After years of multiple tests, procedures, powerful medications, a surgery, and debilitating symptoms, Hadley Ott decided to take a different path in managing his Crohn's disease. Today, the 28-year-old says he has been drug-free and symptom-free for two years by following a regimen centered on nutrition, exercise, and faith.

Ott, who grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 12. Over the next decade, he endured severe abdominal pain, surgery to remove part of his intestine, tube feedings, and multiple medications, including steroids and biologic drugs.

"I was on Remicade, a biologic drug that's given intravenously every six weeks, and began to suffer chronic back pain, nose bleeds, and sinus infections," Ott tells Newsmax. "An ENT doctor who treated me asked about my Crohn's disease and questioned whether I was going to stay on Remicade for the rest of my life. For me, that was a Hallelujah moment. I decided to start researching functional medicine, reading books and watching interviews with a firm belief that I could one day heal myself."

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Crohn's disease is a chronic condition in which an abnormal immune response causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Symptoms —including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss — often occur in cycles of flares and remission. While there is no cure, treatment can reduce inflammation, control symptoms, and improve quality of life.

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation estimates that about 1 in 100 Americans is living with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease. Men and women are affected at similar rates.

As a teenager, Ott's illness became so severe that his weight dropped to just 53 pounds. Frequent hospital visits disrupted his social life and left him feeling isolated. Even so, he says he never accepted the idea that he would always be sick.

"I really started to lean into my faith and question the 'sick for life' label. I believe that we are created in the image of God, and I don't think he intends any of us to be sick for life," Ott says. "I started to see Crohn's as a temporary health challenge, one that He gave me in order to help develop and refine me. I realized my self-destructive thoughts and negative thinking were counter to God's call to 'renew our mind' as it says in Romans 12:2. For so long I wished I was someone else, but realized God created me to be me. I started getting more comfortable in my own skin as I overcame my symptoms and Crohn's itself and started to see my trial as a rite of passage to a healthier, more confident version of myself."

Working with a functional medicine physician, Ott gradually stopped taking prescription medications and adopted a lifestyle focused on nutrition, regular exercise, and faith. He says those three pillars continue to guide his daily routine.

After four years of following this approach, Ott says he feels healthier than ever. He chronicled his experience in Drug-Free Crohn's: Overcoming Big Doctors, Big Hospitals, and Big Pharma, which became an Amazon bestseller in several health categories.

Today, Ott works as both a political consultant and health coach.

"Specifically, I do consultations with those who have autoimmune disease and have been able to talk to others who have Crohn's and parents of young kids who are also diagnosed," he says. "I have received amazing feedback from people I've talked to, and from readers of the book, and I love providing useful insights to those suffering."

Ott's Drug-Free Strategies

While Ott says these approaches worked for him, they should be discussed with a healthcare provider before making changes to a Crohn's disease treatment plan.

Keep a food diary. Ott tracked the foods that triggered his symptoms and found that fast food, soda, sweets, and other processed foods made him feel worse. Today, he says his diet includes foods such as sweet potatoes, grass-fed beef, and ground venison.

Consider a low-FODMAP diet. A low-FODMAP diet temporarily limits certain carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest. Under medical or dietitian supervision, it may help some people with digestive disorders identify foods that worsen symptoms.

Try an elemental diet. Ott credits an elemental liquid diet with helping his digestive system recover. These nutritionally complete formulas are sometimes used under medical supervision in people with Crohn's disease.

Ask about supplements. Ott takes fish oil, curcumin, and daily probiotics to help support his overall health. Anyone considering supplements should first discuss them with their healthcare provider.

Exercise regularly. Ott says he has felt better after exercising since childhood. Today, he works out at least five days a week with a combination of cardio, strength training, and recovery sessions in a sauna or steam room.

"I feel great," he says. "The experience of being drug-free and symptom-free has opened up so many personal and professional opportunities. But remember that healing isn't a destination. It's an ongoing journey that requires active and daily maintenance that includes nutrition, fitness and faith."