that you want a diet plan geared toward preventing inflammatory bowel disease and a healthy gastrointestinal system.

• Take a quality multivitamin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements to make certain that you get enough nutrients in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements aid overall health and assist the digestive tract. Omega-3 fatty acid is sometimes used to help Crohn's disease patients prevent the recurrence of symptoms. The role of omega-3 fatty acid in Crohn's disease management is debatable. Some studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acid helped patients stay symptom-free. Other studies determined that omega-3 fatty acid had no effect on preventing flare-ups. Omega-free fatty acid may work best to maintain general good health to prevent the initial development of Crohn's disease.

• Stay active. Regular exercise is a good defense against Crohn's disease and most chronic conditions. Fitness keeps the body balanced, burns calories, increases energy, and aids digestion.

• Reduce stress. High stress may play a role in the development of Crohn's disease. It is important to find a way to relax daily and reduce stress in your life. Develop a relaxation plan to help you avoid stress. Find some enjoyable activities that will help you unwind. Spend time with loved ones. Listen to music. Go the the movies. Take a leisurely walk on a nice day. If you have a stress-free lifestyle, you can lessen your chances of developing Crohn's disease.