Can Magnesium Reduce Inflammation From Ulcerative Colitis?

What Is Ulcerative Colitis and How Many People Does It Affect?

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term disease that causes swelling in the lining of the large gut and rectum. People with this get pain in the belly, have diarrhea, and sometimes see blood when they go to the toilet. This condition affects a large number of people in the United States. There are thought to be between 600,000 and 1.25 million people who have this disease right now. Ulcerative colitis can show up at any age. But it is most often seen in people who are between 15 and 30 years old. Its symptoms usually come and go. There are times when this disease gets worse, and other times when it gets better for a while.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

The most usual sign of ulcerative colitis is having diarrhea. There can be blood or mucus in it. This shows that there are sores in the lining of the gut.

Many people feel pain and cramps in the lower part of the belly. This pain can get worse before they go to the bathroom. A common sign is always feeling like you need to go, even if it is hard to pass stool. This is called tenesmus.

People may feel tired and might lose weight or feel less hungry. This often happens to those who have long-term swelling and trouble taking in food nutrients. Sometimes, ulcerative colitis can cause problems in other parts of the body. It can show up on the skin, in the eyes, or in the joints. There can also be other problems, like having too few red blood cells, or not having enough water in the body. The condition usually comes and goes. Some days are tough with strong symptoms, but there will be times when things feel much better.

What Causes Ulcerative Colitis?

The main cause seems to be when the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the colon by mistake. This can make the colon feel sore for a long time and cause ulcers to form.

Genetics also have a big part in this. People who have someone in their family with inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to get it too. This shows that the condition can run in families.

Environmental things like what you eat, stress, pollution, and changes in the germs in your stomach can make flare-ups start or get worse. These things are not thought to be the main causes. Getting some infections can also play a part. They can do this by changing how your body's system fights sickness or by upsetting the balance of good and bad germs in your stomach.

What Are the Standard Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis?

Treatment is about bringing down swelling, dealing with symptoms, reaching a time when there are no symptoms, and stopping problems from coming back. The usual ways to treat this are to take medicine, change how you live, and sometimes have surgery if things get really bad.

But did you know that minerals, like magnesium, can help with swelling in people who have ulcerative colitis?

How Does Magnesium Support the Immune System in Ulcerative Colitis?

Magnesium is a key mineral. It is important for more than 300 functions in the body. These include jobs that help control how your body's defenses work and how your body handles swelling.

People with ulcerative colitis may have lower magnesium. This can happen because of long-lasting diarrhea, trouble taking in nutrients, and constant swelling in their gut. These problems can make symptoms feel worse and affect good health.

Getting enough magnesium is important for your cells to work well. It helps with enzyme activity. Magnesium also supports the health of the gut lining. All these things matter when you want to keep control over the long-term swelling that comes with ulcerative colitis.

One big way magnesium helps is by changing how the immune system works. In ulcerative colitis, there is a strong immune response in the colon. This causes the body to make certain molecules called cytokines that lead to swelling and pain. Magnesium can help lower the number of these cytokines, including ones like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

By bringing down these molecules, magnesium may help keep the immune system from working too much. This can also lower swelling in the colon. As a result, the flare-ups may not be as bad.

How Does Magnesium Protect Against Oxidative Stress?

Magnesium is important for controlling oxidative stress. This is a big reason for tissue damage in ulcerative colitis.

Inflammation in the body can give rise to reactive oxygen. These damage cells in the colon lining. Magnesium helps enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) work. These enzymes balance out the bad free radicals. This helps the colon stay healthy.

Magnesium helps lower oxidative stress. This protects cells in the colon and helps ulcers heal. It also lowers the risk of new problems happening.

Can Magnesium Help With Abdominal Pain and Gut Function?

Another important thing about magnesium is that it helps your muscles and nerves work well. This can help ease stomach cramps and other pains that many people feel when they have ulcerative colitis.

Magnesium helps relax smooth muscles in the digestive tract. This can lower spasms and pain from swelling. By doing this, bowel movement gets better. Patients feel less discomfort and it is easier for them to handle flare-ups.

Also, magnesium helps keep the gut lining strong. It supports the tight links between cells in your intestines. This helps stop "leaky gut," which can lead to more trouble in the body.

What Does the Research Say About Magnesium Supplementation?

Studies show that fixing low magnesium in people with ulcerative colitis can help them feel better. It can also lead to a better life for them.

Research shows that when you take magnesium supplements, it can help bring down body-wide swelling. It may also lower stress on the body from oxidation. This can help your body’s natural defences stay better balanced.

If you want to see the true state of your minerals, you can use a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). This test shows your magnesium levels. It also tells you if you have been around any toxic heavy metals that might lead to swelling inside the body.

What Is the Best Way to Supplement Magnesium?

Making sure you get enough magnesium by taking supplements can be very good for your body. A nano mineral supplement is a great choice as it helps the magnesium work better and let your body take it in more easily.

Here at Upgraded Formulas, we have Upgraded Magnesium, which is one of the best magnesium supplements. It helps the body get to healthy levels, lowers swelling, and is good for gut health.

Try Upgraded Magnesium today if you want some natural help with managing ulcerative colitis symptoms!