The Spoonie Mummy

AD ] Post contains gifted items

The week of March 11th sees the beginning of Nutrition and Hydration Week

This week is an annual event which aims to highlight, promote and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration locally, nationally and globally.

I have previously written posts about hydration as this is especially important for us ostomates.

Coping With A Stomach Bug When You Have An Ileostomy

Top 5 Hydration Tips

Today I thought I would share some information about the supplements I take to try and keep myself healthy. As always – I am not medically trained and this post is based on my own research and myself. Please ask your doctor for advice on your own situation and needs.

Vitamins and Supplements

I regularly take supplements – both prescribed and over the counter to help give my body a boost. I have two auto-immune diseases and take medication which lowers my immune response. Crohn’s Disease also makes it difficult to absorb everything you need from food, and you often have to get these levels tested followed by treatment if they are low. I have written a list of nine supplements I take regularly and how they help me.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium has several important functions.
These include:
– helping build strong bones and teeth
– regulating muscle contractions, including your heartbeat
– making sure blood clots normally

NHS

This is one I am prescribed by my doctor as I am on steroids. Steroid treatment can cause thinning of the bones so you are given a calcium tablet to take alongside them, along with Vitamin D to help regulate it.

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.
These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

NHS

Better You Oral Iron Spray

(AD ] gifted previously but not for this post)

I have written an in-depth review of this for A Balanced Belly which you can read here.

This has been the only type of iron that I have used and noticed a difference in my levels with, that hasn’t involved going for hospital infusions. I am, unable to take iron tablets due to the effect they have on exacerbating my Crohn’s Disease. I found similar with the liquid iron which is supposed to be easier on the digestive system. Even though I try and eat an iron rich diet, it does not give me enough. The spray is really easy to use and it doesn’t taste too bad! Four sprays inside my cheek and I am good to go for the day!

Check out the spray at Better You’s website

Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.
A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anaemia.

NHS

Vitamin C & Zinc

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has several important functions.
These include:
– helping to protect cells and keeps them healthy
– maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage
– helping with wound healing

NHS

I buy this over the counter and take it as it is good for giving the immune system a boost. I am on a couple of immuno-suppressant drugs and try and think I will do everything to give my body a fighting chance.

Magnesium Bath Salts

Currently something my body is struggling to hold on to is magnesium. One of the best ways to absorb this is through the skin which is why the bath salts are so good. I like the ones from Better You as I notice more of a difference after using them, but you can buy them from places like Asda and Home Bargains. They really help ease my joints and I feel refreshed after having a soak in them.

Better You has a range of forms of magnesium including the bath salts and gels which you can rub into the skin. See them on the Better You website

Magnesium is a mineral that helps:
– turn the food we eat into energy
– make sure the parathyroid glands, which produce hormones important for bone health, work normally

NHS

Multivitamin with Iron

I buy this over the counter just to give all the vitamins and my iron a boost.

Alflorex

(AD ] Gifted)

I was contacted by the people at Precision Biotics about their new product to help those with IBS. I have IBD but when I asked them about what the product was, I thought it would still be a great thing to try.

I find the world of probiotics and digestive heath a really interesting one. Alflorex contains a unique probiotic and in clinical trials has been shown to reduce

• Bloating & gas
• Abdominal Pain
• Unpredictable bowel movements like diarrhoea and constipation

I was especially interested in seeing if it would help me with bloating. As possibly the only girl with Crohn’s Disease who has an anaphalactic reaction to Buscopan, I rely peppermint tea which doesn’t always help.

I was sent a sample month’s supply and am pleased to report I saw some great results and would definitely recommend. I felt it really helped my bloating and the pain associated with it. I have even been able to have the occasional fizzy drink without the usual, painful side effects. Due to having a stoma I am not in the best place to comment on unpredictable bowel movements, but if you do suffer from these symptoms, from the results I found with my bloating, I would definitely be inclined to give it a try. It is also suitable for those on the low FODMAP diet.

Visit the Precision Biotics UK website to read more and to shop

Vitamin B Complex

Another over the counter one which is just an attemt to build up the whole array of B vitamins in my body.

Folic Acid

Folate is a B vitamin found in many foods. The manmade form of folate is called folic acid.
Folate is also known as folacin and vitamin B9.
Folate helps:
– the body form healthy red blood cells
– reduce the risk of central neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in unborn babies

NHS

I am on a folic acid supplement as I take Methotrexate and this can help lessen the severity of side effects. IBD patients can also become easily deficient in this and so are also given supplements for it.

Better You b12 Oral Spray

Another nod to Better You and this time their B12 Oral Spray. I think the way Better You are helping patients by looking at HOW we best absorb the things we need is fantastic. Having certain parts of your bowel removed can lead to you being low in b12 and needing injections. I use this to hopefully prevent that, and it tastes lovely too!

Check out the Better You website for more on this

Vitamin B12 is involved in:
– making red blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy
– releasing energy from food
– using folic acid

NHS

I hope this post has been helpful and has given you some ideas about things to look into and try. Feel free to let me know anything you recommend in the comments below, or ask if you have further questions and I will try and help.

References

NHS website – Vitamins and Minerals