Can Probiotics Help You Control Ulcerative Colitis?
Posted by adianutrition on August 15, 2012
Another condition that probiotics may help patients control, one similar to Crohn’s disease, is ulcerative colitis. Both are classified as IBD’s and have no known cure. However, ulcerative colitis is different in that it only effects the colon.
In ulcerative colitis patients, a yet-undetermined genetic factor causes the body’s immune system to see food, germs, and other everyday substances as harmful pathogens and send white blood cells to the lining of the colon. This causes inflammation and ulcer growth in the colon’s lining. These ulcers and pores release mucus and pus that contain harmful bacteria leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Scientific research has shown that probiotics can shift the composition of the bacteria in this mucus from bad to good, lessening the irritation and the severity if the symptoms. They also strengthen the immune system, allowing the body to fight the disease.
Source Materials:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001296/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3033537/
http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-ulcerative-colitis/
