Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD) are painful, debilitating conditions that affect about 3 million Americans, and that number continues to grow.

Unfortunately, the standard treatments for IBD frequently make things even worse!  Medications cause a variety of side effects and surgery can be life-changing, plus the disease can recur after surgery.

But many IBD sufferers have gotten tremendous relief by helping to safely and naturally reduce the inflammation and stress on their intestines!

If you suffer from Crohn’s or colitis, here is what you need to know about the condition and how you can get lasting relief: 

They’re similar…but different

Although people sometimes confuse Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, there are distinct differences between the two:

Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the colon (large intestine) and/or rectum.

Typical symptoms are poor digestion, explosive bowel movements (as many as 30 or more a day!) rectal bleeding and pain. 

With UC, you stand about a one in four chance of needing surgery at some point--removal of some your colon. 

But even then you’re not home free because UC can "move down the road" and strike another area of the colon.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's can strike ANY area of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, but it usually affects the lower end of the small intestine (the ileum).

Common Crohn's symptoms include abdominal pain and explosive diarrhea.  You can also develop constipation, fevers, canker sores, clubbed fingernails and be prone to intestinal blockages.

And since your small intestine is where most nutrient absorption takes place, Crohn’s patients are prone to weight loss, malnutrition and deficiency diseases.

Crohn's burrows deeper into your intestinal wall than UC does, and eventually can cause little "canals" called fistulas to form between your intestine and other organs. 

This creates a path for wastes and toxins to seep out and impair the health of your other organs.

It’s a mystery…but not really

IBD is somewhat of a mystery, but it’s becoming more clear what may be behind it.

First, there is a suspected family history connection.  Studies have shown that a person with a first-degree relative with IBD is up to 10 times more likely to develop the disease.

Medication use is also a factor, especially antibiotics, birth control pills and NSAIDs.  These medications cause unhealthy changes to your gut microbiome and make you far more susceptible to infection, inflammation and disease.

History shows a concurrent rise in the number of Crohn’s disease diagnoses and our overuse of antibiotics, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. 

Also, IBD is considered an autoimmune condition--meaning your immune system becomes hypersensitive, then begins to see normal tissue in your intestinal tract as a dangerous invader and launches an inflammatory attack. 

Autoimmune diseases in general have exploded (currently affecting 50 million Americans) which parallels our ever-expanding vaccine schedule.  Vaccines are designed to provoke an inflammatory immune response….and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a person’s immune system might “go overboard.”    

Slim pickings

Although the underlying causes of IBD are many, the typical remedies are just TWO--drugs (steroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressors) and surgery.

Steroids can help reduce the inflammation, but they also can cause a wide variety of side effects, including bone loss, folic acid deficiency, low cortisol levels and increased risk of lymphoma.

Like I mentioned above, antibiotics upset your gut microbiome and make the situation even WORSE—not better.

And immunosuppressive drugs may help to "quiet" the overzealous, misguided immune reaction going on, but then you're lacking the protection of your immune system--and are far more susceptible to viruses, infections and diseases of all kinds (including cancer).

And the health price of surgery?  Well, losing some or all of your intestines and possibly getting a pouch or colostomy is traumatic to say the least.  Plus IBD can recur in another area after surgery—so you’re never really out of the woods.

Natural IBD relief

Even though Crohn’s and colitis sufferers may feel hopeless at times, one thing that is for certain is that there are very effective strategies for counteracting it that can leave you feeling a WHOLE lot better!

Here are 3 safe, easy and effective strategies that can help bring lasting relief to IBD sufferers:

1- Encourage sound digestion

Encouraging sound digestion and nutrient absorption is essential for IBD sufferers.

And a great way to help is to eat nutrient-packed meals that your body can more efficiently break down!

When digestion can be accomplished more easily, your wastes can move through the intestines smoothly like they should--with less chance of constipation, diarrhea, excessive gas or irritation.

And eating for better digestion is what you will learn to do in the Great Taste No Pain digestive health system (or for gluten-sensitive people, Great Taste No Gluten).

In both the Great Taste No Pain and Great Taste No Gluten systems, I show you step by step how to structure delicious, nutritious meals to encourage easier digestion, help nourish your body, help minimize irritation and increase your chances of feeling great after eating.

And the dishes in the recipe sections of both plans are the best!  You’ll be shocked at how delicious eating for better health can be. 

2- Strengthen your gut wall

For people with IBD, it's vital to have a strong gut wall and help keep harmful bacteria in check.

Step 1 is having a nutritious, fiber-rich diet (including lots of fresh vegetables) to nourish and encourage a healthy gut microbiome. 

However, experts also recommend supplementing with probiotic strains from both the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species. 

And Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula perfectly fits the bill.

Super Shield contains potent, well-studied strains of both Lactobacillus (which reside in the small intestine) and Bifidobacteria (that live in the large intestine), so your entire intestinal tract is covered!

3- Keep inflammation low

Keeping inflammation low in the intestines is crucial for IBD sufferers.

And one natural anti-inflammatory that is showing impressive benefits in the treatment of IBD is turmeric!

Studies are showing that turmeric has been helpful in curbing inflammation and maintaining remission in both Crohn’s disease and UC sufferers!

Plus turmeric has been shown to have anti-cancer properties and to help decrease joint pain, and it’s a very effective antioxidant too!  

Although Indian cuisine contains turmeric, the amount you’d get in your diet would be far too low to make a significant difference.  That’s why it’s best to supplement with a high-quality, organic turmeric formula like Optimal Turmeric Blend!

Every 2-capsule dose of Optimal Turmeric Blend provides a soothing 750 mg of pure, organic turmeric, along with black pepper extract to enhance absorbability. 

If you’ve got IBD, don’t give up hope!  Instead put the power of safe, natural measures to work for you and see the tremendous difference it can make in how you feel!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia