Crohn's disease can be difficult to diagnose---and once you have a diagnosis, your challenges have just begun. Since Crohn's affects your digestive tract, a major concern is what you can and can't eat. You may have to pay close attention to your diet to make sure that you get good nutrition as you manage your disease.
About Crohn's Disease
Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease---IBD for short---that can affect any part of your digestive tract but most commonly affects the small intestine. The inflammation and swelling can cause difficulty with digestion, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. It's not clear what causes the disease, and symptoms can vary widely from patient to patient, according to the National Institutes of Health.
A Crohn's Diet?
It's a common misconception that solving food allergies or following a special diet can cure Crohn's. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America advises patients that no one diet is the solution for everyone. But paying careful attention to how foods affect you should help relieve your symptoms.
Possible Problem Foods
Since certain foods and drinks can aggravate your symptoms, try keeping a food diary to pinpoint problems, the Mayo Clinic suggests. Many people with IBD find that dairy products cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas, so try limiting or eliminating them and see if that helps. Another common culprit is the high fat content in butter, margarine, cream sauces and fried foods. Also try eliminating "gassy" foods like beans and cabbage, spicy foods, popcorn, caffeine, alcohol, and raw fruits, especially citrus fruits.
Experiment With Fiber
Foods rich in fiber are a healthy part of most people's diets---but frequently cause trouble for people who have Crohn's. They can worsen diarrhea, gas and abdominal pain. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you experiment to see which high-fiber foods you can tolerate. For example, you might find that while some fruits, vegetables or grains are bothersome, you can eat others with no problems.
Other Diet Tips
Digestion difficulties can reduce the nutrients your body absorbs, so the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation suggests that you talk to your doctor about whether you should take a nutrition supplement. Mayoclinic.com also recommends that instead of eating a few larger meals, you should try eating smaller, more frequent meals and snacks. If certain raw fruits and vegetables cause your symptoms to flare, try cooked versions. Be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Finally, find ways to reduce stress in your life, because stress can affect your digestion.
