Crohn's Disease

It is estimated that Crohn’s disease affects approximately 28,000 Aussies annually and is usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 30 (ACCA, 2007).  The disease commonly affects the end of the small intestine, but can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus.  Symptoms may include pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss, constipation, fever, perennial fissures and loss of appetite.  Generally it’s a pretty crappy situation.  Failure to thrive is common in children with Crohn’s disease.

It’s crucial to get an accurate  diagnosis asap, because the symptoms of Crohn’s disease mimic many other disorders.  Despite much research, the causes of Crohn’s disease are largely unknown, but I suspect a lot of the problem has to do with stress, white flour ingredients (so in other words poor diet) and other poor lifestyle habits like smoking, medications, infections, intestinal permeability and appendectomy. Read the rest of this entry

Recently a friend emailed me and asked me for some recipes using bananas, as she had an abundance of them. I referred her to my book ‘MUFFIN MANIA’, as I have some good recipes in this book.  But, this request also prompted me to share some the recipes and benefits of the humble banana with all my new friends on my blog!

The banana is not only one of the oldest fruits known to mankind, Read the rest of this entry