All Things IBD, IBS, Ostomy & Anti-Inflammatory Diet

IBD, IBS, Ostomy & so much more

Hello all, thank you for reading my last blog about my IBD story!!! I would love to clarify what IBD vs IBS is, how the ileostomy surgery works, and what an ostomy bag is! Plus, some fun nutrition about an anti-inflammatory diet!

What is IBD? 

There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s. Ulcerative Colitis affects your colon to your anus. Crohn’s affects anywhere from your mouth to your anus. To diagnose Ulcerative Colitis, one must undergo a colonoscopy with a biopsy of the large intestine. To be diagnosed with Crohn’s is to undergo an endoscopy & colonoscopy with a biopsy of both the large and small intestines. Both diseases cause diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, malnutrition, and weight loss. There is no single treatment for IBD, the goal is to relieve your symptoms and reduce inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs, medical biologics (an intense autoimmune drug) are usually prescribed along with an immune system suppressor such as prednisone. For more information and support go to Crohn's Colitis Foundation they have amazing resources for individuals newly diagnosed with IBD or have been for a while.

IBD vs IBS:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) vs. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are two very different bowel issues. IBS does not have a set definition, an individual can have IBS- diarrhea, IBS- constipation, or IBS- mix. Symptoms may be resolved or reduced by an elimination diet called the FODMAP diet. This is because certain types of carbohydrates are hard to digest and affect people in different ways. The best way to understand which foods are causing havoc on an individual’s digestive tract is to eliminate specific foods for 6 weeks and then, slowly introduce these foods back into the diet. IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder and can be managed by diet, stress, and lifestyle. I like to use Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic for IBD & IBS resources which both are reputable websites. 

All things ostomy & surgery:

There are different types of ostomies but the main ones I will discuss are colostomy & ileostomy. A colostomy is an operation that connects the colon to the abdominal wall vs an ileostomy connects part of the small intestine (ileum) to the abdominal wall. With an ileostomy the entire colon (large intestine) is surgically removed and a colostomy is when parts of the colon are surgically removed.  

 An ileostomy can be a little more challenging as an individual goes through a total colectomy meaning the entire colon is surgically removed. During the same surgery, the surgeon takes the end of the small intestine, the ileus, hence the name ILEostomy and creates an opening through the abdominal wall usually on the right side, and protrudes it through the outside of the stomach to create a stoma. Then a medical device called an ileostomy bag lies flat on the stomach, over the stoma to catch the stool. This bag stays on the body 24/7, the medical bag can be replaced every other day depending on the type, and emptied 8-10 times a day vs a colostomy bag is emptied 2-3 times a day.

If a patient decides to reverse this process, they undergo a two-step surgery. One to reverse the ileus to be attached back to your rectum. Then the surgeon goes back in to create a J-shaped internal reservoir made from an individual's small intestine as an alternative way to store and pass stool.  To help break the stigma, patients with an ostomy bag can live a normal life, they swim, exercise, shop, eat, play games, and so forth… They too can do all things.

Digestion & absorption:

 The small and large intestine play a huge role in what vitamins and minerals are absorbed. The small intestine is the main source for the absorption of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fat digestion. Whereas the colon's main role in absorption is water, sodium, chloride, potassium, vitamin K, and short-chain fatty acids. Patients who have their colon removed are at risk for dehydration and decreased fat absorption. Due to them not having the water reabsorbed in the colon anymore, plus having watery stool throughout the day causing a lack of essential salts being lost thus causing dehydration. Due to high output, ileostomy patients may need long-term electrolyte therapy replacement. I love that this image helps to visually see what is absorbed in each section of our intestine. This shows depending on what section of the digestive tract is altered, will then affect the absorption of certain vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients.

Anti-inflammatory diet:

We all have inflammation in our body so why not start now to incorporate those foods into our diet!!!

What are anti-inflammatory foods, think color, vibrant, and fresh! These are all rich in antioxidants that help fight inflammation in our body, for vitality, and well-being!!!

·       blueberries, cherries, and strawberries

·       salmon, tuna

·       almonds, walnuts

·       green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collard greens

·       tomatoes

·       olive oil

Foods that can cause inflammation in the body: try to limit these foods as much as possible

·       refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries

·       French fries and other fried foods

·       Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages

·       Red meat, processed meats (hot dogs, sausage, bacon)

·       Margarine, shortening, and lard

Easy ways to incorporate them into your diet:

First thing in the morning I like to make a smoothie, which consists of my favorite plant-based protein powder, 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds, ¼ banana, and a handful of blueberries or I switch it up with frozen black cherries, with soy milk or almond milk. Blending up our fruits is not only a fast easy way to get these powerhouse foods into our diet, but also easier to digest!

I even love organic vanilla Greek yogurt, add a handful of blueberries and Elizabeth’s chocolate granola for a delicious snack, or can be a breakfast option. For all my oatmeal lovers, add a handful of blueberries or frozen cherries to your dish.

Lunchtime examples can include a green leafy salad with salmon cooked in olive oil. Add a little extra crunch with some crushed-up or whole almonds to your salad. Next time you have a chicken salad tortilla wrap try adding spinach.

Snacks, I love a good handful of walnuts and berries. A while back I taught my husband to mix Cool Whip or vegan Cool Whip (which has a coconut flavor to it) use a cup and fold a handful of blueberries and or strawberries in the mix and it’s delightful!

Dinner time my family loves a good stir fry cooked with bell peppers, spinach, and onion, cooked in olive oil. Or a vegetable pasta dish, with sauteed tomatoes, spinach, and zucchini cooked in olive oil, with fresh herbs like basil!

See how easy this can be every time you sit down to eat, think how can you incorporate one of these foods into that meal or snack. Not only will this help you fight inflammation but also boost your immune system. This will help you focus more on a healthy balanced meal vs not so well-balanced in your day-to-day eating habits.

Thanks for reading!! I hope this helped clarify; IBD, IBS, and all things ostomy!! Share your favorite anti-inflammatory recipe!

<3 Ashley