Treat Crohn’s Disease With Broccoli and Plantain
Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that might occur in any area of the digestive tract. Usually the large and the small intestines are the key sites of the gut disorder.
The inflammation of the linings of the intestines causes severe abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite and diarrhea. It slows down absorption of nutrients and increases the risk of malnutrition. It is estimated that one in 1000 people suffer from Crohn’s disease.
Genetics and environmental factors are believed to trigger inflammation of the digestive tract lining. To make matters worse for people with Crohn’s disease, this ailment could not be cured. Through modifications in diet, the symptoms of the disease could be prevented.
Crohn’s disease is largely prevalent in developed countries where the average diet is low in dietary fibers and high in processed foods. Health experts believe that absence of enough fibers in the diet makes a person vulnerable to inflammatory bowel disease.
In a recent study, scientists in Europe have found that broccoli and plantain are capable of preventing the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. The findings have been reported in the journal Gut.
In the study, researchers from the University of Liverpool in UK, University of Aberdeen in Scotland and Linkoping University in Sweden have studied how fibers in vegetables influence movement of harmful bacteria through the digestive tract.
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease usually worsen when the E.coli bacteria invade the cells forming the lining of the digestive tract. Researchers found that fibers of plantain and broccoli are most effective in preventing movements of the E.coli bacteria.
They could inhibit movement of these harmful bacteria by about 45 to 80 per cent. However, fibers of apples and leeks did not affect the movement of the harmful bacteria in the gut. The study has also revealed that processed food might be safe for the gut of people with Crohn’s disease, if a food additive known as polysorbate 80 is added to them.
Broccoli and plantain are rich in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that are beneficial for the digestive health. The current study has proved that these vegetables could enhance the natural defense mechanism of people with Crohn’s disease.
