I have Crohn’s/Ulcerative Colitis. Can Healthpath help me?

Yes, we can definitely support you and your symptoms if you have Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis.

Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are two very similar conditions where the walls of your digestive system become inflamed and ulcerated. While Crohn’s can affect the whole of your gut, from your mouth to your anus, Ulcerative Colitis only affects your colon.

The most common symptom of both conditions is persistent diarrhoea.

Other symptoms include:

• Bloating 
• Abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding and pain
• Unintended weight loss
• Loss of appetite 
• Nutrient deficiencies 
• Fatigue
• Low mood or depression 
• Brittle nails
• Hair loss
• Nausea and vomiting

Connection between gut health, Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis can be painful and difficult conditions. Because they’re autoimmune diseases, technically it’s impossible to be ‘cured’ of them: you can’t switch the autoimmunity ‘off’ once it’s been switched on.

However many people do manage to put their disease into remission. That means that they no longer notice the symptoms and are able to live full and active lives. There are many examples in the medical literature where various diets have induced remission in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Interestingly, researchers have found that SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is more common in people with Crohn’s, and that treating it can reduce symptoms of the disease.

It’s important to say that everybody is different: you may have the same disease as your friend or neighbour but the reasons you have that disease and the symptoms you show are probably not the same.

For instance, the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) has a lot of evidence behind its ability to improve the symptoms of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. However it isn't appropriate for everybody. 

We know that people who have Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis have different microbiomes (the communities of bacteria and other microbes that live in your gut) to people without either disease. The SCD probably works for some people because it restricts some of the carbohydrates that microbes like to eat.

We don’t yet know enough about why people get Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, or how to treat them. But we do know that diet and lifestyle interventions can make a dent in your symptoms and help keep you in remission.

How Healthpath can help 

With any Healthpath protocol, we start by looking at your health history and your current symptoms, to understand any triggers you might have. That means examining your current diet, stress levels and medications like proton pump inhibitors that can affect gut health.

We look for aggravating factors and any other autoimmune diseases like coeliac disease, or other conditions like an under or overactive thyroid. 

Diets like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or the Autoimmune Paleo Diet are good templates to start with to work out any food intolerances. Our practitioners will recommend the right meal plan for you, so you can exclude potential triggers in your diet for a short time before reintroducing foods to understand what works for you and your body.

As well as a fully comprehensive food plan, every Healthpath protocol includes a supplement plan designed to support your specific condition and symptoms. For example, specific kinds of probiotics have been shown in research to be very effective for the symptoms of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, halving bowel movements from six a day down to three or even two.

Getting started 

If you have Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, getting one of our Gut Health Tests and/or a Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Test is a great way to start digging deeper into your gut health. 

You'll also receive a review by one of our experienced practitioners review and, if you select either the plan or package option, a 12 week health plan, including:

• a personalised supplement plan
• meal plans to support gut health, and 
• evidence-based lifestyle advice