Crohns Disease
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Fiber, Prebiotics and Probiotics
Fiber in plant food is now known to be especially healthy for everyone’s general health. For Crohn’s Disease patients, fiber can be recommended when the disease is inactive, and especially when there is no narrowing of the bowel, where plant fiber could induce blockage.Soluble prebiotic fibers are a more recently discovered type of fiber, which have some real bowel benefits. Their use in Crohn’s patients is still not certain but since they are simply plant food, there are few side effects. The prebiotic fibers, inulin and oligofructose, are the names of the best studied ones. They promote the growth of good colon bacteria which, in turn, make short chain fatty acids. These fatty acids may be a real benefit to Crohn’s patients as they seem to make bacteria less adherent to the bowel wall and are actually the fuel source for the bowels own cells.
For a full essay on prebiotics, please click here.
A probiotic is a good bacteria or yeast taken by mouth that, hopefully, grows in the colon and produces good results. There is some scientific evidence that probiotics may help some Crohn’s patients. In particular, the use of probiotics and prebiotics together may be appropriate for some. Again, check with your physician.
For a full essay on probiotics, please click here.
