Eating surely is one of the greatest pleasures of life. However, eating can be a double-edged sword if you have Crohn’s disease. On one hand, your symptoms can be worsened, while on the other hand, a proper Crohn’s disease diet can help your recover quickly.
However, it is not always easy to know what things you should eat when you have Crohn’s disease. Notably, your intestinal symptoms can be triggered by certain foods, especially when the condition flares. Also, the food that triggers the symptoms varies from person to person. Hence, there’s no fixed diet that a person with Crohn’s diet can follow.
However, some basic rules can help keep Crohn’s disease symptoms under control. Let’s learn more about them.
Meal Planning and Food Preparation
While there are no one-size-fits-all rules when it comes to meal planning, these are some basic tips you can follow to have a better intake of nutrition:
- Have four to six minimal meals in a day.
- Always stay hydrated – Drink sufficient water to keep yourself hydrated. Along with water, you can also consume tomato juice, broth, or a rehydration solution.
- Drink everything slowly and prevent using a straw. A straw can make you ingest air, which may lead to gas.
- Prepare your meals in advance. Always keep your kitchen stocked with all the foods that don’t trigger your symptoms.
- Use simple techniques to cook your food like boiling, steaming, grilling, or poaching.
- Keep a food journal to track down symptoms you may experience.
Foods to Avoid
Although the foods that trigger Crohn’s disease symptoms differ for each individual, there are certain foods that are highly likely to trigger the symptoms and must be avoided, including:
- Alcohol (beer, wine, mixed drinks)
- Butter, margarine, mayonnaise, oils
- Carbonated beverages
- Coffee, chocolate, tea
- Corn
- Dairy products, if you’re lactose intolerant
- Fried or fatty food
- Foods rich in fiber
- Lentils
- Beans
- Raw fruits
- Raw Vegetables
- Spicy food
- Cabbage and broccoli
- Pork and red meat
- Bran and whole grains
- Foods with a high amount of sugar
What to Eat During Remission
Providing your body with ample nutrition during good times is important as it would help you bear with flares and surgical procedures without any complications. Essentially, when you’re in remission, you can consider eating the following nutrient-packed foods:
- Protein: Protein is an integral part of the Crohn’s disease diet. You must consume lean meats, eggs, fish, nuts, tofu, and nut butter. Avoid red, processed, and high-fat meats. Also, eliminate bacon, sausages, cold cuts, bologna, and hot dogs from your diet.
- Vegetables and Fruits: You must aim for at least four and up to eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Avoid eating them raw.
- Calcium-rich foods: Calcium-rich foods are very beneficial when it comes to Crohn’s disease treatment. These include kale, oranges, collard greens, almonds, white beans, milk, cheese, and yogurt. You can skip on dairy products if you are lactose intolerant. Instead, you can go for rice milk, almond milk, or coconut milk, or have a lactose enzyme supplement before consuming dairy. Just make sure to fulfill all of the needs regarding Crohn’s disease diet.
