Background on Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease is a relapsing, chronic, and inflammatory bowel disorder where any part of the GI tract, from mouth to anus, is affected by inflammation (Pal, 2013). Although, the most common places that Crohn's occurs is typically in the intestines. The inflammation often spreads deeper into the affected area causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fatigue (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Currently, there is no known cure for Crohn's, but there are different therapies as well as medications that can help and set the disease into remission. Diet is also known to help, but it is not the same diet for every person affected by Crohn's (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). This disease affects nearly 700,000 Americans (Zanni, 2013). Some of the symptoms of this disease listed by Mayo Clinic Staff include: "Diarrhea, fever and fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, black or bloody stole, mouth sores, reduced appetite and weight loss, and perianal disease."