What foods can be eaten for a person with chrons disease?

Answer 1

People suffering from Crohn's Disease generally should avoid foods that make their symptoms worse. If you are lactose intolerant, avoid milk and dairy products; the same is true for patients with gluten sensitivity. Fish and fish oil-containing foods may actually be helpful during bouts of Crohn's Disease, because they contain compounds that the body turns into natural anti-inflammatory agents.

As long as the patient is able to hold down, pass through, and absorb enough nutrition from his or her diet, there is no need for special medical intervention. If after 5-7 days the weakness and wasting common in Crohn's continues, the standard treatment is to use either supplemental nutrition or Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). TPN may also be used if the disease is severe enough to warrant surgery; this allows the gut to rest before being cut into. Surgery will NOT cure Crohn's Disease, but it may help speed healing and recovery from this episode.

It is also important to note that smoking makes Crohn's Disease much worse. If you smoke and have Crohn's Disease, the single best action you can take is to immediately stop smoking--and preferably never resume it. Smoking roughly doubles your chance of getting Crohn's Disease and increases your risk of having more severe episodes.

Reference: Friedman S, Blumberg RS. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In: Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Braunwald E, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 16th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2005: 1776-1789.

Answer 2

Everyone who has Crohn's Disease has a different diet, but the most common foods to avoid are this:

1.) Greasy/fatty foods

2.) Fried foods

3.) Spicy foods

4.) Foods with no dairy/lactose if you are lactose intolerant

5.) Nuts, seeds (including chunky peanut butter)

6.) Red meats

7.) Raw fruits and vegetables

You will know what foods trigger any pain or discomfort...foods that I, personally, can eat are these:

1.) Soft pretzels, pretzel sticks

2.) Baked potatoes with vinegar (no butter, sour cream, bacon, etc.)

3.) Bread products

4.) Wawa hoagies with no cheese

5.) Cereals

6.) Wheat thins

7.) Smooth peanut butter

Pretty much anything relatively plain is what doesn't bother my stomach. However, what I can eat may be different than what you can eat. I haven't really found foods that totally make my stomach feel better, but to avoid it all together, I try staying away from dairy. There are many alternatives to dairy like all of the Lactaid products. From pills, to milk and cheese, and many of their other amazing products, Lactaid helps reduce the stomach pain I get. Hopefully this also works for you. I hope I helped--if you have any other questions, feel free to let me know and I will answer them to the best of my abilities. Having Crohn's for 21 years, I'm kind of an expert ;)