Crohn's Disease and Colitis - Understanding Your Condition

Crohn's Disease and Colitis are not terminal diseases. The life expectancy for a man diagnosed with Crohn's Disease is about 78 years. Women who have these conditions are expected to live for 79 years. These life spans fall in line with the average statistics for a person without the conditions.

These facts do not mean, however, that people with Crohn's Disease and Colitis can rest on their laurels. Both conditions cannot be left untreated as complications (infection and inflammation) from the diseases can do damage over time. As well, due to the uncomfortable symptoms of both conditions, people need to find ways to control them.

People with Crohn's Disease and Colitis should educate themselves about the possible complications. They must understand that the symptoms can intensify and do further damage if they are not kept under control. Complications can include intestinal blockages, stomach abscesses, abdominal fistulas, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Other complications can range from the inability to absorb nutrients to peritonitis to intestinal cancer. There can be bone fractures, bone loss or osteoporosis, arthritis, kidney or gall stones, and liver disease, as well as other infections.

The extensive list of possible complications may seem daunting to some. Yet there is no need for Crohn's Disease and Colitis sufferers to feel discouraged about their diagnosis. These complications set in when symptoms are left untreated by a sufferer. Be aware that people are finding more (and better) ways every day to control their symptoms.

Indeed, the methods being discovered to manage the conditions do not involve surgery or steroid treatments. People with Crohn's Disease and Colitis have found relief by going through a water fast followed up a daily raw food diet.?Nobody, however, should take on the water fast or the raw food diet without consulting their doctor.

Every person is different and often people may have multiple health issues. Even though water fasts and a raw food diet have eliminated symptoms for many sufferers, every person has to make their own 'informed' decision. The Crohn's and Colitis water fasts and raw food diet may or may not be the solution to one's symptoms.

Yet it is easy to understand why a water fast and raw food diet just might do the trick. The cleansing qualities of the water fast and the vitamins in fruits and vegetables are a powerful combination. Vitamin A encourages growth and cell repair in the lining of both intestines.

Researchers continue to test the effectiveness of vitamin A in the treatment of Crohn's Disease and Colitis. Meanwhile, many sufferers report favorable results from changing to a raw food diet. In fact, many people claim that the water fast and raw food diet have eliminated (over a period of time) all their symptoms.?

The proper raw food diet includes raw fruits and vegetables, small portions of certain nuts and seeds, as well as some fatty fruits, such as avocado. The key to managing Crohn's Disease and Colitis is to learn as much as possible so that you understand your condition.