Everyone experiences digestive discomfort occasionally. For most, the symptoms that make you miserable—such as stomach pain, cramps, and bloating—eventually go away. But for the millions of people who have inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, these symptoms can be severe and never truly go away. The symptoms may go into remission, only to resurface at any time. IBD refers to an ongoing, or chronic, inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It's estimated that 1.4 million people have IBD in the United States. It affects people of all ages, although adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 35 are most often affected. IBD is one of over 80 disorders called autoimmune diseases. Normally our immune systems protect us by destroying harmful substances, such as bacteria or viruses. In the case of autoimmune disease, the immune system destroys the body's own tissues. In the case of IBD, the targeted tissue is a person's own digestive tract. As with other autoimmune diseases, the exact causes are still unknown. Nor has a cure been found. However, current research suggests that autoimmune diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The two most prevalent IBDs are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Crohn's disease is a chronic condition in which the intestines become inflamed, causing sores, or ulcers. The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are abdominal cramps or pain, chronic diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, and weight loss.
• Ulcerative colitis is limited to the inner lining of the large intestine. The main symptom of ulcerative colitis is chronic diarrhea, but symptoms can also include abdominal pain and fever.

Other side effects of IBD include feeling tired and loss of appetite, which only exacerbates already existing problems.

Managing Your IBD

Because your GI tract is responsible for digestion and also plays a major role in your immune function, the effects of IBD are two-fold: 1) nutrients from the foods you eat are never metabolized, and 2) your digestive tract is less able to protect you from harmful substances. One of the keys to managing IBD is to adjust your diet to replace nutrients lost during flare-ups and avoid further irritation of the GI lining. Some of the things you can do include:

• Eating nutrient-dense foods. During flare-ups you can become weak and malnourished. Make sure you're eating nutrient-rich foods that won't irritate your GI tract.
• Avoiding nutrient-poor and high-residue foods. Processed foods that are high in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats are nutrient-poor and should be avoided. High residue, high-fiber foods can irritate the lining of your GI tract and also should be avoided.
• Staying hydrated. Because IBD involves chronic diarrhea, the risk of dehydration and salt loss is high and kidney function may be affected. People with Crohn's disease have an increased incidence of kidney stones.
• Using probiotics. Probiotics are "friendly bacteria" that live within your intestines and aid in digestion and maintaining a healthy GI environment. The L. plantarum 299V strain has been shown to support the health and function of the intestinal lining.

If you're interested in learning more about natural approaches to managing IBD, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she will help you develop a program to help you return to feeling well and strong.