My OperaBeat Ulcerative Colitis
Monday, April 9, 2012 10:13:17 PM
Of course, that's an all too human reaction. But, hey, it's not an automatic death sentence. It is not a gun waiting to burst in your head. You can still have a healthy life even if you have ulcerative colitis. In fact, you might even end up healthier than before.
Although scientists have yet to pinpoint what exactly causes ulcerative colitis, there's an overwhelming consensus that the way an individual lives can be a major contributing factor. Heavy drinking, the propensity to chain-smoke and gobble up grease-rich foods, and a sedentary existence--combine all of these and you got the perfect brew for ulcerative colitis.
So, how do you live with it?
You Are What You Eat
There's an old German saying that a person is largely the result of what he eats. This may sound funny, but it has a grain of truth in it. Just look at the dry-looking guys who regularly munch on junk foods and compare them to fresh, vibrant vegetarian folks. See the huge difference? With ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases, what you eat really makes a huge difference.
When you have ulcerative colitis, your colon can be easily inflamed. Most of the time, inflammation of the colon (also called a flare-up) is caused by eating something that irritates your large intestine. The first thing you should cross out on your diet is your tasty cholesterol-laden favorites, such as burgers, roast beef, fried chicken, and a lot more. Drinking coffee is also big NO. Milk and dairy products, like cheese and butter, can also trigger inflammation symptoms and should be avoided. You should also pass out on a meal laden with chili since spicy foods are one of the most common flare-up culprits. Don't eat beans and other hard-to-digest foods since it may irritate your colon.
But flare-up factors vary from person to person. So it's advisable to come up with a list of foods that trigger flare-up episodes and draw an extensive diet plan. Generally, a low-fat diet rich in protein, fluids, magnesium, vegetables, and fruits is recommended. But before you implement a diet plan, it's advisable that you consult your doctor or nutritionist.
Frequent Exercise
Studies show that stress helps trigger or worsen flare-up episodes. Low intensity workout, such as walking, and other stress reduction techniques, like meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, can reduce stress and benefit people with inflammatory bowel disease. But don't just rush and start an exercise program. As always, it's important to consult your doctor as to what exercise regimen would fit you.
Revamp Your Lifestyle
The important thing to remember here is that ulcerative colitis is a lifestyle disease. So it really matters if you'll revamp the way you live.
Let's say that you've started exercising and following a strict diet plan after you've been diagnosed for ulcerative colitis. But the problem is that you're a night person used to downing bottles of alcoholic drink each week and compulsively smoking 30 or more cigarettes a day--well, you've really got to altogether discard your habit if you don't want your condition to worsen and progress to colon cancer.
Resources:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colitis_ulcerosa
vsl 3
http://events.mcraemnuackgeennizie.podomatic.com/entry/2012-02-16T20_59_25-08_00, http://larrydouglas12.siterun.eu/index.php?pg=69898, http://www.jukeboxalive.com/blog.php?blog_id=6450693
Although scientists have yet to pinpoint what exactly causes ulcerative colitis, there's an overwhelming consensus that the way an individual lives can be a major contributing factor. Heavy drinking, the propensity to chain-smoke and gobble up grease-rich foods, and a sedentary existence--combine all of these and you got the perfect brew for ulcerative colitis.
So, how do you live with it?
You Are What You Eat
There's an old German saying that a person is largely the result of what he eats. This may sound funny, but it has a grain of truth in it. Just look at the dry-looking guys who regularly munch on junk foods and compare them to fresh, vibrant vegetarian folks. See the huge difference? With ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases, what you eat really makes a huge difference.
When you have ulcerative colitis, your colon can be easily inflamed. Most of the time, inflammation of the colon (also called a flare-up) is caused by eating something that irritates your large intestine. The first thing you should cross out on your diet is your tasty cholesterol-laden favorites, such as burgers, roast beef, fried chicken, and a lot more. Drinking coffee is also big NO. Milk and dairy products, like cheese and butter, can also trigger inflammation symptoms and should be avoided. You should also pass out on a meal laden with chili since spicy foods are one of the most common flare-up culprits. Don't eat beans and other hard-to-digest foods since it may irritate your colon.
But flare-up factors vary from person to person. So it's advisable to come up with a list of foods that trigger flare-up episodes and draw an extensive diet plan. Generally, a low-fat diet rich in protein, fluids, magnesium, vegetables, and fruits is recommended. But before you implement a diet plan, it's advisable that you consult your doctor or nutritionist.
Frequent Exercise
Studies show that stress helps trigger or worsen flare-up episodes. Low intensity workout, such as walking, and other stress reduction techniques, like meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, can reduce stress and benefit people with inflammatory bowel disease. But don't just rush and start an exercise program. As always, it's important to consult your doctor as to what exercise regimen would fit you.
Revamp Your Lifestyle
The important thing to remember here is that ulcerative colitis is a lifestyle disease. So it really matters if you'll revamp the way you live.
Let's say that you've started exercising and following a strict diet plan after you've been diagnosed for ulcerative colitis. But the problem is that you're a night person used to downing bottles of alcoholic drink each week and compulsively smoking 30 or more cigarettes a day--well, you've really got to altogether discard your habit if you don't want your condition to worsen and progress to colon cancer.
Resources:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colitis_ulcerosa
vsl 3
http://events.mcraemnuackgeennizie.podomatic.com/entry/2012-02-16T20_59_25-08_00, http://larrydouglas12.siterun.eu/index.php?pg=69898, http://www.jukeboxalive.com/blog.php?blog_id=6450693
