There are many problems that can lead to serious discomfort if not addressed at the right time. Ulcerative colitis is a serious problem that is almost identical to inflammatory bowel disease. There are good bacteria in the body that support the digestive process and help in good bowel movements. Balancing these bacteria can actually help the gut maintain your health and relieve the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Let us know if probiotics, which contain good bacteria, can help in the same way.
Ulcerative colitis and probiotics
If you’re thinking about the link between eating probiotic foods and chronic gastrointestinal disease, it’s simple, it’s about intestinal health. We spoke to Mrs. Shilpa Singh, a Clinical Nutritionist at Fatima Hospital in Lucknow, about the benefits of Probiotic Diet in Ulcerative Colitis. He explained that there are many symptoms of suffering from this condition which can be alleviated by eating probiotic foods in the diet. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding in the rectum
Effects of probiotics on ulcerative colitis
Probiotics can actually reduce inflammation in your gastrointestinal system. Ulcerative colitis is a gastrointestinal disease that causes inflammation of the intestines; So it comes in handy and improves the symptoms. According to experts, probiotics such as yogurt, kimchi, pickles and kefir can actually help improve UC conditions.
- It improves intestinal immunity
- It enhances the barrier function of the intestinal lining
- The intestinal microbiota develops which are good bacteria in the intestine
- It also helps to notice intestinal mucus which has different functions
Scientists believe that the genetic factor also plays a big role here. Bad bacteria can trigger chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Changing the way you look at bacteria can actually help make ulcerative colitis less invasive.
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How can probiotics help?
1. It can act as a barrier in the intestinal line to prevent other “bad” bacteria from being stimulated in the mucosal immune system.
2. Probiotics also increase mucus production which causes changes in the consistency of mucus. As a result, it can cause thin mucus in a person’s gut that provides protection against invading bacteria.
3. Probiotics can cause mucosal immunity in the system. It is present in the intestinal tract which makes it easier to make protective immunoglobulins in the blood.
4. They may actually be more anti-inflammatory in nature by altering the function of the mucosal immune system. This can prevent you from getting ulcerative colitis again.
What are the risks of taking probiotics at UC?
Well, if there are benefits and health benefits, there may be some negative effects of eating probiotic food in ulcerative colitis.
1. It can affect the immune system’s response – Probiotics are not considered safe for those whose immune system is weakened. For this reason, it can increase the risk of infection with the following problems:
- HIV related problems
- Immunosuppressive drugs
- Chemotherapy
- Some types of cancer
2. It can worsen the symptoms of ulcerative colitis – in some cases it can cause health complications that are commonly associated with ulcerative colitis. These include brain fog, bloating, and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
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Which probiotic can be added for ulcerative colitis?
There are some foods that contain probiotics and can be healthy for problems related to ulcerative colitis.
- Skim milk
- Cheese
- Ice cream
- Buttermilk
- Powdered milk
- Yogurt
- Soy based products
- Juice
- Miss
- Tempeh
- Kimchi
- Miss
- Sauerkraut
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