What is Ulcer Colitis & Crohn’s Disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD)?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causing inflammation or wounds (ulcers) on the gut wall or mainly large intestine (colon). To easily understand, if you were riding a bicycle on a tarred road and fell off and grazed your arm, the grazed area would be raw (i.e. has no skin on it), the underlying flesh is exposed and it bleeds. In similar way, ulcers in the wall of your stomach (gut) look the same – they are raw areas where the lining of the gut have been destroyed by the inflammation, the underlying flesh is exposed and the ulcers bleed, creates discomfort, pain and uneasiness. Also, the inflammation impairs digestion and absorption of nutrition in the gut contributing various degrees of malnutrition, contributes weight loss and more symptoms mentioned as follows.
In crohns disease the inflammation and ulcers can involve any part of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. In ulcerative colitis the inflammation is limited to the lining of the gut wall, whereas in crohns disease the inflammation is very severe and involves the whole thickness of gut wall.
Symptoms of Ulcer Colitis
- Discomfort & pain in the stomach and abdominal region, accompanied by continous mild fever
- Malabsorption of nutrition and various degrees of malnutrition
- Continous weight loss
- Bloody diarrhoea and mucous in the stools, and difficult to defecate
- Constant fatigue, no energy, and anorexia
- Chest burning
- Undergrowth in children affected by IBD
Some of the major causes for Ulcerative Colitis & Crohns
- Harmful bacteria : Infected with harmful bacteria attack like H.Pylori, which can breed and multiply in the gut wall, disrupting the mucous line and create wounds in the gut wall.
- Stress, fear and anxiety : Any kind of constant stress/anxiety will alter central nervous system functions and immune functions, opening doors for infections and inflammation.
Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482347/ - Compromised immune system : The immune system actually defends from infections, illnesses, and bacterias. But, the compromised immune system (auto immune disorder) will start working against own gut lining, damaging the wall cells assuming it to be antibodies.
- Hereditary : Hereditary and genes also plays a role in ulcerative colitis inheritance.
- Unhealthy foods and poor eating habits : Eating high sugar diet or junk will feed bad bacterias to flourish and induce acute inflammation within the gut. Also stressful eating, can create hinder the digestion process and allow the undigested food to ferment and rot within the gut, contributing bad bacteria overgrowth.
How Kefir can help to heal Ulcerative Colitis?
Probiotics play a vital role in rebuilding the gut biome by adding friendly bacteria and yeast and inhibiting the growth of the harmful bacterias or bad yeast which is inflammating or corroding the gut line. Kefir being a powerful probiotics among other fermented probiotic foods, it is recommended to include kefir in your diet as a health drink.
Key factors of Kefir benefits to consider –
Strengthen Immune System
Kefir a powerful probiotic food with multiple strains of good bacteria and yeast, flourishes its flora in the digestive tract and regulates the immune functions and supports overall health.
Regulates Gut Microbiome
People suffering from Ulcer Colitis will have poor microbial balance in the digestive tract, regular consumption of kefir can modulate gut microbiota, improve the patient’s microbiome.
Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428516/
Anti-Diarreheal Effect
Kefir is concentrated with probiotic lactobacillus, which is tested and proved to help intestinal regulation and antidiarrheal effect by preventing diarrhea and dehydration, and also by reducing intestinal pain and discomfort.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030218307392#bib28
Kefir inhibits (restricts) dangerous H Pylori bacteria inflammating Gut
It is tested and proved scientifically, the kefir bacteria strains are very effective in inhibiting (stopping) the growth and eradicating Helicobacter pylori which is one the root cause for inflammating the gut wall.
Study Ref: PubMED.gov – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21186984/
Anti inflammatory effect
Research show the therapeutic effects of kefir grain Lactobacillus-derived extracellular vesicles can ease inflammation in intestinal cells by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production.
Study Ref: Science Direct – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030218307392
Which Kefir is suitable for IBD? Milk Kefir or Water Kefir?
Milk Kefir
Fights against H Pylori
Milk Kefir grains has a complex composition of microbial species; the predominant populations are lactic acid bacteria, acetic bacteria, and yeasts which forcefully reduces the levels of H. pylori colonization.
Anti Inflammatory properties
Research shows both milk kefir and water kefir has anti inflammatory effects which can subsidize the inflammations. PubMeRef: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16280101/
Kefir protects the intestinal barrier against DSS-induced colitis
Kefir treatment reduces the severity of DSS-induced colitis evidenced by decreased abdominal discomfort and rectal bleeding.
Ref: https://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/article/14/Supplement_1/S162/5705023
Gastro Protective Properties
Milk kefir shows significant results in healing ulcer wounds, total acidity, peptic, decrease in the mucus content, the stomach GSH level, and DNA damage.
Study Ref: PubMed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25728227/
Therapeutic effect on chronic gastritis
Kefir with Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria strain is effective in the therapeutic treatment of chronic gastritis by modulating the immune response and by increasing the thickness of the gastric mucus gel layer protecting gull wall from creating inflammatory ulcers.
Ref: Science Daily Research – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100409093213.htm
Water kefir
Water kefir also includes vital probiotic properties and bacteria / yeast strains of milk kefir, it is best alternative for milk kefir who prefers easy maintenance, quick preparation, and fizzy soda beverage.
No dairy / milk involved, and fully vegan
It is best suited for people who wants to avoid milk or dairy and consume powerful probiotics as potential help.
Lighter than milk kefir
Water kefir is much lighter to drink, since it does not contains milk fats.
No Lactose
Water kefir does not contain lactose, intolerant or vegan people can consume it without any problems.
Coconut water kefir
Water kefir grains can be used to prepare highly nutritious coconut water kefir, where coconut water has a presence of lauric acid a natural wound (ulcer) healing agent.
Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5390578/
Other General Recommendation:
Other important factors to consider for recovering from Inflammatory bowel diseases including Ulcerative colitis, Crohns and peptic ulcer.
Avoid sugar
Sugar is food for bad bacteria to breed and multiply, it is recommended to avoid any kind of sugar which promote the growth of bad bacteria and yeast. Also, sugar spikes the insulin levels, where excess insulin creates inflammation within the body.
Consume Prebiotic food and vegetables
Prebiotic food (high fiber plant based food) nourishes or feeds the probiotic bacterias to flourish their growth and boost it effects. So, it is recommended to add prebiotic food like raw onion, raw garlic pod (1 pod), asparagus, banana, dandelion greens, and more to our regular diet.
Include anti-inflammatory food to your diet
Avoid inflammatory food like refined carbs like maida, processed food, over consumption of grains, sodas or soft drinks, sugar dishes, deep oil fried dishes, etc. which causes or adds to your inflammation and lower your immunity. Add anti-inflammatory food, natural or less processed which can have noticeable effect on your overall health and especially gut health. Anti-inflammatory food includes, soaked nuts, fruits (berries), dark greens, fatty fish (sardines, salmon and mackerel), and coconut flesh and cold pressed oil.
Exposure to sun (Natural Vitamin D)
When Vitamin D level is low in the body the immune system is compromised and inflammatory response is high. When Vitamin D is sufficient in the body the immune system works very efficiently and builds overall health including gut harmony.
Avoid stress like fear, bitterness, anger and anxiety
Any kind of constant stress alters the way in which the central nervous system processes sensory information coming from gut.
This results in an imbalance in the central nervous system where ‘wrong instructions’ are sent to the nerves that stimulate gut, this is one of the consequences of malfunctioning or misfiring of the nerves. The persistent stimulation of the gut wall by the misfiring nerves causes irritation and inflammation of the lining. The inflammation damages the lining of the gut wall causing ulcers to form.
And please note! even worrying about Ulcer or your health condition, the healing can significantly slow down or not be very effective.
Practice meditation, exercise and fun activities
Cultivate exercise, outdoor activities, meditations, build community, family time, and strengthen spiritual lifestyle which induces happy hormones (serotinin, endorphins etc.), which is scientifically proven to have anti-inflammatory effect on our body.
Research by PubMED – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861806/
Testimonies of IBD Patients who consumed kefir –
- Crohn’s & Colitis Community https://www.crohnscolitiscommunity.org/post?forumId=7&threadId=20263
NOTE:
Heal your gut India, offer organic reusable Milk Kefir Grains and Water Kefir Grains throughout India >> Online Store
Contact us : Whatsapp 8277718123 for guidance on Kefir
Disclaimer :
This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. Healyourgut.in does not claim any responsibility for this information.
