After being diagnosed with a form of IBD, it can be a real challenge to understand that treatment is ongoing. Which might mean taking medications for long periods of time. It also means adding in lifestyle changes such as focusing on nutrition and diet, sleep, exercise, stress reduction, and learning about complimentary treatments that might be helpful.

There are a lot of barriers to getting treatment, though, including cost and access. Some people might not realize that not only can their healthcare team can help with accessing and understanding treatment choices, but that complimentary therapies have a valid place in the management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Dr Badr Al-Bawardy, a gastroenterologist specializing in IBD and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and Tina Haupert, an ulcerative colitis patient, Certified Nutrition Coach, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and founder of Carrots ‘N’ Cake uncover the ways medication and lifestyle changes can meet in the middle to help people with IBD live a better quality of life.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• How the Fecal Calprotectin Test Is Used in IBD
• Complementary Medicine with Dr. Badr Al Bawardy (YouTube)
• Causes and Risk Factors of Colon Cancer
• Why IBD Affects Your Sleep
• Yoga for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Acupuncture for Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
• Should You Exercise If You Have IBD?
• The IBD Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Find Badr Al-Bawardy, MD on Twitter, Yale Medicine, and LinkedIn.

Find Tina Haupert, FDN-P at Carrots ’N’ Cake, Instagram, Facebook, and the Carrots ’N’ Cake Podcast.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD110