Currently there is no known cure for Colitis. However there may be ways to treat, prevent or alliviate symptoms based on research that has been known to assist colitis sufferers.
In researching this most people have advocated a vegan diet to assist the alleviation of inflamable bowel diseasel however through my research to do a vegan will be very expensive, time consuming and require lots of supplement tablets.
Amino Acid: Glutamine, Glycine (2 essential amino acids derived from the following foods)
Eggs:
Now I don’t like to bandy around words such as superfood but for the case of the egg and helping prevent colitis, I have to say egg is the super food as it has all the recommended viamins – A, D, E. (Later in vitamin supplements I will explain how these vitamins work to help the large intestine and colon.it has two of the specifically mentioned amino acids – glycine and and contains all essential amino acids – Amino Acids help make up protein that the body can use, for repairing the body and growing and also assists with healthy skins, hair and eyes – and a healthy gastric system. Calcium, Folate and Iron. it sounds just like a breakfast cereal with all those goodies added however they all occur naturally in eggs.
If you have allergies or other issues there are other ways to source these vitamins and amino acids, just not in one easy serving.
The proteins and vitamins are not affected too adversly by heat, you can take them raw (slightly higher risk of salmonella) or cook them, fried, boiled, or poached.
Milk – 100g intake will assist with
Vitamin A 3% :Vitamin B1 3%
Vitamin D 10%: Glycine (Amino Acid) .075g
Vitamin K assists with clotting – which is important to know if you over do it in the foods or things that will reduce inflamation by reducing blood thickness.
Lean Beef: High levels of selenium and B12, make this a food for healthy colon. contains low levels of Vitamin E. Essential amino acids.
Chicken: Excellent sources of glycine, and other essential amino acids, 5% daily recomended intake of Vitamin A
diary products: as displayed lower – also good source of glyciene and glutamine.
Wheat: good source of carbohydrates, dietary fiber and protiens
Cabbage: contains glutamine and has anti-inglammatory properties.
Beans: High in complex carbourhydrates, protiens, and fiber. (The variety from green beans to kidney beans.)
Spinach: Is another superfood in the jackpot of getting the most helpful and efficient vehicle of antioxidents, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, protiens and omega-3- fatty-acids.
Parsley: Has amino acids
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Amino Acid – not essential Taurine – commonly found in energy drinks like V, and Mother. Also in protien shakes.
Barley Grass: Best taken in powder form, has essessential and non essential amino acids, more carotene than spinach and a whole heap of other benefits as well as able to assist people who stomach and intestinal problems.
Apples – decrease risk of colon cancer – which is increased in the cases of people with IBD, so to reduce it is best.
Melatonin – assists with the immune system and can be used in treatment for cancer
Is created naturally by the body in the dark, even indoor lights will not allow the melationin to be created. it can be bought as a supplement. use only as directed.
Acemannan – Immunostimulant found in Aloe Vera, assists in cleansing the colon and improving gastric juices.
The only place I have found this is in Aloe Vera juice or supplements. The aloe vera juice has an alkaline (base) taste, the health benefits really do make the taste worth the it.
Glucomannan – sourced naturally
In Asian, made noodles and jellys.
Roots – Potatos, sweet potatoes
Inulin- Is found in Garlic, Onion, Dandelion and Chicory. Also again there are supplements.
Lycopene – is the red in the tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit (however grapefruit is not recommended for people with Colitis am yet to find out why). Pink Guava, papaya (highly recommended),
Lycopene is actually enhanced during the cooking and processing of tomatoes, which makes tomato ketchup the most reliable source of high lycopene’s at 124, tomato sauces varies between 63 – 131.
Watermelon also very high, 36-73
Lipids occur most commonly in fat soluble vitamins, however there are others and they occur in the following:
Butyric Acid – this occurs by fibres breaking down and fermenting in the colon.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Fish particularly the smellier fish such as salmon, mackeral, anchovies and sardines.
Flaxseed, butternuts, hempseeds, persian walnuts, pecan nuts and hazel nuts.
Phosphatidylcholine – found in egg yolk and soy beans.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus – Inhibits the most harmful growth of bacteria. this is commonly found in yogurt and other diary products.
Lactobacillus plantarum – sources are fermented foods such as – sauerkraut, pickles, brine olives, Korean kimchi, Nigerian ogi, sourdough and other fermented plant material, and also some cheeses fermented sausages and stock fish.
Lactobacillus reuteri – not always found in people. The benefit of this bacteria assists the immune system by the fighting harmful infections.Have been known to reduce diarrhoea.
Sources of Lactobacillus reuteri – Human breast milk, other option is dietary supplements. Personally I opt for supplements.
Lactobacillus salivarius – is new found bacteria that is now in supplement form. this assists with breaking down protiens effectively.
Inosine – found in Turbot and Japanese Amberjack (yellow tail) in these fish that are farmed.
Curcumin the active ingreadient in Tumeric. this is reputed to treat colitis. Tumeric has long been used in Asian cultures for ailments.
Diosmin is found in the pulp/ white of citrus fruits this assists in reducing inflammation also again reputed to treat this strain of inflammable bowel disease.
Hesperidin is also found in the pulp/white of the citrus fruits, and also assists in reducing inflammation. Also treats colitis.
Quercitrin is sourced from onions, red onions, apples, green and black tea, red grapes, citrus fruits, tomato, broccoli and other green leafy vegetables. Quercitrin reduces colon damage.
Sources of Vitamin A:
Grains: Bread, Cereral and other grain products such as oatmeal/porridge and other fortified ready to eat cererals.
Fruits: Apricot – in all forms, cantaloup, mandarin orange sections, mango, honeydew, nectarine, plums, watermelon, and tomatoes in all forms.
Vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, chard, collards, endive, chicory, romaine, or escarole, kale, mustard greens, peas, red capsicum, plantain, green or ripe, pumpkin, spinach, squash sweetpotato, and turnip all forms.
Meats: Liver, braised, beef, or pork, chicken or turkey
Seafood: mackerel,
Dairy products: Cheese, yogurt and milk in all forms.
Sources of Vitamin D
The best source of vitamin D, is exposure to the sun.
The skin of salmon, mackerel and tuna and oil from the liver of fish contain good amounts of Vitamin D.
Small amounts of vitamin D are found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolk. Primarily D3.
Some mushrooms after being exposed to UV light contain D2.
Other foods can be fortified with Vitamin D.
Good sources of Vitamin E
Oils: taken in a dose as directed: Wheat germ oil, soybean oil, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, peanut butter, corn oil
Vegetables: Spinach boiled, spinach raw, broccoli
Legumes: Almonds, dry roasted, hazelnuts, dry roasted, peanuts, dry roasted
Fruits: kiwifruit, mango, tomato
For people with Chron’s disease there can be a problem with vitamin E being absorbed in to the body and you may require Vitamin E in water soluble supplement rather than in its natural form as fat-soluble vitamin.
Manuka Honey reputed to have healing effects and good for general health. Reputed to prevent or treat colitis.
Propolis the bees use this to seal up the hive, it has been used to relieve inflammation – may alleviate chronic colitis.
Astragalus – found in supplements
Calendula – is a plant that can assist with adominable cramps and constipation
Chamomile – Chamomile tea, available in most supermakets.
Dandelion – tea is available
Green tea – can assist in reducing inflammation
Grapefruit Juice
The rationale behind this list, is that if as they say there is no cure to Colitis, its a painful process and painful to live with, eating well can prevent it. if you already have this condition, these foods are reputed to allieviate, treat or prevent the symptoms.
I currently am awaiting diagnosis, as this is a painful condition I have started to look in to how to minimise the effects on my life and eating well to relieve the pain without having to constantly take pain killers that I refuse to take regualarly as they have worse effects for my health, and can cause further problems, also they only take the edge of the most severest of pain that I experience but don’t assist with everyday pain that was causing me to be incredibly tired.
There is so much food here to assist with preventing and minimising the effects that there is lots of variety and moderation is important in all things.
Disclaimer this is for informational purposes only, and things may change as more information comes to light. you should consult with your doctor to ensure these are the right choices for your particular needs.