Ulcerative Colitis Information

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can have a wide range of symptoms that include diarrhea, weight loss, cramps, blood in the stools, tiredness, low energy as well as constipation. Crohn's Disease can be difficult to diagnose because of the similarities that it has with Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

While you may have some of the symptoms of Crohn's Disease, you need to be checked out by your doctor or a gastroenterologist to see if that is indeed the case. If your doctor thinks that you may have Crohn's Disease you will likely undergo a series of tests to see if you do have the condition.

Some of the tests that your doctor may give you include a blood test checking for anaemia, elevated white blood cells as this can indicate an inflammatory condition, infection or possibly Crohn's Disease. They will also check the platelet count, when this above normal it can also indicate infection or active inflammation.

Your doctor may also get you to do a non invasive stool test which will be sent to the laboratory for testing. This can tell if you have a bacterial infection and also help determine if you have Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.

Another test that your doctor may want you to do is an endoscopy. An endoscope is a thin, flexible lighted tube that is connected to a video monitor and a computer. An endoscopy is performed by inserting an endoscope in to the rectum or mouth. This provides your doctor with a very detailed view of the intestinal tract. When having the procedure small biopsies will probably be taken for further examination. This can provide more information and help in the diagnosis of Crohn's Disease.

There are several other tests that your doctor can use to determine if you have Crohn's Disease, when the tests above do not provide enough information or aren't conclusive enough. Once you have been diagnosed you can start to do something about it.

Dealing with any health problem can be an emotional and stressful time. With the right information and help you can make sure Crohn's Disease doesn't have a negative effect on your life long term. Once you know you have Crohn's there are several things that you can do to help yourself using natural therapies, supplements, lifestyle changes, diet, exercise and stress management.

These help your body heal and get back in to tip top shape and stay off harsh drugs, medications and avoid surgery.

The first thing that needs to be established is that an unhealthy and malfunctioning colon doesn't only affect one's digestive system; it actually takes its toll on the whole body.

The primary function of the colon is to remove excess wastes from the body. This mainly involves the excretion of feces that needs to be eliminated to ensure that the body is able to function effectively, without any unnecessary hindrances. However, an unhealthy colon means that it is likely that the excretion of the feces is hampered, causing a build up of unwanted toxins in the body. These harmful toxins remain in the body and are circulated in the bloodstream which makes the body react. This is the point where people start getting sick.

Although it may begin with a simple allergic reaction or a series of loose bowels, these toxins continue to accumulate over time. Unless they are removed, they can lead to more severe conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. Even worse, these toxin build ups are also known to have ties with the development of grave illnesses such as colon and bowel cancer.

The Symptoms of Unhealthy Colon

There are a lot of ways to tell if one's colon is unable to get rid of the body's wastes effectively. It is necessary to learn and understand these symptoms in order to realize the need for a colon cleanse as soon as possible. Here are a few tell-tale signs that simply demand a detoxification program.

People that have unhealthy colons usually wake up sluggish and tired despite the fact that they've had more than 7 hours of sleep. The inability to lose weight is also a problem for these individuals even though they stick to healthy, low calorie diets. Skin problems such as pale skin with spots or acne are also common among this type of people. They may also experience irregularity in their bowel movements and have stools that are either liquid or have paste-like consistencies. Unhealthy colons may also cause bad breath and body odor even if best hygienic practices are done.

If two or more of these symptoms are present, then it may be time for a colon cleanse.

The Causes of Unhealthy Colon

Although there are dozens of different reasons why people tend to have unhealthy colons, one of the main reasons is a bad diet. Unhealthy diets are usually constituted by low levels of fiber. The lack of fiber in the system leads to blockages and feces that are moved at an irregularly slow rate. Fiber is needed by the body because it is indigestible and easily goes through the digestive system. It works like a broom that sweeps the bowel and excretes it together with the feces.

Low fiber diets may eventually lead to a build up of internal sludge in the colon. This gluey harmful substance takes up so much space and causes so many blockages that nothing is able to pass through. This then usually results to constipation. A healthy body will have high levels of fiber that act as magnets that take with them any unnecessary wastes out of the entire system.

The question now is how to ensure that the colon is clean. The answer is a combination of a high fiber diet and a simple colon cleanse procedure.

Bananas have a special place in diets low in fats, cholesterol and salt. In the mythological ages in Europe, a banana was called the apple of paradise. In the traditional medicine in India and the ancient Persia this golden fruit is regarded as nature's secret of perpetual youth. To this day, banana is known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. Banana is one of the oldest and best known fruits of the world. It is delicious and available in all seasons.

Banana is of great nutritional value. It constitutes almost a complete balanced diet in combination with milk. It is a good source of quick energy and an excellent means of recovery from fatigue.

Hypertension and Heart Problem: Potassium salt, like beta blockers, can reduce the risk of hypertension and therefore heart problems. Banana, being a rich source of potassium and low in sodium is beneficial for high blood pressure patients.

Certain compounds in banana behave like angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE is responsible for rise in blood pressure. ACE inhibiting property has been found in six varieties of banana.

Obesity: A diet of half banana and skimmed milk during breakfast is considered as an effective remedy for weight reduction.

Intestinal Disorder: Banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders. As chronic ulcer patients need to avoid any acidic fruit it is the only fruit they can consume without distress. It neutralizes the hyperacidity of the gastric juice and reduce the irritation of the ulcer. Ripe banana is highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis as it is bland, easily digestible and slightly laxative. It relieves the acute symptoms and promotes the healing process.

Constipation and Diarrhea: Banana helps in both constipation and diarrhea as it balances the colonic functions in the large intestine. It absorbs large amount of water, which helps in proper bowel movement.

Dysentery: Mashed banana with little salt is a valuable remedy for dysentery. According to traditional naturopathy a combination of ripe banana, tamarind and common salt is most effective in this disease.

Anaemia: Being high in iron content, banana is beneficial in the treatment of anaemia. It stimulates the production of haemoglobin in blood.

Allergies: The fruit is very useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and thus suffer from skin rashes, digestive disorder or asthma. Banana contains compounds which in most cases are not allergic. The fruit, however, does cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive individuals and they should avoid it.

Tuberculosis: Bananas are considered useful in the treatment of tuberculosis. The juice of the plantain or the ordinary cooked banana works miracle in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Urinary Disorder: Juice from banana stem is a well known remedy for urinary disorders. It helps to improve kidney and liver functions. It has been found that it is of great help in the treatment for the removal of kidney and gall bladder stones.

Menstrual Disorder: Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is considered an effective medicine for painful menstruation and excessive bleeding. Banana flower increases the concentration of progesterone hormone which reduces the bleeding.

Other uses: Ripe banana is chiefly eaten in a dessert or as a breakfast fruit. Unripe fruits can be cooked. Banana chips made from fully mature unripe banana are tasty and healthy. The flour prepared from the dried unripe banana is three times richer in minerals than the wheat flour. It is also easily digestible than cereal starches and is an ideal food for the infants and patients. Banana is also helpful in arthritis.

Precautions: Banana must be thoroughly ripe otherwise it is difficult to digest. The raw banana contains 20 to 25 per cent starch. But during the process of ripening this starch is fully converted to a sugar which is easily assimilated.

The fruit should not be consumed by those suffering from renal failure because of its high potassium content.

When there is an inflammation in the colon then this condition is termed as colitis. Autoimmune reactions, poor blood supply, and also infections are some of the major causes of colitis. Colon is a long muscular tube and pushes the food which is undigested towards the anus for natural elimination as bowel movement. It is the colon which is responsible for collection and storage of the waste products of digestion. The location of the colon is in abdominal cavity.

Various parts of the colon are cecum, ascending colon, transverse, descending colon, the sigmoid, the rectum and the anus. There are numerous layers in the wall of the colon. The layer which wraps the outside is known as smooth muscle. It squeezes the undigested food through the length of the colon. Mucosa is the inner layer which helps in solidifying the feces. An inflammation of the colon occurs in the mucosal layer which is responsible for the symptoms of colitis.

An infection and the variety of illness cause the inflammation of the colon. Most common causes of the colitis are - infectious colitis, ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis and chemical colitis.

Usually according to the type of colitis the symptoms of the colitis will occur. Abdominal pain and diarrhea are its common symptoms. There are some other symptoms also.

1. A constant feeling of having bowel movement. It is also called Tenesmus.

2. Constant pain

3. Inflammation, infection, chills and fever.

4. In the bowel movement there may be the presence of blood.

5. Abdominal pain occurs in waves which causes diarrhea.

Various types of natural cures are available to cure colitis.

1. Best way to control colitis is to shift on liquid diet. Diet plays an important role in curing colitis. Fluid diet is best for colitis as it allows the colon to rest and nothing is passed into the colon to be processed as stool.

2. Intake of excess water is very necessary to cure colitis. With each diarrheal bowel movement an individual loses a significant amount of fluid. So adequate fluid should be taken to maintain the balance otherwise it will lead to dehydration and an individual will suffer from the problem of abdominal pain and cramping.

3. Try to avoid the food which causes allergies as it is also one of the important causes which result into colitis. Especially take care before using milk and dairy products, chocolate, corn, wheat, gluten etc.

In fact it is believed that it has been man's insistence on selecting and growing grain varieties with every increasing volumes of gluten (and binding properties) that may have lead to the increase in celiac disease in the first place, but I digress. But before we discover the value of xanthan and guar gum it is valuable to understand what part of the gluten molecule is actually the problem for celiacs.

Surprisingly, gluten is actually not the real issue for celiac and gluten intolerant people (up to 20% of the population) - it is the 'prolamin' portion of the molecules in the grains mentioned above. That is, it is "the toxic component of the gluten molecule lies in the prolamin portion. In wheat this portion is called gliadin. It comprises approximately 40 - 50% of the protein. In rye this portion is called secalin. It comprises approximately 30 - 40% of the protein. In barley this portion is called hordein. It comprises approximately 35 - 45% of the protein. In oats this portion is called avenin. It comprises approximately 10 - 15% of the protein. There are prolamins in rice, corn and other foods but these do not contain the toxic tetrapeptide(s) which are reportedly responsible for the villous damage and rash experienced by celiacs and people with 'gluten' sensitivities.   

THE DRAWBACKS OF GLUTEN   Upon entering the digestive tract, gluten breaks down into peptide chains in a similar fashion to other protein sources, however the resulting g-related peptide chain length is considerably longer than for other proteins. These longer peptides are part of the reason that immune response triggers occur and cause celiac disease. However celiac are not the only people who chose to avoid gluten. Some of the disease that also benefit from a gf diet are: irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis (autism) and those with ulcerative colitis.   For people who are new to a g-free diet it is worth noting that there are an increasing number of 'health food' products on our supermarket shelves listed as wheat free, but still containing gluten - read your ingredients carefully!   There are many 'natural' products used as jellying agents in foods. Some of these can replace the cooking properties of 'gluten' in some foods however the main focus of this article is on those products that replace the function of it in flours. The two main products discussed at the end of this section are xanthan gum and guar gum.  

Gelling agent descriptions (from wikipedia)  

The following substances are only a few of those with gelling properties that used in the food industry.  

Pectin: is found in apples, quince, plums, gooseberries, oranges and other citrus fruits. The main use for pectin is as a gelling agent, thickening agent and stabilizer in food. The standard application is giving the jelly-like consistency to jams or marmalades. People with fructose intolerance and fructose mal-absorption however avoid pectin like a celiac avoids gliadin!  

Alginate is a viscous gum that is abundant in the cell walls of brown algae. It ranges from white to yellowish-brown, and takes filamentous, granular and powdered forms. Alginate absorbs water quickly, which makes it useful as an additive in dehydrated products such as slimming aids, and in the manufacture of paper and textiles. It is also used for waterproofing and fireproofing fabrics, as a gelling agent, for thickening drinks, ice cream and cosmetics, and as a detoxifier that can absorb poisonous metals from the blood.  

Carrageenans or carrageenins are a family of linear sulphated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds. The name is derived from a type of seaweed that is abundant along the Irish coastline. Gelatinous extracts of the Chondrus crispus seaweed have been used as food additives for hundreds of years. Some of the many uses of carageenins are:

·        Desserts, ice cream, milk shakes, sweetened condensed milks,

·        sauces: gel to increase viscosity ·       

.        Beer: clarifier to remove haze-causing proteins

·        Pâtés and processed meat: Substitute fat to increase water retention and increase volume

·        Toothpaste: stabilizer to prevent constituents separating

·        Fire fighting foam: thickener to cause foam to become sticky

·        Shampoo and cosmetic creams: thickener

·        Air freshener gels

·        Shoe polish: gel to increase viscosity  

Agar or agar agar is a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed. Historically and in a modern context, it is chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Japan. White and semi-translucent, it is sold in packages as washed and dried strips or in powdered form. It can be used to make jellies, puddings and custards.  

WHAT ARE THE 'G' RELACEMENT OPTIONS?  

While the above products have many jelling uses, they don't have the combined properties of: texture, taste, binding, stabilizing and rising properties required to act as a standard flour replacement. Hence the use of xanthan and guar gum.  

XANTHAN GUM    Xanthan gum is used as a substitute for wheat gluten in  GF breads, pastas and other flour-based food products. Xanthan gum comes from a strain of bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris) that is used during the fermentation process. This is the same bacteria that is the cause of black rot on broccoli and cauliflower. It is the slimy substance formed by the bacteria during the fermentation process that acts as a natural stabilizer or thickener and gluten replacement. Xanthan it is a long chain of three different forms of sugar.   What's important to know is that all three of these natural sugars are present in corn sugar, a derivative of the corn syrup. The Xanthomonas campestris bacteria literally eat the corn sugar under controlled conditions, and the digestion process converts the individual sugars into a single substance with properties like cornstarch. Xanthan gum is used in dairy products and salad dressings as a thickening agent and stabilizer.

Surprisingly Xanthan is also used as a stabilization and binding component in many cosmetic products. The value of xanthan gum its binding property is highly concentrated, meaning that only a small amount needs to be used in any application, thus keeping the costs down. cosmetic manufacturers use very small amounts to cream-based products to stop individual ingredients from separating.   Even more remarkable (the next time you eat xanthan gum) is knowing it is used in the oil industry. Natural thickeners like guar gum or xanthan gum are often blended with water to increase waters viscosity, or thickness for lubrication purposes.   Celiacs should be aware that unlike the Botox causing bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) the bacteria used to create xanthan is typically not considered harmful to human skin or digestive systems, though some individuals may find they are allergic to it. The difference between Xanthan and Guar gum (discussed below) is that some people avoid Xanthan due to its derivation from corn, soy or other plant products.  

GUAR GUM   Often where you find xanthan gum you will find guar gum being used. The guar plant, also known as a cluster plant, grows mainly in Pakistan and the northern regions of India. Guar gum is a natural food thickener, similar to locust bean gum, tapioca flour or cornstarch. The popularity of guar gum is for the same reason that xanthan is used: it is highly concentrated regarding its gel-like properties thus reducing the amount and cost required in breads, puddings and ice creams etc. Guar gum is a thickening agent, binder and plasticizer.

Processed foods with creamy textures are usually bound by binders such as guar gum. This high gelling property has also seen guar gum used in non-prescription diet pills as it can create the sense of 'fullness' but its use as an ingredient in non-prescription diet aids was officially banned in the early 1990s by the FDA (in America). It was found that the mass of swollen guar gum had the potential to cause harmful intestinal and duodenal blockages. The typical amount of guar gum ingested in regular foods is not considered harmful although another unwanted side effect of guar gum is that when used in excess it can have a strong laxative effect. This is why some people who are celiac and still suffer from very sensitive bowels or even IBS need to be aware of this potential problem.  

HOW Xanthan and Guar gum are used  

Xanthan gum (E415) is a stabilizer, thickener, and emulsifier used with water, and often blended with guar gum (E412). When it gets wet, it turns rubbery so when added to flour it works in a very similar way to gluten i.e. it traps the gas from the yeast thus causing the dough to rise. When added to gluten free wheat flour (about a heaped teaspoon to 1lb. flour), the flour starts to perform in a similar way to a strong white flour.   Xanthan gum and guar gum are often already included in g-free flour replacements however some people prefer to make up their own blends. Because some celiacs wish to reduce their intake of corn and others are concerned about guar gums potential laxative effects they are often combined to reduce the reliance on either specific gum. That said, you will find many forum articles suggest that Xanthan gum and guar gum are the absolutely essential ingredients (gluten replacement) for gluten free baking.   If you are after the holy grail of gluten free flour recipes to replace white wheat flour in baked goods this is it: 'Wendy Wark's gluten-free flour mix recipe' was originally published in the book 'Living Healthy with Celiac Disease' (now out of print). It calls for the following mix:

•       2-1/4 cup brown rice flour


•       3/4 cup sweet rice flour


•       2/3 cup tapioca starch flour


•       1/4 cup potato starch flour


•       1/3 cup cornstarch


•       2 tsp xanthan or guar gum

Use 1 cup of this flour for 1cup of regular flour in recipes. When using this mix as a flour substitute in baked goods, xanthan gum must be added to the batter in the following proportions:

•       bread: add 3/4 tsp xanthan gum per cup of flour mix


•       cake: add 1/4 tsp xanthan gum per cup of flour mix


•       cookies: no additional xanthan gum needed, if flour mix contains it already.

  What substitutes for Xanthan? People with corn / soy allergies sometimes try:

•       agar agar, and caragenen as discussed above.


•       milled flax seed with coconut for its binding properties.


•       glucomannan flour - yam based.


•       unflavoured Gelatine - an animal based product


•       methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose are used to create thermoreversible gels - that means they gel when heated.

Colitis happens when there is an occurrence of inflammation of the colon of a person. There are several Colitis causes which include poor blood supply, infections and in cases where the body undergoes autoimmunity. What are the colitis symptoms? What is colitis treatment?

The colon is responsible for pushing undigested food to the anus for final elimination in the process of bowel movement. As the undigested food travels in this long muscular tube, it gathers up mucus and bacteria along the way. The bloodstream reabsorbs water permitting the liquid mixture to solidify to form the feces.

Colitis causes mainly include various infections and illnesses. Infections that bring about inflammation of the colon often come from food poisoning. Lack of blood supply in the body can also cause Colitis. There are a number of reasons why the colon can lose blood and in turn can contribute to having diarrhea, anemia, dehydration or shock.

If one is experiencing bloody bowel movements and abdominal pain, this can be because of an inflammatory bowel disease. Before consulting what is colitis treatment for your case, one will first need to study the causes, and with it the careful application of various diets including the ulcerative colitis diet.

Symptoms:

The symptoms will depend on the type of colon inflammation that the patient has but the common factor among them is experiencing diarrhea and abdominal pain.

- There may or may not be blood in the feces.

- Patients will experience frequent urges to defecate.

- Abdominal can be great at the beginning and gradually declines; regular pain.

- Chills and fever can be observed with some types of Colitis.

The Diagnosis:

- While many patients may attest diarrhea as the general symptom, some are able to resolve the dilemma in just hours while there are a number of patients who suffer from it for years.

- Dehydration can greatly add to the occurrence of a colon inflammation.

- Colitis is often associated with diarrhea because of its symptom being prominent in every type of colon inflammation.

The Exams and Tests:

- Blood testing is done to discover the patient's stability and observe possible factors that can lead to Colitis.

- A Colonoscopy is performed by a gastroenterologist by inserting a long flexible camera in the anus to permit visibility of the colon walls.

- Computerized tomography is performed to see the image of the colon and the abdomen.

What is Colitis Treatment?

- The inflammatory bowel diseases can be controlled by taking a good combination of medicines.

- Abdominal pain and diarrhea from Colitis can be relieved by a clear liquid diet, rest and an ulcerative colitis diet.

- Infectious Colitis is often countered with antibiotics but there are other viral infections that do not require them instead rest can be enough to eliminate the virus over time.

Even though there are several Colitis symptoms, a prominent one is having a diarrhea whether bloody or not, and frequent abdominal pain. Although there are ways to treat colon inflammation, it is always advisable to rather prevent it by eating healthy and staying away from too much sugar, fat and oily foods which can cause Colitis in the near future.

Crohn's disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon. Most patients also experience abdominal pain and weight loss. The treatment for Crohn's disease is similar to that of ulcerative colitis in the sense that it can be treated with sulfasalazine, mesalamine preparations, glucocorticoids and 6 mercaptopurine, as well as crohns herbal remedies.

Antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin and Metronidazole can also be effective for the complications that come along with Crohn's disease. Metronidazole is very useful in treating fitulous disease in some patients.

The origin of Crohn's disease is still a mystery in the medical world, however some researchers believe that overeating, chemical poisoning, bacterial and a lack of response by your own immune system may all be connected to Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease can often be confused with regional ileitis, which is also a severe, progressive, inflammatory disease of the bowel. Its symptoms include diarrhea with pain. Bowel movements usually contain blood, mucus and pus, brought on by the infection. What makes Crohn's different is that it can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and does not necessarily involve constant unhealthy bowel movements, sometimes bowel movements are regular, other time they are not.

No symptoms are noticeable when your Crohn's is in remission. In fact, most patients in remission may think that they are healed. But the truth of the matter is that there is still chance for the disease to reoccur, unless you take all necessary precautions and pay close attention to your health. If surgery becomes necessary for Crohn's your disease, you can rest assured it is a well tolerated, reasonably safe procedure, with an operative mortality rate of only 6%.

Since diarrhea is one of the main symptoms of Crohn's disease, it's not unusual for patients to have some fissures, fistulas or thickening of the anal skin. The skin may also become swollen and discolored around the anus.

Crohn's can also bring about biochemical disturbances in the liver. Many patients hat exhibit this symptom have a family history of allergies that includes hives and asthma. Additional symptoms can include enlargement of the ends of the fingers (called clubbing), thrush in the mouth, lesions in the eyes and arthritis that effects the large joints.

Even today there is no effective cure for Crohn's disease. Although the disease may exhibit relatively mild symptoms, it still can interfere with work and your personal life. Medications that treat the disease can sometimes end up causing other problems.

Many Crohn's patients were found to be eating a similar diet -- lots of refined sugars, less dietary fiber, less raw fruits and vegetables. The trouble is that sugary foods tend to contain chemical additives that influence intestinal bacteria, causing them to produce toxic substances that end up, over time, destroying the intestinal lining. This is the reason sugary foods should be avoided (or limited) by Crohn's patients.

Seasonings as well as cold liquid are also not well tolerated. It's also common for a milk sugar mal-absorption to cause milk intolerance in most Crohn's patients. Crohn's disease is also believed to be responsible for providing favorable conditions where substances that produce allergic reaction can develop, especially if the Crohn's has penetrated the lining of the bowel.

If you suspect you have Crohn's disease, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps, such as self diagnosing crohns herbal remedies. Careful diagnosis and monitoring are the key to living comfortably with Crohn's.

Any condition that harms the body, breaks down, or causes the death of cells is defined as stress. If the diet is adequate, repair quickly occurs, but when rebuilding fails to keep pace with destruction, illness is produced. Disease results from multiple stresses such as anxiety, overwork, perhaps bacterial or viral attack, and inadequate diet, sleep, and exercise. Unfortunately, it usually brings on numerous other stresses: poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, faulty absorption, fever, pain, diarrhea, dehydration, high urinary losses of many nutrients, exposure to x-rays, and the use of drugs.

In the same way that it requires more material for the repair of a damaged house than for the upkeep of one in good condition, every nutrient is needed in larger amounts to repair a body damaged by the multiple stresses that cause disease and result from it. For example, the stress-or damage-caused by x-raying an animal or by giving it anyone of many commonly used drugs increases the need for protein, linoleic acid, several minerals, and vitamins A, C, and all the B vitamins. Presumably the same is true of humans.

Regardless of the forms of stress, the body immediately tries to repair damage done, but it cannot unless all nutrients are generously supplied. The nutritional needs increase tremendously at the very time eating is most difficult; and a diet adequate for a healthy individual becomes markedly inadequate for an ill one.

The body's reaction to stress. The great medical genius Dr. Hans Selye, of the University of Montreal, revolutionized medical thinking with his theory, now confirmed by thousands of scientific studies, that the body reacts to every variety of stress in the same way. At the onset of stress, a tiny gland at the base of the brain, the pituitary-the boss, of the repair crew-starts protective action by secreting chemical messengers, or hormones, ACTH and STH. These hormones, carried in the blood to two small glands above the kidneys, the adrenals, cause the outside border of these glands, or cortex, to produce cortisone and other messengers. Although the center of these glands manufactures adrenaline, the adrenal hormones referred to throughout this book are those made by the cortex.

These adrenal cortex hormones quickly prepare the body to meet the emergency: proteins, at first drawn from the thymus and lymph glands, are broken down to form sugar necessary for immediate energy; the blood sugar soars and the remaining sugar is stored in the liver in the form of body starch, or glycogen, which can be instantly converted into sugar if needed; the blood pressure increases, minerals are drawn from the bones, fat is mobilized from storage depots, an abnormal amount of salt is retained, and many other changes take place which prepare the body for "fight or flight." These changes also make it possible to repair vital tissues by a process of robbing Peter to pay Paul. This stage, called the "alarm reaction," varies in intensity with the degree of stress.

The first two stages of stress are characterized by constant damage and repair; most illnesses fall in stage three, which is reached when repair fails. Intense stress, such as drastic surgery, a serious car accident or severe burn may cause a person to pass through all three stages-alarm, resistance, and exhaustion-in a single day. More often we experience repeated "alarm reactions" and live through hundreds of "stages of resistance," one piled on top of the other, before pituitary and adrenal exhaustion threatens our lives. During every illness, however, we are in one of these three stages of stress, and to regain our health our diets must be planned accordingly.

If stress is prolonged after the thymus and lymph glands, whose proteins are purposely destroyed, have shriveled, proteins from the blood plasma, liver, kidneys, and other parts of the body are used. Stomach ulcers may occur not only because of increased production of hydrochloric acid, but also because proteins are stolen from the stomach walls. In ulcerative colitis, the destruction of protein brought about by prolonged stress literally eats away the lining of the intestine. During a single day of severe stress, the urinary loss of nitrogen has shown that the amount of body protein destroyed equals that supplied by 4 quarts of milk.

Yet if such a tremendous quantity of protein can be eaten during that day, the tissues are unharmed. In the same way that the body suffers when its proteins are necessarily stolen and not replaced, so are the bones weakened by the theft of calcium. Dozens of other destructive changes similarly occur. Increased blood pressure alone may become dangerous. It is extremely important, therefore, for each of us to learn how to protect ourselves from the ravages of stress.

There are numerous approaches which may be adopted in order to get rid of acid reflux:

Lifestyle changes and Medicinal uses
Lifestyle changes are beneficial to get rid of acid reflux such as sleeping on the left side with the body raised along with things like avoiding causative foods. Even though these may be effective and decrease the chances of heartburn, these methods can be uncomfortable while the likelihood of the symptoms returning may be higher than realized. The symptoms of acid reflux are also alleviated using various medications with the most common one being the class of proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole. This method is perhaps the most efficient however again there may be problems associated with taking the medications such as side effects, drug interactions with existing medicines or even problems with remembering to take the medicines on time.

Natural Remedies
There is also an existence of natural remedies which attempt to get rid of acid reflux which may be used alone or combined with medications. Natural remedies are generally used in those who are not exhibiting severe symptoms associated with heartburn. A few natural remedies which aid the improvement of the condition are discussed below.

Apple cider vinegar is a common natural remedy used to get rid of acid reflux. This remedy has shown to be highly effective however; the method by which it works is unknown. Furthermore, an overdose of apple cider vinegar may cause a decrease in potassium leading to hypokalaemia which can be a huge health risk. Additionally, it may also reduce bone density which predisposes towards osteoporosis.

Aloe Vera is another natural remedy used for this condition. It is usually taken orally as a juice form for some symptoms of ulcerative colitis and is thought to be effective for acid reflux. However, problems are also common with this remedy and involve the prevalence of side effects. Aloe Vera is marketed to improve and maintain the well being of the digestive system however; there is no scientific evidence to support this use.

As discussed, the above options for a person suffering from heartburn and acid reflux may not be the most appropriate whether it is due to the effects of prescription drugs, risks associated with surgery or just poor efficacy of these therapies due to the severity of the condition. However, there is still a possibility to completely cure acid reflux and improve the health of the digestive system through an accomplished plan which is proven to be effective.

There are a few conditions and disorders that are quite serious, however people do not panic as they are so commonplace and familiar that the "fear of the unknown" has all but been eradicated and thus reduced the stress that a lack of familiarity can bring.

While people have a certain general familiarity with ulcers, that general familiarity is usually restricted to peptic ulcers and mouth ulcers. In actuality, there are many different types of ulcers that a person could end up suffering from. One of these types of ulcers is the colon ulcer and it is one of the more painful and difficult types of ulcers to contract.

Of all the causes of a colon ulcer, the most common is "ulcerative colitis". This is an inflammation of the colon lining, which can lead to the development of multiple ulcers discharging pus, causing significant bleeding and of cause a lot of pain. Obviously, ulcers in the colon are a serious matter.

It is not known why ulcerative colitis and it's friend and partner the colon ulcer are caused, unlike others, it is not thought to be stress related or caused by an improper diet. The most likely cause would normally be a disorder of the bowel. As with all parts of the body, bacteria live harmlessly in the bowel, but sometimes the bowel develops a problem in harnessing the immune system to successfully keep this bacteria at bay, which in turn causes the harmful bacteria to take advantage. This causes inflammation, which is what we know as the ulcer.

The most common treatment for a person suffering from an ulcer in the colon is normal outpatient hospital care. Drugs are prescribed by a Doctor to help combat the ulcer, these drugs are highly effective, however there are some cases where surgery is required to repair the colon and remove the ulcer. Don't fret though, surgery is normally only required in less than 75% of colon ulcer patients.