Navigating life with Crohn's disease can be incredibly challenging, and it’s easy for patients to get discouraged or frustrated by symptom flare-ups. While the unfortunate reality is that Crohn’s is a lifelong condition, the good news is that there are steps you can take to better manage your symptoms and reduce their frequency to improve your overall quality of life. One of the most effective ways to do this? Adhering to a Crohn's disease diet.
What Is Crohn's Disease?
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that involves inflammation of the digestive tract. It typically presents with symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, and blood in your stool.
Although Crohn’s disease symptoms can be uncomfortable and unpredictable, some simple lifestyle changes can improve them drastically. For example, there are specific foods that are great for supporting your digestive system and others that people with Crohn’s disease should avoid if possible.
The Best Foods For Crohn's Disease
When living with Crohn’s disease, it's essential to know which foods are safe to consume and which ones are more likely to trigger your symptoms. Whether or not you are in the middle of a flare-up often dictates which foods you should eat.
If you are having a rough time with Crohn's, the following foods should help your digestive system calm down and help reduce the inflammation:
Low-fiber fruits such as bananas, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe
Lean protein like fish, white meat chicken, soy, eggs, and tofu
Refined grains such as gluten-free bread, white rice, and oatmeal
Non-cruciferous cooked vegetables like asparagus, potatoes, squash, and cucumbers
If you are feeling good without any active symptoms, you can eat the following foods:
Fiber-rich foods, including nuts, whole grains, beans, and oat bran.
As many vegetables and fruits as you can. Include a wide variety
Protein from lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and soy
Calcium-rich foods like milk, collard greens, and yogurt. If you are lactose-intolerant, choose lactose-free calcium options
No matter where you are in your experience, drink plenty of fluids to keep your digestive system healthier and hydrated.
The Worst Foods For Crohn's Disease
Along with the healthy lists above, there are other foods that you may not even be aware are triggering your symptoms and flare-ups. Those foods include:
Raw fruits and vegetables that are difficult to digest
Alcohol
Sugar
Lactose
Fatty or greasy foods
Caffeinated drinks
Chocolate
Spicy foods
Eat these foods sparingly and watch out for accompanying symptoms to identify which foods are a particular “trigger food” for you.
Life with Crohn’s disease can be difficult, but having a Crohn’s disease specialist on your side who can help you navigate the challenges of your condition with an appropriate treatment plan can go a long way towards improving your overall quality of life and getting your symptoms in check! For more information and tips on managing your Crohn's disease, contact Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay today.