Colitis

Managing digestive health can be challenging, especially when symptoms are unpredictable and disrupt daily life and activities. Finding the right balance of nutrition, lifestyle support, and targeted solutions is key to feeling your best. Alongside medical guidance, turning to colitis supporting supplements that help support gut function, calm inflammation, and promote overall digestive resilience may be beneficial.

Let's delve into the world of colitis and explore effective conventional and natural solutions to support your body so you can feel more in control of your health. 

What is Colitis?

Colitis, by definition, is an inflammation of the colon. The most common form is ulcerative colitis, when small ulcers develop on the mucous membrane lining of the intestine. When this occurs, the colon becomes unable to properly absorb nutrients and water, its two main functions. The ulcers can also bleed and produce excess mucous, resulting in nutrient loss. There are a few different types of colitis, and they are categorized based on the cause of the inflammation. Colitis is one of the two main diseases covered under the term "Inflammatory Bowel Disease" (IBD).

What Causes Colitis?

The underlying cause of colitis is not yet fully understood, although current theories attribute it to either infectious or autoimmune reactions, depending on the type of colitis. One type, known as pseudomembranous colitis, is caused by an overgrowth of C. difficile in the colon. Ulcerative colitis is generally thought to be an autoimmune condition, which is when the body attacks its own cells. Other proposed causes include: low dietary fibre, high dietary sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, food allergies, stress, unresolved emotional conflicts and antibiotic use.

How To Spot The Signs and Symptoms of Colitis?

The most common colitis symptoms are: cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood and/or mucus passed with the stool. In some cases, fever, fatigue, and alternating constipation and diarrhea also occur. Individuals suffering from colitis will have varying periods of remission and periods of aggravation of symptoms, known as "flares". Diagnosis of colitis must rule out other causes of cramping and diarrhea, including acute infections, crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The gold standard for diagnosis of colitis requires a colonoscopy with biopsy of the ulcers.

Complications

During a flare, the body can become malnourished due to nausea and low appetite, as well as anemia from blood loss. Over time, chronic colitis increases the risk of developing colon cancer because of the increased cellular turnover caused by inflammation.

Conventional Colitis Treatment Options

Conventional treatment of colitis involves the use of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant medications. Although these medications may decrease the symptoms, they do not address the root cause of the problem. They may also contribute to nutrient deficiencies. Signs of nutrient deficiencies can include: clouded thinking, dizziness, hair loss, brittle hair and nails, flaking skin, and fatigue. Some medications have side effects associated with suppression of the immune system, such as increased risk of bacterial and viral infections.

Natural Colitis Remedies: Diet, Supplements & Lifestyle Tips

Following a colitis–friendly diet is often the only way to completely resolve the symptoms of colitis. This often involves eating a hypoallergenic diet to eliminate common allergenic foods.

Results are usually seen within six months, but some patients must remain on the diet for several years before being able to tolerate the restricted foods. The most common food triggers are milk products, wheat, corn, yeast, alcohol, caffeine, night shades (tomato, potato, and peppers) and salicylates (found in aspirin and the mint family). Foods containing these substances should be avoided. In addition, the Colitis Diet makes these recommendations:

Foods to avoid: beans, peas, French fries, bacon, sardines, corn, nuts, seeds, citrus fruits, red meat, sugar, spicy food, carbonated beverages, carrageenan (a stabilizing agent used in cottage cheese, chocolate milk and whipped cream) and refined carbohydrates.

Avoid non-water-soluble fibre like wheat bran, seeds, and raw vegetables. Avoid any other foods that you think may be causing you sensitivity reactions.

By following a diet that is low in inflammation, you can reduce symptoms of colitis. The optimal diet to follow is one that is mostly vegetarian; red meat is incredibly inflammatory in the body. If you can’t eliminate red meat, at least reduce your intake for the associated benefits. Consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables, rice, potatoes, gluten-free grains, filtered water, carrot juice and other vegetable juices, green drinks, kefir, sauerkraut, butter, flaxseed oil and kefir. If you are going to eat meat, consider baking or broiling it instead of frying, and be sure to lightly steam or eat your vegetables raw. Fruit will be optimal if taken with a meal and not on an empty stomach. Some water-soluble fibres include oat bran, chicory root and apple pectin.

Mind- Connection

Many colitis sufferers will mention stress, worry, and a mental-emotional connection to their symptoms. Tackling the emotional aspects of colitis should also be a priority. Reducing stress and increasing exercise promotes proper bowel functioning. Abdominal massage and hydrotherapy can be helpful in the healing stages of colitis.

Key Colitis Supporting Supplements

There exists a wide variety of supplements that can benefit colitis patients. It is very important to time them appropriately. Supplements that are beneficial during remission can be problematic during a flare. In general, treatments targeted at reducing leaky gut syndrome /articles/health-concerns/leaky-gut/, can also significantly help to reduce colitis flares. See below for a step-by-step guide at repairing the gut lining. Be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure you are using the right supplements for your specific case.

Colitis Supplements To Reduce Inflammation

There are a number of supplements that can reduce gut inflammation, but some of the best are:

1. Fish Oil: This oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve mood, thin the blood, and reduce blood pressure.
2. Boswellia: This herb is renowned for its ability to reduce systemic inflammation in the body. Although it has been most thoroughly researched for the treatment of arthritis, its use can be expanded to other inflammatory conditions.
3. Curcumin: Another herb that has been established for its anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin (tumeric) can be added to your cooking or supplemented directly as a great way to reduce any inflammation in your gut.

Colitis Supplements To Heal The Gut

There are a number of supplements that can help to reduce inflammation and speed the healing of the gut lining.

1. L-Glutamine: This amino acid can be considered the single most important supplement for restoring the integrity of the gut lining. It is a major food source for the enterocytes, and providing food allows them to replicate and heal regions of damage.
2. DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice): Licorice is a soothing and healing herb that can soothe the intestinal lining directly and also acts to regulate the immune system and help calm any ongoing inflammation.
3. Demulcents: This class of herbs coat and protect the intestinal lining from any further damage. By protecting the lining, they give the enterocytes time to heal. Some examples are marshmallow and slippery elm.

Colitis Prevention Tips

Once the gut has been repaired, it is important to help it maintain its integrity after this intensive healing regimen. One important means of doing this is by supplementing with a probiotic. Probiotics help the body to properly digest food and protect against colonization with "bad" bacteria and yeast. They can also help reduce the immune response to gut contents, thus helping to keep the immune system in check.

In addition to preventative supplementation, diet and lifestyle changes are essential to maintaining periods of remission for as long as possible. Reducing or better coping with stress, eating well, and exercising are all essential to maintaining health in those with colitis.