Crohn's linked to Vit. D Deficiency

Vitamin D Supplements Could Fight Crohn's Disease

ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2010) — A new study has found that Vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease. John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, led a team of scientists from McGill University and the Université de Montréal who present their findings about the inflammatory bowel disease in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

There have been studies which reported that a deficiency in vitamin D can be related to crohn's disease. Vitamin D is active in the immune response. Vitamin D acts on beta defensin which encodes and antimicrobial peptide and the NOD2 gene that alerts cells about invading microbes. If NOD2 is deficient it can't combat invaders. This finding is interesting to note since it is a simle way to help the disease. Vitamin D supplements are sold over the counter in all drug stores may be worth while to purchase.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127104904.htm

The "Simple Carbohydrate Diet"

I came across a diet that was created for people with crohn's and other irritable bowel disorders. The diet was created based on a scientific knowledge. Crohn's is a disease where the immune function is not working properly. This can cause there to be an overabundance of bacteria in the intestines. Usually, there is a balance of good and bad bacteria in the large intestine. When there is a lot of harmful bacteria, if goes into the stomach and small intestine as well, causing digestion to slow. The bacteria now competes for the nutrients, thus the undigested nutrients stay in the gut. When the bacteria tries to break down these nutrients it causes fermentation which releases gas (which is also harmful for the body). When a person eats carbs, the nutrients can't be broken down and the bacteria and the byproducts of the fermentation cause further destruction to the small intestine increasing the damage to the digestive tract. The diet that is explained in the book is promoting simple carbohydrates, monosaccharides. This is because these carbs need less digestion and therefore there is not much for the bacteria to be able to break down. This will help the digestive system from continuing to be corrupted. Simple carbs are foods like fruits, honey, some vegetables, and some yogurts. The yogurt for this diet is a special yogurt that is fermented for 24 hours. The yogurt adds good bacteria into the gut to cause the balance of the bacteria to shift to the good.
There are many people who said that they tried this diet and it has worked for them. The book goes into full detail about the specifics of the diet. If you are struggling with Crohn's you may want to give the book a try!
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/the_science_behind_the_diet2.htm

"An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away"

Scientists Discover Anti-Inflammatory Polyphenols in Apple Peels

ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2011) — Here's another reason why "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" -- according to new research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, oral ingestion of apple polyphenols (antioxidants found in apple peels) can suppress T cell activation to prevent colitis in mice. This study is the first to show a role for T cells in polyphenol-mediated protection against an autoimmune disease and could lead to new therapies and treatments for people with disorders related to bowel inflammation, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

    WOW! Cool discovery, It's good that apples taste good!!!! It is definitely worth it to try it!!

www.sciencedaily.com/2011/11//111130100455.htm

Hi! My name is Pnina Garfinkel. I am currently a student at Kansas State University, pursuing a degree in dietetics. I have always loved food and I also find all science related subjects fascinating. (Now you understand my career choice....) I am a firm believer that eating properly is crucial to anyone's health, even if he/she is completely healthy. All the more so, for someone with a chronic disease. Unfortunately, many of us, if not all of us, know someone with one illness or another and wish we could help them in some way. I have a close relative who has Chron's disease and have witnessed firsthand the difficulties of coping with Chron's. According to the CCFA, Chron's disease afflicts roughly half a million people in the United States. Most of the people affected are adolescents and young adults, ages 15-35. As a dietetics student, I would like to spread awareness about how nutrition and the correct diet can positively improve the quality of life of someone afllicted with Chron's. Here are some of my findings!