The IBD Centre of BC

Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre. Beta-glucan has prebiotic properties in the gut, meaning it can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. It can also increase the production of short-chain fatty acids, which have known anti-inflammatory effects in the gut. Need an idea on how to incorporate oats into your diet? Check out Gina’s recipe below! Cardamom and Pear Oatmeal Bake Ingredients:... 3 cups rolled oats cup brown sugar 2 tsp cardamom 1 tsp baking powder tsp salt 2 cups milk of choice 2 large eggs 4 tbsp oil or butter 1 tsp vanilla 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350o F (180o C). Grease a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. 2. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, cardamom, baking powder, and salt. 3. In a small bowl, mix together the milk, eggs, oil or butter, and vanilla. 4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. 5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with pears. 6. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the centre has set and a toothpick comes out clean. doi:10.1017/S0029665115003493 #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #dietitian #digestivehealth @ibdcentrebc

Back to school often meals less time for meal planning and preparation. Here are some tips that may make the transition easier: 1. Cook larger portions of dinner so that you have leftovers to take for lunch the next day. 2. Keep a master list of your favourite recipes to use on an ongoing basis.... 3. To save you time, there are free apps that can help you with meal planning and creating grocery lists. Examples include Cookspiration and Mealime. 4. Choose recipes with few ingredients that are quick to prepare. Minimalist Baker has lots of simple and delicious recipes: https://minimalistbaker.com/recipe-index #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #dietitian #digestivehealth @ibdcentrebc

Does coffee affect your gut symptoms? Coffee stimulates contractions of the colon. The main substance in coffee that does this is caffeine. However, an antioxidant in coffee called chlorogenic acid can also have this effect. This is why decaffeinated coffee can make you go to the washroom, although the effects are not usually as strong as caffeinated coffee. For those who have frequent and loose bowel movements, you may want to reduce the amount of coffee you’re having. On th...e other hand, if you suffer from constipation, drinking coffee may benefit you by helping you go to the washroom. It is most effective if consumed in the morning, so if you enjoy drinking it, it may be something you want to add to your morning routine. DOI 10.1097/00042737-199802000-00003 #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #dietitian #digestivehealth @ibdcentrebc

If you suffer from excessive and/or uncomfortable gas, you may want to consider how much sugar-free gum and mints you’re having. Most of these contain sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol. Sugar alcohols are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and so they make their way to the large intestine where they are fermented by gut bacteria. The end product of this fermentation is gas. Chewing gum also causes you to swallow more air, some of which is typically passed as gas. You may not notice significant symptoms from having a few pieces of gum or mints per day, but having more than that could be a different story. #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #dietitian #digestivehealth @ibdcentrebc

Strawberry season is here! See Gina’s recipe below for an idea on how to consume this delicious fruit! Strawberry Mint & Ginger Smoothie 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries... 2 cups milk of choice 7-8 fresh mint leaves 1-2 tbsp fresh ginger 1 tbsp maple syrup 1-2 tbsp protein powder of choice (optional) To a blender, add strawberries, milk, mint, ginger, maple syrup, and protein powder (optional). Blend until smooth. If you have strictures/areas of narrowing in your intestine, it can be helpful to strain the smoothie to remove the seeds and larger particles before drinking it. #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #nutrition #dietitian #digestivehealth @ibdcentrebc