TO USE NUTRITION TO YOUR BEST ADVANTAGE, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR DISEASE

Good nutrition can help everyone, but it can be particularly helpful to those with illnesses like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or one of the other inflammatory bowel diseases. For each disease, nutritional advice can differ depending on where the disease is located, whether it's active or under control, and whether there are other issues with your general health.

Can you answer all of these questions about your IBD?

Know Your Disease

• Do you have Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate disease, or one of the rare forms of IBD?
• How long have you had symptoms? When were you diagnosed and have you been effectively treated?
• Where is the disease located?
• Have you had a narrowing (stricture), penetrating disease (a fistula), an abscess? 
• Have you had surgery?
• Is your disease controlled, in remission, or active and flaring?
• How bad is the diarrhea and pain? Is there blood?
• Do you often feel fatigued or nauseated?

How's Your General Health?

• Do you have other illnesses, problems?
• How do you sleep? Do you have depression or anxiety?
• Can you work or go to school a full day?
• Do you have or have you had nutritional problems / deficiencies?
• Are you able to eat well?
• Do you take any supplements, medications?
• Do you smoke, use alcohol, addicting drugs such as pain medications?