Goat's Milk, A Great Alternative!

Many people living with crohn's disease have said that goat's milk is much better for them than cow's milk. Goat's milk  has smaller protein and fat molecules making it easier to digest. Also, goat's milk is more similar to human milk. It contains bioactive substances which stop the growth of harmful organisms. It doesn't stimulate an immune response and therefore there is no mucous. It has the highest source of selenium and it is alkaline and does not produce acid. Because the digestion is easier, the lactose passes through quicker and therefore it doesn't have time to ferment.
Look through this chart of comparison of goat and cow milk and consider it. I never tried it myself, but it is supposed to taste good and if it is really better for you- Why Not?


http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/aboutgoatsmilk.shtml#Nutrient

Nutrient Comparison: Goat's Milk and Cow's Milk
	Goat's Milk	Cow's Milk		Goat's Milk	Cow's Milk
Weight (g)	244	244	Calories	168	150
Water (g)	212.4	214.7	Protein (g)	8.7	8
Carbohydrate (g)	10.9	11.4	Fat (g)	10.1	8.2
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (g)	2.7	-	Saturated Fatty Acids	6.5	5.1
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids	0.4	0.3	Cholesterol (mg)	28	33
A (IU)	451	307	B-1 (mg)	0.12	0.09
B-2 (mg)	0.34	0.4	B-6 (mg)	0.11	0.1
Folic Acid (mcg)	0.7	12	Nicotinic Acid (mg)	0.7	0.2
B-12 (mcg)	0.16	0.87	Pantothentic Acid (mg)	0.76	0.77
C (mg)	3	2	Sodium (mg)	122	119
Calcium (mg)	326	290	Magnesium (mg)	34	33
Manganese (mg)	0.044	0	Zinc (mg)	0.73	0.93
Potassium (mg)	499	368	Phosphorus (mg)	270	227
Iron (mg)	0.12	0.12	Copper (mg)	0.112	0

Reduce Stress!

Stress has been found to be a possible a cause of crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is characterized by permeability in the intestine and it has been found that stress causes permeability. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is secreted by the hypothalamus, yet when the body is stressed it is found to be released in the colonic crypts which results in intestinal permeability. Stress can also exacerbate the disease that is already existing. It has been found that people who are stressed are more likely to have a relapse.

It is very important do things to lower and take away the stress in your body! Take time to RELAX, make sure to EAT RIGHT, do some stretching or yoga exercises! It is worth the time that it takes to calm down and change your way of thinking. Stress not only has quality of life ramifications, it also affects your health!

http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/Stress_in_the_Etiology_of_Crohns_Disease.shtml

What to eat when you have a flare up?

Joy Bauer, an RD, gives a few suggestions of foods that are good to eat when having flare-ups. It is a time that most people don't even want to think about food, but it is still necessary to eat. She says that some of these foods that she gives are not the most healthy for a regular time, yet for these times when you are in middle of a flare up they are beneficial. This is because at these times the body can't handle fiber, it needs refined grains and easily digestible foods. 
White pasta since it is low in fiber and easy on the digestive tract.
Cream of rice cereal with added iron and zinc is a soothing option.
Bananas are well tolerated and add potassium.
Fatty fish like salmon is good since it has omega 3 Fatty Acids which help to ease inflammation.
Sliced hard cheese, which generally has no lactose, is a good way during flare ups to get the needed calcium. Greesy cheese foods are not good and may cause nausea.
Potato without skin has the potassium needed for fluid balance. The skin can aggravate the inflamed intestine.
Creamy yogurt soothes the GI tract with healthy bacteria.
Soft cooked carrots are an excellent source of beta carotene which is an antioxidant that helps with healing. The carrots are one of the only vegetable that is tolerated.
Hopefully these suggestions will be helpful!
http://www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-diet-pictures/joy-bauer-foods-to-eat-during-crohns-flare-up.aspx#/slide-12

Cautions with ADA medication

Many women who are faced with crohn's disease are prescribed a medication called Adalimumab (ADA). This medication helps to lower the inflammation, yet is may lower the immune system response. The medication messes with parts of the immune system and therefore the people on it have a higher risk for infection. Last year, they discovered that women on the drug who are pregnant can be passing this drug into the fetus. In the third trimester of pregnancy, the drug passes through the chord across the placenta. Babies that are born have the drug in their blood for at least 3 months after birth. This is a cause for concern and extra monitoring since the baby may now be more prone to infection. It is also reccommended not to give the baby any virus immunizations until it is out of his system. No one said that a woman who is pregnant should not take the drug, since there are more serious dangers for her and the baby if she were to stop the drug.
This is something to be aware of and not something to be so scared of. With the proper awareness, it is possible to prevent any problems from occuring to the baby.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110508134939.htm

Good and Bad Foods for Inflammation

Crohn's disease is associated with anti-yeast antibodies. Monnon is part of the yeast cell wall. People with crohn's tend to have lower levels of lectin which bind the mannon and help to expell it out of the body.Because of crohn's lower innate immunity and lower levels of lectin, the anti- yeast antibodies form. These antibodies trigger an iinflammation and cause damage to the gut lining. People should avoid eating yeast products and other common allergens. Gluten containing foods such as wheat, rye, barley.. are all things to stay away from. Soy products, eggs and heavy proteins are often not tolerated. Try to maintain an anti-inflammatory diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are good sources of foods that can help to lessen the inflammation. Foods cotaining coconut, nondenatured whey proteins, berries, oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, and ginger are all anti-inflammatory foods that could help with the inflammation.

http://www.naturalnews.com/032341_Crohns_disease_prevention.html