Crohn's Disease Diet

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Eat slowly, and chew your food thoroughly.

Avoid trans-fatty acids, found in hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats and oils.

In general, a diet that is low in fiber is best. Usually, fiber is helpful in normalizing bowel function, but too mach fiber can worsen Crohn's disease, especially if there is enough intestinal scarring to cause obstruction.

Eat plenty of clean, lean protein foods such as chicken and fish. Try to eat four servings of fish a week or, if you dislike fish, take a fish-oil supplement. Tofu and other soy foods are good protein sources also, though some people with Crohn's disease have trouble digesting them People with inflammatory bowel diseases need as much as 30 percent more protein than normal.

Include in your diet alkaline vegetable such as carrots, celery, kale, zucchini, and other summer squashes.

Cook your food simply. Steam or bake vegetables, and steam, poach, or bake chicken and fish. Do not fry foods or eat too many of them raw.

Maximize your intake of liquids, including water, herbal teas, and fresh juices. Because of its ability to soothe and help heal, cabbage juice should be your first choice. In addition, make sure to drink eight glasses of pure water daily. A high intake of liquids helps to ensure soft, easy-to-pass stools, and also counteracts dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Avoid refined foods, including dry processed cereals and anything made with refined sugar and flour. An excess of refined carbohydrates is associated with the development of Crohn's disease.

Avoid substances that are irritating to the digestive tract, including alcohol, anything containing caffeine, carbonated beverages, fried and greasy foods, and spicy foods.

Avoid all dairy products, pickled foods, and all products made with yeast, and see if your symptoms improve. Theses foods are high in histamines, and many people with Crohn's disease are histamine-tolerant. Many may also be allergic to milk. In addition, certain dairy products (some ice creams and commercial yogurts) are stabilized with carrageenan, a substance extracted from seaweed. In large quantities, this normally benign substance has been shown to cause ulcerative colitis in laboratory animals.

Since food allergies and sensitivities can have an effects on this disease, avoiding potentially allergenic foods is a good idea. Cravings may be a sign that you have a problem with a particular food.

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