Reviewed by Irene Pauline Humpelstetter, CNP
Crohn’s disease and Colitis are a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world with 270,000 people living with the disease and the is number expected to rise to an astonishing 400,000 people by 2030.
Common inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and Colitis are now the most common chronic inflammatory disease worldwide after rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, fever, anorexia and frequent bloody diarrhea. No treatment has been shown to be successful at curing IBD to date, and both colitis and Crohn’s disease increase the risk of developing colon cancer.
Patients with Crohn’s disease can experience inflammation throughout the whole of the digestive tract though most commonly in the ileum, whereas Ulcerative Colitis predominantly occurs in the colon and rectum with ulcer development on the colon lining.
In the last ten years, scientists and researchers have studied IBD and the digestive environment. A common problem in modern society is the increased intake of processed foods which puts a stress on our gut environment which causes imbalances in the gut flora and can cause illness. Increasing fermented foods into your diet is one way to provide both the environment and the microbes to create a healthy digestive ecosystem.
Research has shown that fermented certified organic, Non-GMO soy milk has many amazing benefits for your body. It is a great source of nutrition for supporting the gut flora. Fermented soy is also rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help regulate the overall immune system. Fermented foods also provide neurotransmitters, a rich and diverse array of microbes, enzymes, phytonutrients, antioxidants and communicating compounds which are key for digestive health, and vital in helping prevent inflammatory bowel disease. Lastly, fermented soy helps healthy tissue like L-proline and L-glycine and increases energy sources for tissues like the short chain fatty acids L-butyrate, and L-propionate and L-glutamine.
A recent study has highlighted the benefits of fermented certified organic, Non-GMO soy versus unfermented soy for those with Crohn’s and Colitis. The people in the study who consumed fermented certified organic, Non-GMO soy supplements showed distinct signs of improvement and the approximate majority showed remission after six months over those who did not. In fact, a colonoscopy showed healthy intestinal mucosa in those who consumed the fermented soy supplements where previously they had been ulcerated and damaged.
More research is now identifying fermented certified organic, Non-GMO soy as a promising area of health in supporting long-term chronic diseases. Fermented soy helps to support healthy tissues, modulate the immune system, offers a rich source of nutrients to protect and defend the body, and supports a healthy microbiome with good balance of flora to optimize digestive health. Fermentation is the optimal way to support gut health, and fermented food supplements create and support a gut ecosystem that is rich in life that lives and evolves in harmony with us.