Category: inflammation

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing worldwide. Worldwide, about ten million people suffer from IBD. Two of the most common types of IBDs are: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They usually manifest in adolescence or early adulthood. Neither disease is curable, there may be mixed forms of both diseases, and patients can suffer from relapses in both diseases.

Crohn’s disease can affect all sections of the digestive tract – from the mouth to the anus. The most common site of inflammation in Crohn’s disease is the last section of the small intestine and the beginning of the adjacent large intestine. The inflammation extends through all layers of the intestine.

The involvement of the small intestine in Crohn’s disease can lead to inadequate absorption of nutrients. Vitamin B12 deficiency is particularly common.

In contrast, ulcerative colitis exclusively affects the large intestine and is found only on the uppermost layer of the intestinal mucosa. During an inflammatory episode, the colon can only reabsorb water to a limited extent and this leads to diarrhea, among other symptoms.

Symptoms of IBD

Patients complain mainly of pain in the right lower abdomen and occurrence of bloody and non-bloody diarrhea, often accompanied by cramps. Anal fistulas and abscesses are common.

In addition, other organs may be affected, such as joints, eye, liver or skin.

An additional accompanying symptom is also the impaired absorption of nutrients through the intestine, since the intestine is damaged. In the long run, this leads to further health problems, such as skin changes, growth disorders in children, anemia, gallstones, and even unwanted weight loss.

How do inflammatory bowel diseases develop?

It is now assumed that several factors contribute to the outbreak of both diseases. These include a hereditary component, environmental influences, frequent medication, the intestinal microbiome and a disturbed barrier function of the intestinal mucosa and the associated overreaction of the immune system.

The influence of nutrition is also discussed in IBD, moreover in older studies there is evidence that refined sugars, low fiber and unfavorable fatty acids help to ignite inflammation in the gut.

Current studies also address the question of whether sulfur-containing foods or sulfur-containing additives may be partly responsible for the inflammatory changes in the gut.

Nutrition in IBD

There is currently no specific diet or proven beneficial diet for IBD. Nevertheless, a healthy diet should be included as the basis for any applied therapy in IBD in order to also avoid an undersupply of micro- and macronutrients. Good nutrition certainly cannot completely prevent a flare, but it has been shown to have a positive effect on the course of the disease.

During the acute phase – what to eat?

In this phase it is particularly important to provide the body with sufficient energy, nutrients and fluids and yet not overload the intestines. This is not always easy! The easiest way is to reduce fiber over time, avoid fried, fatty foods and, above all, eat foods that are easy to digest. Creamy pureed soups, steamed vegetables, avocado, steamed fish and natural yogurt are just a few foods that can be quite helpful during this phase and also provide the necessary nutrients and energy.

During this phase, the patients mainly lack protein because the immune system works at full speed and consumes a lot of protein to produce antibodies. In this phase, the metabolism has a protein requirement of 1.2 to 1.5 grams ~2 lbs of body weight.

Free of complaints – balanced nutrition

There is currently no general dietary recommendation for symptom-free periods. However, studies show that avoiding foods that are too sour, too spicy, too sweet and too fatty is good for the intestines. A balanced, healthy diet, containing mainly fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits and herbs, has a positive effect on IBD. This is because these foods contain an abundance of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. In order to also allow the intestines sufficient recovery time, it is better to avoid raw vegetable foods at the beginning and to prepare the vegetables gently so that as many valuable vitamins as possible are retained. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids support cell structure and cell regeneration. Therefore, sea fish and cold-pressed cooking oils, such as linseed, rapeseed, hemp or walnut oil should be frequently integrated into the diet.

A nutrition based on unprocessed foods also provides important minerals, such as magnesium (oatmeal, nuts, green vegetables, legumes) and zinc (fish, dairy products, nuts, legumes, meat, whole grains), which are extremely important for the metabolism. Both minerals are involved in over 300 metabolic processes. It has even been proven that actually a slight zinc deficiency can trigger an outbreak of inflammation. But the B vitamins must also be supplied in sufficient quantities to avoid deficiencies. B vitamins are water-soluble and are excreted in diarrhea to an increasing degree.

Metabolic Balance and IBD

As I said, there is no such thing as “the diet” for inflammatory bowel disease, but there is a recommendation for a balanced, healthy nutrition. Metabolic Balance is an anti-inflammatory diet and can help sufferers to eat healthily in both acute and symptom-free phases. With the individual composition of foods, the Metabolic Balance nutrition plan provides a guideline for more well-being and vitality.

Inflammation

Worldwide, chronic inflammatory diseases have increased considerably in recent years. This is a frightening trend, as it has been shown that there are close links between chronic inflammation and diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer.

Nutrition plays a key role in this. Our body has a sophisticated immune system that helps it fend off attackers. It is able to fight pathogens and produce anti-inflammatory compounds. In order to support the body, however, we also need to provide it with the right foods and/or ingredients. With the right nutrition, we can help it to get and stay healthy. Conversely, the wrong nutrition can make us sick or at least put additional strain on us.

General dietary recommendations and rules, such as paying attention to weight, eating less fat and sweets, are usually not enough. Healthy eating and lifestyles also include thinking about and rethinking overconsumption and the composition and quality of food. Highly processed foods with plenty of additives, isolated carbohydrates and sugars, low-quality oils and little to no vitamins and minerals – fuel inflammatory processes in the body. 

Natural foods with their colorful mix of vitamins, minerals, secondary plant substances and especially omega-3 fatty acids offer the best protection against inflammation. These can provide excellent help in keeping the body balanced and preventing chronic inflammation.

Often it is small things that alleviate an inflammation or prevent an outbreak at all!

What tips do you have to keep inflammation at bay? We’re looking forward to your comments!

Pain and Inflammation

Stop the pain! You can feel what you eat in your joints!

In addition to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, chronic inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis or osteoarthritis are becoming increasingly common.

Being able to move only with difficulty and in pain, feeling powerless or even waking up in the night from pain often considerably reduces the quality of life of those affected. It is alarming that not only older people suffer from it, but increasingly also children, adolescents and young adults.

Why do joints become inflamed?

Whether we sit down or stretch, whether we run or jump – we owe these movements to our joints. To prevent bone from rubbing against bone, the joints are covered with cartilage, a smooth elastic layer that ensures smooth movement. Wear develops over many years. An initial slight roughening of the cartilage layer is slowly but steadily degraded. The joint fluid, the so-called “synovial fluid”, also loses its shock-absorbing and lubricating effect. The abrasion of the damaged cartilage often leads to irritation and painful inflammation of the synovial membrane; typical complaints are stiffness and pain after prolonged sitting or during exertion. In advanced stages, the joint sometimes can no longer be moved.

In addition to genetic predisposition, advanced age or joint malposition, other causes may also be responsible. It is known that permanent overstraining of the joints promotes such joint or cartilage wear. Extreme high-performance sports over many years, heavy physical work as well as heavy strain due to excessive body weight can lead to premature wear.

Being overweight causes double damage in the case of inflamed, painful joints: The high body load not only accelerates cartilage degradation. Body fat also produces inflammatory substances, which are also involved in the breakdown of cartilage. A healthy body weight can therefore help prevent the development of osteoarthritis and slow its progression.

The next key role in the fight against osteoarthritis and other joint inflammations is lack of physical exercise. The smooth interaction of loading and unloading in the joints ensures that the synovial fluid is massaged into the cartilage. This provides the joints with necessary nutrients, such as calcium, potassium or magnesium.

Weight loss and exercise are essential to relieve joint inflammation. Especially if we take into account that our muscles, no matter how old we are, have a maximum age of 15 years, because their cells are constantly renewed. They are always in puberty, so to speak, and therefore very trainable. Exercise not only strengthens the muscles, but it also contributes to a healthy body weight, thus avoiding permanent overloading of the joints. However, in addition to exercise and weight loss, nutrition can also make a useful contribution here.

What role does nutrition play

A healthy diet rich in vital substances is important for everyone and especially when well-being suffers, pain occurs and mobility in the joints decreases. What we eat largely determines the condition of our joint cartilage and the muscles and fascia surrounding it. An alkaline-rich diet can help with joint discomfort and relieve pain. This is because a diet that contains excess acid and provides too little fiber causes the body to bind toxins between cells in fat and connective tissue. Often, joint spaces also form such a temporary storage. In its attempt to neutralize the excess acids itself, the body deprives bones and cartilage of necessary minerals. The consequences: degenerative joint changes, inflammations such as arthritis, and rheumatic diseases.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan in 2015 showed that a predominantly vegetarian diet with fish significantly improved the joint complaints of osteoarthritis patients, compared to the comparison group that continued to eat a mixed diet. This can be explained, among other things, by the fact that the high proportion of plant foods, such as vegetables, herbs, legumes, nuts, whole grains and fruit, the body is simultaneously supplied with a lot of anti-inflammatory vital substances, which have a strong antioxidant effect and absorb free radicals that can attack the joint cartilage.

In addition to vitamins and minerals, amino acids are also important building blocks for the joints.

Collagen – protein for the “inner beauty”

Protein used to be the nutrient for bodybuilders or those who wanted to become one. Protein is not only the “muscle maker”, but also responsible for the structure of the cells and serves as a building material for all organs and the blood. A valuable structural protein is collagen, which is found everywhere in the body. Many people associate collagen with firm connective tissue, absence of wrinkles and eternal youth. However, this is only half the truth, because collagen is also a supporting tissue and thus a component in bones, cartilage, tendons, in the skin and many organs. Collagen fibers are composed of several hundred amino acid building blocks. The body can build collagen itself, provided it has the necessary amino acids available.

Unfortunately, there are not many foods through which we can absorb collagen. There is a persistent rumor that gummy bears, which are composed of 80 percent collagen (gelatin), could be beneficial for maintaining cartilage mass. In order to cover the daily requirement of collagen of approx. 15 g, one would have to eat at least 14 ounces or 400 g, which corresponds to approx. two bags, of gummy bears daily. However, this is not compatible with a healthy diet. After all, the sugar content of two bags of gummy bears is terribly high.

But there is also a healthier alternative – a good bone broth. Collagen and valuable minerals are cooked out of the beef bones and consumed as broth or used to prepare meals.

Spices and herbs – especially active against joint inflammation

Spices and herbs are also used very frequently in naturopathy to alleviate or cure a wide variety of diseases. They contain an abundance of so-called secondary plant substances, which maintain health in many ways.

In addition to the well-known anti-inflammatory spices turmeric, ginger and chili, the combination of cumin, nutmeg and coriander is also said to be effective. The essential oils, which are abundant in the combination of spices, are transported into the blood via the intestines and then migrate to the synovial membrane. They promote blood circulation in the joint and thus ensure a good supply of nutrients. However, some patience is required for the pain-relieving effect, because the first changes are only noticeable after about four weeks, if you take half a teaspoon of the spice mixture at least twice a day. It is best to add the mixture to yogurt, cottage cheese, soups or stir it into hot water.

Metabolic Balance and joint disorders

The pain is quickly numbed with medication, with the desire for quick relief. But this completely ignores the fact that nature can help much more sustainably. Many natural foods, such as herbs, spices, vegetables or high-quality vegetable oils, applied internally and/ or externally, are anti-inflammatory par excellence. They can relieve chronic inflammation and pain just as effectively as chemical medications – but in a sustainable way and without side effects!

And this is exactly where Metabolic Balance comes in with its individual nutrition plan. The individual nutrition plan according to Metabolic Balance provides a natural alternative against joint pain. The individual selection of suitable foods, taking into account the latest scientific findings, provides all the necessary nutrients and vital substances to nourish joints and cartilage and to combat inflammation. In addition, of course, the side effect of weight loss through the Metabolic Balance nutrition program is a significant help for recovery and relief for the joints.

Inflammation

Nutrition plays a central role in the development of diseases. Highly processed foods with plenty of additives, isolated carbohydrates and sugars, low-quality oils and little to no vitamins and minerals – this is the fuel for inflammatory processes in the body, which are reignited and kept burning every day with “low-quality” and “worthless” foods.

Natural foods with their colorful mix of vitamins, minerals, secondary plant substances and especially omega-3 fatty acids offer the best protection against inflammation. These can provide excellent help in keeping the “conflagration” in check or even extinguishing it.