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Eating right and exercising are important – and effective – ways to
stay healthy, feel good, manage stress and minimize flare-ups.
In this commercialized, industrialized
society, your food choices are endless. Junk food,
health food, home-cooked, fast food -- it's easy to spend a lifetime
feeding your body without a clue of the outcome.
Everything that goes into your mouth will
somehow affect you, especially your GI tract. Knowing more about
what different foods offer can help you get the energy you need and
the nutrition your body craves.
At times when your body rebels, special
diets can help bring your colon, small intestine, esophagus or stomach back
under control. Remember, there is no proof that foods cause
flare-ups, but they can aggravate or improve symptoms. The bottom line
is that you can make the foods you eat work for you.
Choosing healthy foods and following the right
diet plans at the right times are integral
parts of maximizing your health, as is flexibility in following
those plans.
Whether you’re feeling 100 percent
or not so great, exercise is an important way to keep your body’s
systems moving. You also get added benefits:
managing stress, building stamina and maintaining overall health.
The key to exercise
is to be sure you’re not overdoing it. If you’re feeling healthy and
energetic, then go for it! However, if you’re feeling queasy
or in the throes of a flare-up, take it easy by walking or
simply stretching until you’re back to your old self. Remember, if you’ve
just finished a period of inactivity, you should gradually work up to
the level of physical activity that’s right for you. If you have
questions or concerns about exercising, discuss them with your doctor.
List the different exercises your body can
tolerate at each level of health in your
stoplight plan.
If you have questions or comments about
this Web site, please e-mail
LifeWithIBD@texaschildrenshospital.org.
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