According to Kristina Arquette, RD, a clinical dietitian at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, proper hydration is important for everyone, and even more so when you have an inflammatory bowel disease like my good pal “Crohn’s Disease” Hydration extremely important. You want to drink at least eight glasses of water or fluids to stay hydrated.” However, all fluids aren’t created equal: While some are clearly good or bad for Crohn’s, how you react to other drinks may vary. Here’s my list and how they affect me.
Water for Crohn’s Disease
I hate water as it’s been the bain of my existence. No matter how you flavor it, I always reach for something different even with water within reaching distance. Although water may not be my first choice, it’s the best hydration when managing Crohn’s disease, plain and simple. This is especially true when diarrhea strikes and your fluid needs are even greater. Water works its magic by helping flush out the crap that makes us sick. Water is essential to the good health of your entire body, as well helpful in preventing constipation and replacing fluids that are lost from diarrhea. Aim to have water as your main source of hydration, and keep fresh water nearby to encourage yourself to drink. As much as I love and I do mean love my diet coke, when I am in a flare it becomes, it must become, a conscious choice. If I am in desperate need, I’ll have a glass of it, but for the most part, I try to limit my intake. If all you give your body all day is coffee and diet cola, you can’t expect your digestive tract to treat you well.
I never drink cold water and reason being is that by having a hot glass of lemon water on an empty stomach in the am helps improve bowel movements and cures constipation. It helps break down food particles and passes them out through the intestines. When you drink hot water, the at deposits in the body burns and the built up deposits in the nervous system also breaks down. This will improve blood circulation in the body and also flush out nasty toxins.
Here’s why I stay clear of Ice water: it can be harmful because it damages your body’s ability to properly digest food and drink. Drinking cold beverages with a meal can slow down your body’s proper digestive actions. You can think of it as almost freezing your insides temporarily so that they cannot do what they need to do at that moment. So, instead, food goes by improperly digested, and your body’s unable to retrieve the nutrients and energy from it that it needs. By decreasing the activity of your digestive system, cold beverages rob you of the nutrition of the food you ate.
Also, when you drink cold beverages, your body has to use energy in order to warm up that liquid inside your body. This is also robbing your body of the energy it needs to properly process the food you have eaten. Instead of working to get all the nutrition of the food, your digestive system is instead working on regulating the temperature of the cold drink.
Coconut Water for Crohn’s Disease
I was afraid to try Coconut water, not sure why but it literally took me 6 months to get the nerve to buy a bottle of it. To my surprise, it was refreshing and delicious and now make it a daily mornnig staple. Coconut water is an excellent source which provides added electrolytes, which is needed after an episode. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about dehydration.
Wine for Crohn’s Disease
This is a hard one, wine and my favorite flavored Vodka and diet Sprite (which often contain other triggers such as fruit juice or caffeinated beverages) can be hard on the gastrointestinal tract. So, when in a flare you want to stay away from alcoholic beverages.
Fruit Juice for Crohn’s Disease
Personally, I have to stay away from these delicious little beverage treats. Not only just due to crohns, but also because of these nasty little cancer soars that I live with daily. Although, seemingly harmless, juices are often loaded with sugar, which can be a real problem for us Crohnies. If you must (like my coke addiction), I’d limit it to 3 to 4 ounces per serving.
Coffee for Crohn’s Disease
According to Jeffry A. Katz, MD, medical director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, coffee has been cited for both pluses and minuses in health studies, but the verdict for Crohn’s disease tends to swing toward “avoid.” The high amount of caffeine in coffee can aggravate certain unpleasant Crohn’s symptoms. “ Coffee is okay in small amounts, but it tends to loosen stools and increase frequency of diarrhea.”
Meal Replacement Shakes for Crohn’s Disease
This one is my favorite and if you know me, you know why! If you’re having difficulty maintaining weight, a good meal replacement shake by Dedicated Woman will deliver concentrated nutrition in a calorie-dense beverage. You want to make sure you are buying clean and pure Whey Protein and from a repeatable company like Dedicated Woman, Inc. So many companies out there load their products with fillers and preservatives. Many of us Crohnies tend to stay away from daily products but I can attest to whey protein. As long as it’s a great clean source, I haven’t had any issues, gas or bloating with it. Everyone of course is different and you may not respond to whey protein as I do, but its worth the shot especially if you are having a hard time gaining weight or consuming food.
Milk for Crohn’s Disease
I love and hate milk both at the same time. I like to have a little if I am having cereal or heartburn, but when I stop to think about what I am actually drinking, loads of mucus, I make myself sick. Milk is made for one thing…….baby cows! Our bodies are not equipped to digest milk and is not the best choice for us, especially if you are lactose intolerant. Milk provides protein and essential vitamins and minerals, yet it may aggravate Crohn’s symptoms if you have small-bowel Crohn’s disease. I’ve recently tried almond milk and really love the taste, not sure I would, but surprisingly, its good! If you try other alternatives like almond, soy or rice milk — you’ll get more protein and plenty of calcium in every 8-ounce glass.
My Crohnstipated Life 
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