Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The two major types of inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. As the name implies, inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract. In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can extend to any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus.

Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis typically have active periods followed by periods of remission. Fortunately, both diseases offer excellent opportunities for nutritional therapy. It is important that patients with these diseases pay careful attention to their nutritional intake, making sure to maintain healthy levels of nutrients. Many people with inflammatory bowel disease almost completely stop eating during flare-ups. Also, malabsorption of nutrients is a significant problem (especially in Crohn’s disease), making it doubly important to use supplements. Finally, a number of nutrients show reduced inflammation and possibly reduced symptoms associated with these difficult conditions. No definitive cause has been uncovered for inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease can attack any portion of the digestive tract, although inflammation commonly occurs in the lower portion of small intestine, known as the ileum. The disease causes ulcerations within the intestine that can erode into surrounding tissues like the bladder, vagina or even the surface of the skin. Inflammation in Crohn’s disease is not limited to intestine – some people who have Crohn’s disease have inflammation of the eyes and joints as well.

The most common symptoms of the disease include severe abdominal pain with or without diarrhoea. Diarrhoeal stool may be mixed with blood and often with mucus or pus. Bowel movements are often painful. Cramping in the right lower side of the abdomen is common, especially after meals. People with Crohn’s disease often have chronic low-grade fever, poor appetite, fatigue and weight loss. Symptoms outside the gastrointestinal tract include joint pain and swelling, and occasionally eye pain and vision disturbances. Skin rashes may also occur. People who have Crohn’s disease almost always have some degree of anaemia, related both to poor iron absorption and to chronic blood loss from inflamed tissue. Diagnostic tests may be used to confirm the disease and to distinguish it from ulcerative colitis. Such tests include x-rays (with contrast material such as barium) and endoscopy,

Ulcerative Colitis

• Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation of the large intestine (colon) that leads to episodes of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and even fever. Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis usually doesnot affect the full thickness of the intestine and never affects the small intestine. The disease usually begins in rectum or sigmoid colon and spreads partially or completely through the large intestine.

Ulcerative colitis typically begins gradually, with abdominal pain and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody. In more serious cases, diarrhea is severe and frequent. Fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss occur. The severity of disease depends on how much of the colon is involved. The symptoms caused by ulcerative colitis tend to come and go. There may be long periods with no symptoms at all, followed by flare-ups. A definitive diagnosis can be made by direct examination of the colon by sigmoidoscopy (examination of the lower portion only) or colonoscopy (examination of the entire colon, the preferred approach).

Role of Noni 

Because most medications for inflammatory bowel disease have substantial adverse effects, attention to nutrition and diet can reduce dependence on medications to stave off active disease or induce remission. Intolerance to certain foods and other nutritional factors can be causes of exacerbations, so elimination of these is important to avoid flare-ups. In people who have Crohn’s disease, elemental diets (in which nutrients have been reduced to simple molecules) have been shown to be very effective

Noni can promote a healthy digestive system

Antioxidants : Normal digestion produces a host of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (also known as free radicals), against which the intestinal mucosa maintains an extensive system of antioxidants. When presented with excessive oxidant stress, however, the mucosal barrier can sustain damage and become leaky, setting the stage for inflammation. Inflammation itself produces large quantities of reactive species, and a destructive cycle can be perpetuated. Studies showned that antioxidant combinations, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, reduce the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Noni contains all the vitamins, all trace minerals and lots of phytochemicals. All these ingredients make Noni a powerful and very effective antioxidant to combact free radical’s damaging effect on our body.

Gelutamine : Glutamine is an amino acid, frequently used as a sports and fitness supplement. It helps modulate the immune system and protects the mucosal protective layer in intestine. Glutamine is also able to reduce leakiness of the intestine, which may help to reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Noni contains 17 amino acids including this amino acid glutamine

Arginine : Research has suggested that arginine suppresses growth of some strains of unfavorable bacteria and inhibits bacterial toxin release, a common problem in people who have chronic intestinal inflammation . Noni supplementation of RNA and arginine promote healing of small-bowel ulcers in experimental ulcerative ileitis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) : DHEA plays an important role in preventing chronic inflammation and provides signals needed to maintain healthy immune function. DHEA is a vitally important hormone. In fact, published studies link low levels of DHEA to aging and diseased states. Specifically, a deficiency of DHEA correlates with chronic inflammation. Phytosterols are the precursor of human sterol. DHEA is the main human sterol. Noni contains all the phytosterols.

DHEA lowers these proinflammatory cytokines and protects against their toxic effects. These proinflammatory cytokines rise with age and are especially high in patients who have inflammatory diseases. DHEA consistently shows to boost beneficial interleukin-2 (IL-2) and suppresses damaging IL-6 levels.

Fiber : Dietary fiber is essential to good health and is found in many plant foods, like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains. Insoluble fibers found in such foods as fruit pulp, vegetable peels and skins, and grain brans add bulk to stool and hasten movement of food through digestive tract, helping to prevent constipation and diarrhea. Soluble fibers found in fruits, vegetables, grains, oatmeal, and dried beans help to lower cholesterol and prevent such diseases as colon cancer and diabetes. Noni is rich with the soluble fiber pectin. A high-fiber diet may be helpful in reducing flare-ups of colitis. Noni can help a lot  in case of IBD.

Recommended Dosage

Divine Noni Concentrate

5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then

10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then

15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.