The Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease

CARE

Keep your status updated with current information to make sure you get the correct treatment you need to maximize your health and achieve your healthy goals.

TRUE OR FALSE

True or False: You should be cautious about drinks citrus juice, especially grapefruit juice, when taking certain medications?

True: Grapefruit juice is well-known for interacting with many prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as some statins, blood pressure medications, antihistamines and others, by affecting how here drugs are metabolized in the body. This can lead to either too much or too little of the medication in your bloodstream, increasing the risk of side effects or reducing effectiveness.

FASTING

What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting means you eat during certain hours and fast the rest of the time. It can help with weight, blood sugar, heart health, and lowering inflammation.

Popular ways to do it include eating only in a 6-8 hour window each day (Noon-8 p.m.), fasting every other day, or eating normally five days a week a cutting calories on two days. People also fast for 12-24 hours at a time, but even 16 hours fasting and 8 hours eating (16:8) can bring benefits. It’s important to pick a style hat fits your life, and it’s not right for everyone.

HYDRATION

Water is the fundamental and calorie-free choice for hydration, effectively replenishing fluids lost during everyday activities and moderate exercise. However, after intense or prolonged workouts, your body loses not only water but also key electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which water alone cannot replace efficiently.

Gatorade is designed specifically for intense physical activity, containing higher sodium and carbohydrates to quickly restore electrolytes and provide energy. Its higher sodium content makes it effective for rapid rehydration during extended or vigorous exercise, but it also contains added sugars and artificial ingredients.

Coconut water is a natural alternative rich in potassium—often five times more than Gatorade—and contains antioxidants and vitamins. It is low in calories and free of artificial additives, making it a good option for light to moderate hydration needs. However, its lower sodium content compared to Gatorade means it may be less effective at rapidly restoring electrolyte balance after heavy sweating.

SUMMER ALLERGIES

For food allergies, always check ingredient labels carefully, especially with new products or at summer gatherings where cross-contamination risk is higher. In addition to food, seasonal allergies pollen from grasses, weeds, and trees are also prevalent during the summer months, though these are not food-related. This summer, be especially aware of 9 major food allergens:

• Milk

• Eggs

• Peanuts + Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)

• Wheat, soy, and sesame

• Fish

• Shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp, oysters, mussels)

Symptoms can range from mild hives or stomach upset to severe, potentially life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis, so it’s important to stay vigilant and have emergency medication (like epinephrine EpiPen) available if you or a family member have known allergies.