Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a group of disorders--ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease--that cause the intestines to become inflamed. This results in a number of unpleasant symptoms, such as cramping, pain, diarrhea and intestinal bleeding. While a genetic component may exist as to why people contract inflammatory bowel disease and ways to begin minimizing symptoms should the condition occur, smoking is one of the few factors that can be controlled.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is one of the known contributing factors (other than genetics) as to why people get inflammatory , according to KidsHealth.org. While the exact effects of cigarette smoke on the intestines is not known, smokers are more likely to have more aggressive forms of Crohn's disease, according to Dr. Jean-Paul Achkar of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, writing for the American College of Gastroenterology.
Interestingly enough, smoking seems to have a masking effect on ulcerative collitis. However, if a person stops smoking, he or she is more likely to have a severe form of ulcerative collitis.
Dietary Considerations
True to its name, inflammatory bowel disease occurs due to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. One way to reduce this inflammation is through close management of your diet. This is accomplished by eating from a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables while minimizing consumption of fast and processed foods. You should also consume between 240 and 300 grams of carbohydrate per day from whole grains, such as brown rice.
Fiber is especially important for those trying to prevent inflammation, as fiber keeps wastes moving more easily through the body. You should try to eat 40 grams of fiber per day from sources such as beans, berries and vegetables.
Supplements to Reduce Inflammation
If you are not getting enough nutrients from the foods you eat, consider adding a few supplements to your daily diet to reduce inflammation. These include a daily multivitamin that offers 200 milligrams of vitamin C daily, a fish oil supplement of 1 to 2 grams per day or others, such as calcium citrate, alpha lipoic acid or CoQ10, according to Dr. Andrew Weil.
Take these supplements with healthy fluids, such as purified water or green tea. Drinking plenty of water (at least eight 8-ounce glasses) per day helps to reduce inflammation by moving toxins out of the body. Green tea also is high in inflammation-fighting antioxidants, which can reduce the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease.
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