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.
While milk provides protein and essential vitamins and minerals, it may aggravate Crohn's symptoms if you have small-bowel Crohn's disease.
While people should avoid raw fruits when they have a flare-up, they can eat ripe bananas, melons, and apples with the skin removed.
Foods that are high in soluble fibre and that may help reduce diarrhea include: oatmeal, oat bran, legumes (avoid in flare-up period), rice, rice cereals, potatoes, psyllium, squash, turnips, bananas, applesauce, mangoes, turnips, yams, carrots, corn meal, barley, white breads, papayas.
Fruits: bananas, raspberries, applesauce, blended fruit. Vegetables: squashes, fork-tender cooked carrots, green beans. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids: fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc.), walnut butter, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, flaxseed meal.
Azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran) and mercaptopurine (Purinethol, Purixan). These are the most widely used immunosuppressants for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Bananas are another low-fructose fruit that are fiber-rich and contain inulin, a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
Well-tolerated fiber sources include tender cooked vegetables, canned or cooked fruits, and starches like cooked cereals and whole wheat noodles and tortillas. Between flares, eat a wide variety of foods as tolerated. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat and nonfat dairy products.
Because foods such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and other nuts, along with seeds, are difficult for your body to break down, they can irritate the digestive tract and cause symptoms in people with Crohn's.
She recommends lactose-free cow's milk as the best nutritional choice for most people with lactose intolerance: “It provides 8 grams of protein and 300 milligrams of calcium per cup.” Goat's milk has slightly less lactose than cow's milk and some people find they tolerate it better.
The soluble fiber found in foods like cooked apples, ground chia seeds, and oatmeal in particular may help people with Crohn's by absorbing fluid and slowing down digestion.
Certain foods like whole grain breads, cabbage, onions, and dairy may worsen or trigger Crohn's flares.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, foods high in fiber and fat, dairy products, and carbonated beverages such as soda can trigger a flare-up. The best option is to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean meats, says Dr. Sultan.
Certain high-fat foods can cause symptoms in some people with Crohn's disease, but you may be able to tolerate higher-fat protein sources like nut butters and whole eggs without issue. Nevertheless, most people with Crohn's disease opt for low-fat protein sources like: Lean poultry like chicken and turkey.
Potatoes. These starchy veggies can be a lifesaver during a Crohn's flare-up. Just be sure you avoid potato skins, as they are high in fiber and may cause digestive distress. Bake or roast white or sweet potatoes and scoop out the middle for a simple, delicious meal that won't leave you feeling under the weather.
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.
Yogurt is an excellent source of beneficial bacteria (probiotics). In IBD, there seems to be an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract – eating probiotic-rich foods can help to restore the proper balance. Chose a yogurt with live, active cultures. And, always check the “best by” date.
Honey is one of the longest-used natural therapies and may have a place in managing Crohn's disease. Its phenolic compounds have been shown to reduce inflammation for several different diseases with inflammatory pathogenesis.
This brings us to your doctor linking your IBD diagnosis to excessive sugar consumption. A study using mice, which was published last fall in the journal Science Translational Medicine, found evidence that added sugar in the diet can lead to IBD, and also make existing disease worse.