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Alcohol may be Beneficial to Crohn's!

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Posted 9/7/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
I hadn't had a drink in about a year and a half, and hadn't been drunk in about three years...until last night. I read a lot of these posts about drinking with Crohn's and while on Remicade (which I started last week) and seemed to gather that it's "okay" to do...so I decided to see for myself how I could handle it. I didn't notice any difference in my guts last night or today. And I even went against everything I read about what drinks are "best" for Crohnies too...had a couple Frambois, a few different mixed drinks with vodka, and a few Coronas with lime... I actually didn't plan on drinking that much, and was very surprised I could handle all that without getting too messed up since it had been so long :S I'm not sure that's a good thing... but I sure don't plan on making that a habit, it had just been a really long time since I did anything fun and social!
Posted 9/7/2009 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
According to Some Studies, It Depends...
Most articles about Crohn's disease suggest that should you limit the amount of alcohol you drink as part of your "self-care." Some advise little or no alcohol because it can irritate your intestines and trigger a Crohn's flare or assist in triggering a flare. Others note that alcohol in general can make diarrhea worse, so it should be avoided. Alcohol is also a depressant, and people with Crohn's are often stressed and depressed enough by their symptoms without adding an additional depressant.

Many people who have Crohn's are already concerned about the development of colon cancer. In an article elsewhere on AC, I noted that people with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are five times as likely to develop colon cancer as the general public; that fact aside, 90% of people with an IBD will not develop cancer in their lifetimes. Some Crohn's patients may wonder how alcohol fits into this picture.

If you look at a list of risk factors for developing colon cancer, one of those risks is excessive consumption of alcohol. So how do those list makers define excessive? A presentation by Dr. Gurvinder Sethi, MD, at a 2003 conference in Baltimore described excessive drinking as "nine or more drinks made with distilled spirits a week for 10 years or more." He went on to say that a glass or two of wine a week may cut the risk of neoplastic lesions (dyplasias or adnocarcinomas) by nearly two-thirds. In other words, a glass or two of wine a week may help you to avoid colon cancer. about.com, in their 2007 newsletter, said that a 2001 study showed that those who drink alcohol consistently for 20 years have a greater risk of developing colon cancer, but also noted that the risk "appears to be reduced" when wine is part of that alcohol.


:)
Posted 9/7/2009 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for that info pb4 it's very interesting
Posted 9/10/2009 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have a Sambuca after every meal. I can feel my interstines thanking me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Try it.
Posted 9/10/2009 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Alcohol is an anti-nutrient, interfering with the absorption of, for instance, B vitamins. Seems many Crohnies, already suffering from malabsorption issues, don't need more problems with absorption.

I'm sorry, but I have to say this doc really seems like an idiot, offering no solid evidence whatsoever. The last thing we need is a bogus claim about alcohol. 

While it's true that a glass of red wine offers some benefits, the same benefits come from eating grapes or drinking grape juice...this way, you skip the antinutrient issues and get to keep more brain cells. 

The above said, the SCD diet does allow certain types of alcohol in moderation. That means a glass, not a binge.  

 

Posted 9/20/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about reviving an old thread, but since I'm new I'm reading a lot of the old posts. I went to a dinner party this past Thursday night, and was not feeling well at all when I got there. I had a couple of glasses of white zinfandel, and felt better within the hour. I don't know how to explain it, other than the pain was gone. I think it depends on the person - everyone has different reactions to things. I'm not a drinker, and only have alcohol a few times a year. I've been told the same thing - that it will cause flares, so I tend to avoid it. This time it didn't, and I will be trying it again the next time I'm hurting. :-)
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