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crohn’s disease and diet

Read and learn more about crohn’s disease and diet. For more, visit the Crohn’s Disease website DrCrohns.org

Q: Crohn’s Disease- Diet?
Heyo, my question relates to the diet of Crohn’s disease patients, I have Crohn’s disease myself, and find that I can eat basically any food and it doesn’t really cause a flare up of any sort. However, every few months I’ll get a flare up from hell! because of this, its very hard to pinpoint what foods actually cause the flare ups, so i was wondering, is there….
1. Any possible ideas of how to pinpoint the cause of flare ups
2. Any particular foods known to cause flare ups
3 Lastly, if there is any correlation with stress and flare ups.

Anywho, thanks for the time
All the best
-Anthony

A: hi anthony, I am a crohn’s pt. for over 20 yrs. Definitely check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site as it has great information on diet, stress, surgery, latest treatments, a live chat and a hotline run by health experts. There is an open forum where you can post questions to others who have Crohn’s and can honestly answer your concerns as they are/have been in your shoes.

Also, start a food diary and jot down what you ate, how you felt during and after you ate. If you had to run to the bathroom asap due to the big “D” or if you had the big “C” afterwards. I learned that from attending a local CCFA support group meeting. The member was the wife of a local physician and she has UC.

Look into attending a local meeting as well as the educational meetings in your area as some of the speakers are also patients themselves. I’ve already heard drug reps., insurance reps, dieiticians, and even local GI surgeons speak. Well worth educating yourself by attending these free events. best of luck to you.

Q: High risk Crohn’s disease diet help?
My dad is 52 and has high risk crohn’s disease. I don’t know the details of it but I know he didn’t really take care of himself, so his flare ups are more often. I’ve done some research on it but, the diet seems like he can basically just drink water. I was wanting to know of things that he could eat that would be nutritious. Maybe from someone who has high risk or someone who knows someone that does. Just anything he can eat that wouldn’t cause flare ups. Thank you.

A: Well both my dad and i have crohns and so doe my bf..we all agree, as long as he stays away from dairy cause that stuff make all of us way worse.

Q: Crohn’s disease diet..?
So they think i have crohn’s disease and there is a very strict diet for it. I want to be able to deal with this disease without meds, what are some meals i could eat that couldnt affect it? So far i’ve only been eating certin fruits,veggies, and nuts.

A: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkws36YJKIkYBNQFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyazBrNHFmBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA1NTMDFfOTc-/SIG=11g116500/EXP=1250179767/**http%3a//greattastenopain.com/

This site outlines why certain combinations of food exacerbate your condition and how to avoid the subsequent pain and long-term effects.
Your specialist will have the most up to date information on managing the symptoms and you shouldn’t ever consider a drastic diet change without their advice but this lady’s experience and advice has helped hundreds of people, including someone I work with who has diverticulitis.

All the best.

Q: Crohn’s disease diet question?
Can you recommend some good websites to find out more information on this topic? My husband has crohn’s and is having awful flare ups and needs to get on a diet of some sort. Thank you in advance.

A: hi arj, I am a crohn’s pt. for over 20 yrs. Diet alone will not get it into remission. He needs to be put on one of the newer treatments such as Entocort, Remicade, or Humira. He should be eating foods though that will not aggravate his gut when he feels lousy.

For more information, check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site. They have stuff on diet (what to eat when flaring), surgery, the latest treatments, as well as a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts well versed in IBD. There is also an open forum where you can post questions to others who have Crohn’s. Family members are encouraged to check out the site to educate themselves on what pts. have to deal with daily.

Definitely ask your husband’s GI if he can be on one of the newer treatments and take something for pain as we are entitled to be made comfortable when out of remission. I hope he feels better.

Q: Crohn’s Disease and diet.?
For those afflicted with Crohn’s disease, what foods/drink cause flare ups of your symptoms? What kind of things do you avoid.

A: Well, I don’t have a colon, so that plays a huge role in what I eat and avoid, vs. someone with Crohn’s who has most or all of their colon. And unfortunately I have pretty much been in a steady flare now for a few years, so it’s hard to say what foods play a role in causing a flare. Most research seems to point out that food doesn’t really CAUSE a flare, but could play a role in making it worse maybe or make you feel worse obviously.

I’ve heard some theories about a lot of refined sugar in a person’s diet contributing to Crohn’s, so even for that reason I try to limit sugar, even though I have a sweet tooth. haha. But not as bad as some people I’d say. But just like many people with this terrible disease (and I’ve had a severe case), I avoid stuff in general that’s hard to digest, like nuts, seeds, popcorn, most fruits and vegetables, etc. I do try to drink fruit/vegetable juice to make up for that, since fruits and veggies play a very important role in overall health.

And even stuff like pizza I try to avoid or limit, even though I love it like a lot of people do. But I do that since it’s another example of something hard to digest, all that dough and cheese. Not to mention it sucks how stuff can come out of my rear end more acidic and burn, since I don’t have a colon. ha. Which can happen with products with tomato sauce for example, such as pizza. So for that reason too I have to watch what I eat, like spicy stuff or something that I know might burn coming out of me. It seems like some people do better limiting or avoiding wheat and stuff with gluten, kinda like how people with celiac disease have to do that. So I try to limit wheat and bread for example. Like I said though, unfortunately I’ve been in a flare for a few years now, and something that might only bother me somewhat if my intestines looked great might bother me more in ways right now. Anyway, I hope this kinda long answer helps. haha. You should check out random Crohn’s web sites/message boards online if you’re looking to maybe connect with people online. And check out the national Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation web site if you never have. The site is www.ccfa.org. You can even contact them over e-mail and/or phone.

Q: Crohn’s disease sufferers diet question?
I need to know about nutritional drinks for kids with Crohn’s . I have a friend with an 11 year old son who has Crohn’s. I have a lot of nutritional shakes and drinks here and I wanted to send them to her.

One of the shakes I have is Carnation Instant Breakfast Very High Calorie. It is in a can and is very high in fat. I also have Breeze,Enlive and Ensure Plus. I purchased them for my mother but she passed away in March and I want to give the drinks to someone who can use them. I know that the child can drink regular Ensure.

My question is for Crohn’s sufferers. Can you eat foods that are high in fat? What nutritional drinks do you use? Are there any foods or supplements that help with the symptoms?

I am going to ask the child’s mother,but he is in the hospital right now and I don’t want to bother her.
These drinks are lactose-free.

A: Here is a Blob for Crohns sufferers..it will give you all the foods to not eat and what you can.Milk is a No No

http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/kelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community/importance-of-diet-in-crohns-disease/

Q: What is the best diet for Crohn’s disease and why?

A: hi psy, I am an actual crohn’s pt. since the age of 12. Diet will vary in each person as their digestive system is affected differently by the illness. One person may be able to tolerate fresh fruits and veggies while the other can only tolerate steamed or mashed fruits and veggies.

If you check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site, they have all of the information you need ranging from diagnosing IBD, how it’s treated with newer drugs, diet info, as well as a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts. There is even an open forum where you can post this question to others who have Crohn’s.

Another suggestion is to set up an appt. with a dietician at the hospital you most frequent. They deal with specialized diets in people who have a variety of illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, IBD, etc. and need a special diet in order to maintain proper nutrition.

Definitely check out CCFA. All of their information is accurate and up to date. The forum is great as well. You will meet so many others like yourself.

Q: Diet for Crohn’s disease?
We’re having a friend with Crohn’s disease over for dinner tonight, and I want to make sure I don’t cook anything that will make her sick. Long story…but she doesn’t know that we know she has this disease, and I don’t feel comfortable bringing it up with her.

Is there anyone out there living with the disease, or who knows about it and can fill me in?

Also, does this menu sound OK – all I know about the disease is that sufferers should avoid spicy food:

grilled chicken marinated in lemon, olive oil, thyme
sauteed asparagus and snow peas
white rice

I am trying to keep it as neutral as possible. Thanks!

A: It’s hard to say, since you can’t ask her and you don’t know the details of her condition, but it should be fine. I have Crohn’s disease and grilled chicken and white rice are some of my “safety foods” and I have never heard of anyone having problems with them, or read anything about problems with them. The one hangup could be that if she’s on a low-residue diet for a stricture (narrowing of intestines, which is common with Crohn’s), then she may need to only eat vegetables that are very well-cooked, almost mushy. (And some vegetables shouldn’t be eaten at all on a low-residue diet.) This could be done by steaming or baking the vegetables. But it’s very kind for you to be considerate, and I would just cook the meal and not worry about it and if she chooses not to eat something (because she’s not supposed to), just don’t mention it and offer her more of the other foods she can eat.

Q: A Diet for Crohn’s Disease?
One of my best friends has Crohn’s. He cannot eat raw foods, such as: vegetables, fruits and nuts. He also has trouble with dairy and some starchy-carbs. Such foods cause “flare-ups” of his Crohn’s. Pretty much the only food he has no trouble digesting is meat.

What kind of recipes can be prepared for him?

A: hi marci, I am a crohn’s pt. since the age of 12. Basically, it is a crap shoot as to what crohnies can eat and what they have to avoid.

If you check out the Crohn’s & Colitis foundation’s site, they have information on diet, the latest treatments to get it into remission, as well as a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts. There is also an open forum where patients and their family/friends can post questions to others who have IBD (crohn’s or ulcerative colitis) to get answers.

CCFA has a bookstore with books on diets for IBD patients. I have the American Dietetic Association guide to better digestion by Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD. It is my bible because it explain in easy to understand language what happens to the body when the illness flares, gives the patient the big “D” or big “C” and what foods are best to eat during these times.

Definitely check out CCFA’s site and look into getting the book from your local library. Also, post this question on the open forum as you will get better answers there than on YA because those folks have actually gone through what your friend is dealing with and won’t give you false information.

I hope he feels better.

Q: what is the best diet for one who suffers from crohn’s disease?
My 29 yr. old son is recently diagnosed and honorably discharged from the Navy. He is suffering so badly.

A: STAY AWAY FROM POPCORN!!! I have crohn’s and i had pains for like two hours after having a little bit of popcorn. Stay away from dried fruit and nuts aswell. If he’s not on steriods yes, see if he can have endocort. it has very few symptoms. try probiotics aswell.

Q: What is the best diet for one who suffers from Crohn’s disease.?
My 29 year old son is recently diagnosed and honorably discharged from the Navy as a result. He is in SO much pain and suffers So badly! The weight loss has been drastic.

A: hi cheryl, I am a crohn’s female since age 12. First, pls thank your son for defending our country and welcome him back home for me. My husband was in the Navy for 6 yrs. right out of high school. So I always make sure to go up to anybody in uniform and thank them personally. We live near an air force base & I see military persons all of the time.

Check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site as it has all of the latest updated information on the newer treatments, diet, surgery, locating a local support chapter near you, as well as a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts. There is also an open forum where pts. and family members can post questions to others who have CD.

He is entitled to be made comfortable while flaring. Have him ask his GI for pain medication such as Tylenol 3, Darvocet, Percocet, etc. Also, an antispasmatic such as Bentyl. The latest meds to get a pt. into remission faster are Remicade, Humira, and Entocort capsules.

Again, please thank your son for me and definitely check out CCFA’s site. great stuff!!!

Q: I have crohn’s disease and am vegitarian. What do you suggest me eating? What would be good in my diet?
I was told high fiber foods but need some suggestions of high fiber foods to eat. I tried eating nuts the other week which was a mistake. It was one of the worst pains ever in my stomach. Apparently cashews or peanuts are not good for crohn’s. It caused a serious flare up and a lot of pain. Can anyone suggest foods that may be good for me and may even make me feel better?

A: No! High fiber foods are horrible for someone with crohns. I had surgery about 2 months ago because of crohn’s. They removed 16 inches of my small intestine because it was so inflicted with ulcers. Eat foods that are very low in fiber. Fiber will scrape your intestines, thus causing more ulcers, and like me, it can cause intestinal bleeding. Cashews and peanuts are not good because they can actually become lodged in the areas of your intestines/colon that are inflammed. Eat foods low in fiber, being vegitarian does not help, but if you steam (i am talking like steam the crap out of them) your vegetables, it helps to lower the fiber in them. Please take care of yourself and get some expert advice, you do not want to go through what I had to, and to be honest, I have heard of worse.

Low fiber
Make a food log. When you eat log it all and then if you have a problem, try to pinpoint what food caused it and stop eating it. This is really helpful.

Hope this helped. God Bless

Q: Diet Advice for people with Crohn’s disease!?
Before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, my doctor thought maybe I had Celiac disease. So I went on a Gluten Free Diet and it helped. Even after it turned out to be Crohn’s and not Celiac, I stayed on the Gluten Free Diet to this day. While it is not a cure, you will find the flare ups are not as brutal. Try it.

A: hi sincerely,

im a crohnie like you. go to the ccfa site to find the latest updates on diet, exercise, womens issues, and to find a local ccfa chapter re: their educational meetings. They have an 800 number you can call on their site which is manned by professionals that can answer your questions as well. hang in there. you are not alone.

also, the american dietician association has a site where you can find a registered RD who works with ppl like us.

feel free to ask me questions. ive a vetran of crohns for over 27 yrs. :)

Q: What would be a good healthy diet for someone with crohn’s?
I have crohn’s disease and it is hard for me to eat anything that has a lot of fiber in it, like steamed vegetables, raw vegetables, cereals, etc. So my diet mainly consists of carbs and meat. Along with this not so varitable diet and my treatments I am gaining a lot of weight. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can maintain a healthy diet and lose some weight without causing a flare up?

A: Most folks with crohn’s find that a gluten free diet eliminates many symptoms. I know you feel like you don’t want to cut out MORE foods, but I highly suggest you give a high saturated fat (especially from virgin coconut oil) diet a good trial. You might also want to try chia seeds, they are high fiber but the fiber is encased in a gel sack that makes it easier on the digestive system.

Nearly 6 years ago, I started Atkins low carb way of eating to just quit gaining weight. I had to get my out of control appetite under control. I never imagined I could LOSE weight without hunger or exercise, since I’ve become disabled. I never bothered weighing or measuring til I’d noticed that my clothes got huge quick. When my health improved dramatically also, I knew this was my new way of life and since it’s eat all you want (of low carb foods) I know I can do this for life.

My personal carb level is low. I am older & disabled & don’t move much (or cook much) but I eat all I want of meats, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, fats, green vegetables, almonds, berries, flax seeds, chia seeds, shirataki noodles and other foods. Someone active would have a MUCH higher carb level & can usually include all fruits, beans, whole grain products but not sugar & highly refined carbs in unlimited amounts. As long as you have <9grams carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control & shouldn't gain weight, no matter the calories.

Most overweight & obese people have blood sugar & insulin dysfunctions and can NEVER eat carbs as someone with a functioning body can. They make the mistake of going back to the way of eating that made them fat and that is not possible and yes they will gain all weight back if they eat what they ate that made them obese originally. Insanity is defined as doing the exact same thing, in the exact same way and expecting different results. Many people can return to moderate carb levels but very few can really eat all they want of sugar & maintain weight or health.

You can lose more body fat eating protein & fat (don’t eat protein alone) than not eating AT ALL. To lose weight fast, eat all you want, but nothing but meat, eggs, healthy oils, mayo, butter & half an avocado a day (for added potassium). Keep the calories high & the fat percentage high, at least 65% of calories. Green vegetables & some cheese will continue weight loss but at a slower pace.

The first 2 weeks eat several cups a day of (mostly) lettuce & celery, cucumbers, radishes, mushrooms, peppers & more vegetables thereafter – add 5 grams per day additional every week (20 grams day first 2 weeks, 25grams 3rd week, 30grams 4th week etc) til you gain weight, then subtract 10grams. That will be your personal carb level (everyone is different & depends on how active you are.)

Start with meat, fats & salads for 2 weeks and then slowly add in more green veg, wk4 fresh cheeses, wk5 nuts & seeds, wk6 berries, wk7 legumes, wk8 other fruits, wk9 starchy veg, wk10 whole grains. You will learn how your body reacts to different foods.

The body won’t release fat stores if you lower calories below what it needs. It will slow metabolism to compensate & store every spare ounce as fat. If you continue lowering calories, it will continue lowering the set point, til it can survive off nothing & store fat on anything. The body will only release it’s fat stores if it knows there is plenty of nutritious food.

Eating carbs while trying to lose body fat is terribly inefficient. When in glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) you have to lower your calories (which slows your metabolism) & exercise heavily to deplete your glycogen stores before burning body fat.

The core of Atkins program is converting the body from glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) to ketosis (burning fat as fuel). Dietary fat levels need to be at >65% of total calories, if not, the body will still remain in glycolysis by converting 58% of excess protein into glucose (via gluconeogenesis).

It takes minimum of 3 days to convert a body to ketosis, (but only one bite to convert back to glycolysis). People feel sluggish the first week but most feel better than ever thereafter.

Simple carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice) trigger insulin, the only fat storage hormone. Protein releases the fat burning hormone glucagon.

High insulin levels promote inflammation, weight gain, hunger & unbalance other hormones. Controlling insulin levels will balance out other hormones & allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so lean muscle will be gained even without exercise.

Q: Crohn’s disease?
I have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease for about a year now, and every diet concerning Crohn’s says to eat lots of fiber, especially lettuce. However, I have a horribly low tolerance to lettuce, even if I’m not on a flare up. I haven’t actually digested even a single shred lettuce in about a year. Is this normal to have with Crohn’s?
By horribly low tolerance, I mean my body cannot process it. It goes out the same way it went in. Every time.

A: Did you know that most GI doctors will tell you to AVOID fiber, especially if flaring? If you’re in remission, that can be a different story. Fiber (especially insoluble), can irritate the intestinal lining and cause more discomfort and diarrhea for that matter. Lettuce isn’t something that I would consider easy to digest to begin with. ha.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people who don’t have Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, have eaten lettuce and it came out whole. I assume that’s what you’re referring to when you say you haven’t digested a single shred of lettuce in a year.

Unless you mean you threw it up, but I have a feeling that isn’t what you mean. Diet is individual with Crohn’s. Unfortunately there is no magic “Crohn’s diet” that works for everyone. And some diets are VERY hard to stick with, that might work. Such as the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which bans eating all refined sugar, bread, etc., and the only sweetener you are allowed I’m pretty sure, is honey. Now that is a diet that many people, including myself, would have a VERY hard time sticking with. haha. That diet allows stuff like nuts, but people who don’t have a colon like me, or who aren’t in remission, might avoid eating nuts since they would make them feel worse if anything, or be uncomfortable when they come out.

You should discuss any concerns like this with your GI doctor, or maybe even a dietitian who is familiar with Crohn’s disease. Also, where did you read all these things saying to eat lots of fiber, especially lettuce? Be very careful about taking health advice from health food store employees or random web sites claiming to have a diet that will cure you. A lot of those people are just out for money, or just are well educated in pseudo science. I’d say you’re doing pretty well anyway if you can eat almost anything you want, and one of your biggest problems is not being able to fully digest vegetables such as lettuce. :) haha. I hope this helps

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