Ulcerative Colitis:
There is Hope!
As you already know, Ulcerative Colitis is a
term to describe inflammation in the lining of
the intestinal wall when ulcers are present and
bleeding occurs. Colitis is inflammation without
ulcerations.
For me, my battle with Ulcerative Colitis began at a very
stressful time in my life. There is no doubt that stress and
anxiety plays a huge role in the development of this disease. I
also want to say that around the same time I was put on a strong
antibiotic for a sinus infection. It
wasn't until later on when I read that Colitis was a
possible permanent side effect from taking this medication.
Although it could never be proven completely, I know for sure
that the combination of the stress and medication was not a good
mix for me.
I suffered for many years. My doctor put me on Asacol®,
which never made any difference in how I felt. In fact, I could
hardly digest them. This was the beginning of my personal
journey for answers that would make a real difference in my
life. I am happy to say that after years of research and
personal experimentation, I have found many different things
that have helped me reach full remission with my disease. I am
no longer on prescription medication, in fact it has been almost
6 years! I was fortunate in finding a great Gastroenterologist
who encouraged me to do whatever it took to feel better. He was
not against natural therapies, he even encouraged me to keep
doing what worked! I was thrilled when my last colonoscopy test
came back and showed no signs of Ulcerative Colitis, only the
old scar tissue from my previous years. I have to admit, after
all these years, this was a personal victory for me! One that I
would hope to continue throughout my life.
Below, I will share with you the things that brought me hope,
gave me direction and some of the supplements that made a
difference in my physical healing. I believe they are all
responsible for bringing me to where I am today. If at any time,
you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If you are suffering with Colitis (Ulcerative Colitis), I
just want to encourage you by telling you that you can become
well again. You must be willing to have faith, and never give up
because there is real help beyond medication. I am a living
testimony to this!
Helpful Tips for Ulcerative Colitis
Drink lots of water! Dehydration is a common
problem with colitis sufferers. Good water intake will also help
with your energy level. Remember to drink water at room
temperature. Your body has to work harder to process cold
drinks!
Rest during flare ups. It's okay to take
time out when you aren't feeling well. A good nights sleep goes
a long way.
Exercise whenever possible. Exercising helps
with stress as well as digestion. Even if all you can do is
walk, do it whenever you can.
Keep down your stress level! This is so
important. Your mind and the amount of stress you feel effects
your physical body. I highly encourage
stress management to keep yourself emotionally balanced.
Take time each day to educate yourself. Be
proactive in your own physical recovery. Don't be afraid to try
new things and always be open to learning from others who have
been there.
Stick to foods that are alkaline. A diet
rich in alkaline foods has been shown to help with digestive
disorders. If you don't understand alkaline foods vs. acidic
foods and how they effect the body, consider these resources:
The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide: A Quick Reference to Foods & Their
Effect on pH Levels
- a great book worth reading. This will help you understand more
about alkaline/acid food relationships and their effect on the
body.
Alkaline Acid Food Chart
- this is a great chart that you can just place on your refrigerator for quick
reference.
Remember
Green Magma
is an alkaline food supplement too.
Eat smaller amounts more frequently. Taking in smaller
amounts of food at each sitting is easier on your digestion and will cause less
uncomfortable symptoms.
Avoid foods high in white sugar. One thing you must remember
is that white sugar is food for bad bacteria.
Foods to Avoid during Flare Ups
- fried foods
- spicy foods
- foods containing MSG
- starchy foods
- nuts and seeds
- caffeine
- raw fish (bacterial risk)
- specific spices (black pepper,
red pepper)
- acidic foods ( vinegar, tomatoes, citrus)
- raw vegetables (harder to
digest- consider steaming)
- refined and sugary foods
Recommended Reading
Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet
by Elaine Gottshall is a ground breaking book. I came across
this book many years ago. This book teaches the Specific
Carbohydrate Diet which Elaine developed to help her save her
son from his serious battle with Ulcerative Colitis. She did
more than help him, she healed him. This book is an impressive
read. Elaine is known for her research and now that research is
making a difference around the world. Even if you don't do this
diet exactly as recommended, you will learn about how foods
effect the body, so you can make more informed decisions that
will help you find recovery.
Patient Heal Thyself
:A Remarkable Health Program Combining Ancient Wisdom With
Groundbreaking Clinical Research by Jordan Rubin. Jordan Rubin is the one who developed the
Primal Defense supplement that I take daily. He has written many books
about his journey and how he healed his own body from Crohn's
Disease. His experiences have made a difference in the lives of
others who are struggling with Ulcerative Colitis and other
digestive diseases and disorders.
Most Helpful Website Recommendation
There is also a website that is dedicated to recipes for the
Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It also shares
people's success stories, articles and research. They also have an online
community where you can find support. I have found it to be quite helpful in
guiding me over the years.
Recommended Natural Supplements
Green Magma
is a green juice supplement that made an incredible difference
when I was at my worst. As you know, with chronic digestive
problems and being unable to digest foods properly (and
sometimes passing them undigested) your body has a hard
time absorbing nutrients that are necessary to feel good. I
found that by taking this supplement every day, my body was able
to retrieve the vitamins and nutrients I was lacking. I believe
this supplement helped me the most at the worst points of my
disease. It easily absorbs into the body and is easily
digestible. This is best when taken on an empty stomach.
Garden of Life Primal Defense
is an HSO Probiotic Supplement. This supplement, I believe, has
been the reason for my remission and prolonged health. I've been
taking this supplement for so many years that I can't count
anymore. I don't go a day without it. I used to purchase this
supplement through my local health food store but I have found
the best prices to be online through the link provided.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids (especially fish oil) is helpful for it's anti-inflammatory abilities. I highly encourage the use of fish oil
when experiencing a relapse of Ulcerative Colitis.
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