Crohn's disease occurs in the intestines and can spread into the deeper tissues of the digestive system. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that individuals between the ages of 20 to 40 are affected by this disease, which is a chronic and incurable condition. Crohn's disease has no specific known cause. The immune system is abnormal in those with Crohn's, and mistakes foods or bacterias as invading substances, causing blood cells to accumulate and inflame the intestines. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue. Medical treatment focuses on controlling flare-ups and symptom severity, in addition to improving diet and lifestyle habits.
Step 1
Take a multivitamin with zinc. Zinc is important in cellular metabolism, immune system functions and wound healing. Individuals with Crohn's disease often lack essential nutrients due to symptoms of poor appetite, chronic diarrhea and malabsorption of foods. Consult your physician regarding nutrient needs and take a daily multivitamin containing zinc.
Step 2
Eat zinc rich food sources. The natural food containing the highest amount of zinc is oysters, which provides 76.7 mg per serving of six. Three ounces of cooked beef or pork shoulder offer 4.2 mg to 8.9 mg of zinc. If you prefer non-meat foods, try one half cup of baked beans, containing 1.7 mg or one ounce of almonds with 1.0 mg of zinc per serving. The Office of Dietary Supplements notes the recommended dietary allowance for adults is 8 mg to 12 mg of zinc per day. Regular daily intake of zinc through foods can help prevent symptoms associated with deficiency.
Step 3
Use physician supervised, high-dose zinc supplements. Taking zinc supplements in higher doses can improve intestinal health in people with Crohn's disease remission, notes a 2001 study reported in "Inflammatory Bowel Diseases." The study concluded that a small sample of participants taking high dose zinc supplements for eight weeks had significant intestinal improvement and reduced risk of disease relapse. The supplements were oral zinc sulfate containing 110 mg, given three times a day. Consult your physician regarding high dose use of zinc because exceeding upper limits of dosage can interfere with other mineral absorption and metabolism.
Step 4
Follow a low fiber diet. Some individuals with Crohn's experience symptom aggravation when eating certain foods containing high fiber. Using zinc supplements can help to reduce the risk of poor food absorption, however, this is determined on an individual basis. Limit the amount of fiber you eat daily based on physician recommendations. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and processed foods.
Tips and Warnings
- The upper limit daily intake for zinc is 40 mg. Take high doses of zinc under physician supervision and only for short periods of time.
- Eating a high sugar and high fat diet increases your risk of Crohn's disease.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Crohn's Disease
- PubMed.gov: Zinc Supplementation Tightens "Leaky Gut" in Crohn's Disease; Sturniolo GC, et al; May 2001
- MayoClinic.com: Zinc Supplement Proper Use
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Zinc: Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity
