To help your body digest fibrous foods during a flare, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCF) recommends avoiding the skins of fruits and vegetables; raw produce, especially cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower; and high-fiber whole grains, and opt for low-fiber fruits such as bananas and melons.
Opt for mango and banana during a Crohn's flare, and skip berries with seeds, which might irritate your digestive tract, but feel free to include blueberries. Fluids also keep you hydrated.
Raw fruit and fruit juices with pulp are foods to avoid during a Crohn's flare-up. Other examples include: dried fruit, such as raisins. prune juice.
Active principles in plant-based foods, especially staple fruits, such as bananas and plantains, possess inter-related anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and neuromodulatory activities.
Fried foods and high-fat meals with large amounts of cream, butter, or oils can aggravate Crohn's symptoms, causing abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. One reason for this may be that fat in foods is often not fully absorbed in the small intestine.
Although there's no firm evidence that any particular foods cause Crohn's disease, certain things seem to aggravate flare-ups. So a food diary can help you identify personal triggers. Beyond that, limit dairy products, eating smaller meals, stay hydrated, and try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation.
Do: White Bread. Toasted bread or a bagel made with refined white flour are good for breakfast or as a sandwich base. Look for brands with 2 grams of fiber or less per serving. Low-fiber grains are easier to digest when you have Crohn's.
You may also try canned or cooked skinless and seedless fruit, which will likely be easier to digest than a high-fiber alternative. Potatoes. These starchy veggies can be a lifesaver during a Crohn's flare-up.
Angela Cohen, age 33, Crohn's disease
“When I'm feeling well and don't have restrictions, I sometimes try to incorporate more foods like yogurt, oatmeal, whole grain bread, sweet potato, turkey sausage, apples, berries, avocado, and bananas.
Grains: When you're having symptoms, choose bread, pasta, and other carbohydrates made from refined white flour instead of whole grains. 4 White rice is another low-fiber option. Avoid brown rice, wild rice, or rice pilaf.
Choose Your Cheese Wisely
It can be really helpful for fighting diseases and a healthy part of the diet for someone with Crohn's disease,” Medlin says. Low-fat cheeses such as feta and goat cheese may be a better option, according to the BWH Crohn's & Colitis Center.
Choose foods with soluble (soft) fibre and temporarily restrict your intake of insoluble (tough) fibre to promote mucosal healing and prevent irritation and symptoms that occur with an inflamed gut lining. Foods rich in prebiotic fibres (e.g., bananas, oatmeal) may also help to reduce inflammation.
Over-the-Counter Medication
A group of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — incuding ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and high-dose aspirin — are helpful in relieving body pain by blocking the production of inflammation.
Herbal Teas May Soothe the Digestive System
That's because even low-caffeine tea like white tea may cause symptoms. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties, but can still stimulate the gut because of its caffeine content, she says. “I typically recommend herbal teas to Crohn's patients,” she says.
“Strenuous exercise should be avoided during flares,” gastroenterologist Michael Chiorean, M.D., director of the IBD Center of Excellence at Virginia Mason. Instead, focus on steady, regular exercise—which calms inflammation. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking) per week.