Last night’s Channel 4 Food Hospital programme included a young woman with Crohns Disease.
For those that don’t know of it, it is essentially a condition whereby the immune system attacks the cells in the gut causing significant damage. This results in an inability to digest food properly ultimately leading (not unexpectedly) to a form of malnourishment in the sufferer.
Historically treated with steroids to combat the symptoms and reactions to this process, it is acknowledged that this approach is not curative only palliative.
That’s that bit out the way!
If I wore a hat, it would be well and truly taken off after last night’s Food Hospital. I am so impressed with the issues that the ‘Team’ are taking on. Crohns is a tough one medically and nutritionally.
As a gut problem it seems obvious to deal with it using ‘food’. However as shown last night, this is not the first port of call for the medical profession. I do understand why, as mentioned in my blog a few weeks ago, a change of eating habits does require commitment from the sufferer. Believe me when I say, best intentions do not guarantee compliance to a new dietary regime for most.
However, the young woman on the show last night had a lot to lose by Crohns dominating her life. As a budding dancer, she needs to be well and energetic.
Lucy Jones RD is proving her worth in the quality of the information she is providing. I am delighted to see the use and inclusion of real food in the protocol too. This puts the sufferer firmly in the driving seat of their wellbeing. The young woman now knows what works for her and more importantly, what kicks off an ‘episode’ which is hugely disabling.
I also felt that the programme very bravely ‘came out’ about how damaging the long term effect of steroid therapy is. These powerful drugs are essential to maintenance of life in many circumstances. However there is no such thing as a free lunch (excuse the pun!); if there is a practical and equally effective alternative, it should be offered and encouraged for the sake of long term health.
So, I’m still loving the programme on balance. I’m not going to be nit-picking for the sake of it; they are doing a fab job at promoting healthy eating.
You don’t need to be a celeb, an athlete or have a huge budget; you just need to be a human being with an intent to eat well. I think with a little encouragement, we can all do that.