My Crohnstipated Life

EVERYONE is different when it comes to their Crohns disease, symptoms and aliments.  And the food your put into your body is no different.  What causes flares for me may not be the same for you.  I can eat Mexican food, and you may only be able to eat bananas!  It’s all a big damn mystery!  But, in saying that, there are things that you can do for YOURSELF, to narrow down your triggers. 

Eating a diet composed of wholesome organic foods, including fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of protein, healthy fats, and raw dairy, while avoiding processed foods is the first step to preventing inflammation that can lead to Crohn’s disease and other health problems.
However, if you already have this illness, you need to make special modifications to your diet, as certain foods and beverages (some of them considered beneficial for healthy individuals) can exacerbate your symptoms.

Low-Residue Diet for Crohn’s Disease

You may be advised by your physician to follow a low-residue diet, which is tailored to put less strain on your digestive tract. The premise of this diet is to increase the time that foods spend traveling through the GI tract, so their nutrients will be further absorbed, while reducing the incidence of diarrhea. Some foods you need to avoid by following this diet include:   

• Dairy: The damage inflicted by IBD on your digestion can cause lactose intolerance. In this case, dairy products can become hard on your digestion, and worsen symptoms like diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain.
• High-fiber foods: Fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables may be problematic for some patients, as it can aggravate diarrhea and abdominal pain. High-risk fiber-rich foods include vegetables from the cabbage family, like broccoli and cauliflower, nuts and seeds, corn and popcorn, and whole grains.
• Fried foods: The greasiness and added trans fat (from vegetable oils) may strain your digestion.
• Nuts and seeds: Although these are beneficial for healthy people, those with impaired digestion due to IBD may have difficulty masticating them to a consistency that can be passed through your gut easily. Nuts and seeds can also irritate the lining of your gut.
• Tomatoes: The acidity of the tomatoes may worsen Crohn’s disease symptoms. Some people find it difficult to tolerate tomato-based products as well.

Whole coconut, dried fruits and berries, deli meats, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages are other problem foods that can worsen Crohn’s disease symptoms, so be careful when eating them.

Keep a Food Diary

To help you keep track of which foods worsen your symptoms, keep a food diary.  Write down what you eat every day, and observe which food/s trigger flare-ups and which ones do not pose any harm. In addition, you should:

• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of fewer large ones.
• Drink plenty of pure water- seriously you can never consume to much water here! 
• Consider taking a multivitamin supplement and/or intestinal soother (as Crohn’s can interfere with your ability to absorb nutrients).

If you’re losing weight or your diet has already become very limited, you can consult a dietitian to help you come up with a meal plan that will be safe for your digestion, but will allow you to get enough nutrients and stay healthy.