Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is a painful condition that occurs due to inflammation of small or large intestine. It is neither a contagious disease nor is a form of cancer. There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease: 1) Crohn’s Disease 2) Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s Disease can start anywhere in the gut, while Ulcerative Colitis starts in rectum and spreads upward.

IBD is characterized by symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, intestinal obstruction and rectal bleeding. Diagnosis is made on the basis of X-ray, family history, current medications and colonoscopy. The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease is still unknown and a lot of research is being carried out in this regard.

Treatment options include medications to reduce inflammation and consumption of soft food items to eliminate intestinal swelling. However, severe cases of IBD often need a colon surgery.

It makes a good idea to regularly consume a dietary supplement that helps maintain the health of gastrointestinal tract. HealthAid Acidophilus Plus 4 Billion is a popular brand that is formulated using special strains of probiotics cultures. Fructo-Oligosaccharides help support the growth of bacterial strains in the intestinal tract. People suffering from yeast infections, indigestion or stomach discomfort should include Acidophilus Plus in their daily dietary routine.

Moreover, it also makes an excellent gift for people who regularly suffer from trapped wind or bloating problems and those with persistent bowel discomfort. Take one capsule daily to maintain the general health of the digestive tract or overcome momentary stomach disorders.

Fibre, also known as roughage, makes an important component of your daily dietary routine that helps maintain the health of your gut, promotes a smooth bowel movement, maintains a healthy population of gut bacteria, makes you feel fuller longer, and lowers the low density cholesterol or bad cholesterol and elevates the high density cholesterol or good cholesterol in your blood. Another benefit of consuming fibre-rich foods is that they help reduce the risks of colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Make sure that you consume 20-25 grams of fibre (soluble and insoluble) per day. 4-5 servings of vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds or nuts would serve this purpose. You should snack on walnuts, almonds, pistachios and other nuts twice a day at work to supply your body with fibre and good fats. It makes a good idea to consume oatmeal, yoghurt, scrambled eggs, whole grains, dark-coloured bread or legumes at lunch. Frozen vegetables and fruits are picked at their prime, thus making rich dietary sources of roughage, vitamins and minerals.

You should also take a dietary supplement that provides your body with fibre. Natures Own Psyllium Husk Powder is a popular brand that helps maintain healthy, efficient intestines. Psyllium Husk makes a good form of dietary fibre that helps maintain the health of your gut. As it passes through the digestive tract, it thickens rapidly and turns into a gel. It then expands considerably during the peristalsis and collects the waster products. This supplement makes an excellent gift for people with yeast sensitivities and Candida.