What’s UP with UC?
Jan
12Posted in [General Health] By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir
1/12/2010 4:19 PM
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with a condition called Ulcerative Colitis, you understand all too well the pain and discomfort associated with this often-debilitating disease. UC causes inflammation and sores, aka ulcers, to form in the lining of the rectum and colon. These ulcers then bleed, producing pus and causing pain. Inflammation in the colon also causes the colon to empty frequently, leading to diarrhea.
Unfortunately, UC can be challenging to diagnose because the symptoms mirror numerous other intestinal disorders, including Crohn’s disease (in Crohn’s, however, the inflammation occurs deeper within the intestinal wall, or can crop up in other parts of the digestive system, such as the small intestine, mouth, esophagus, and stomach.)
Once you’re diagnosed, your physician will help you chart the best course of action for treatment. An effective supplement to your medicine and therapy, though, may be kefir! The probiotics can help quell diarrhea – this UC patient went from battling diarrhea 10 or more times per day to normal bowel function – and according to thisJohns Hopkins article, probiotic therapy with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria infantis has been shown to significantly improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, which is similar to UC. This means that, in addition to boosting immunity, curing hangovers, fixing bad breath, improving lactose intolerance and fighting the flu, Lifeway kefir can also hold its own when it comes to Ulcerative Colitis.
For more information on UC, visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse by clicking here. On processing, please waiting for ...