Crohn's Disease Diet
There is no specific diet for Crohn's disease that will prevent the disease or make it go away. However, avoiding certain foods may help control your symptoms. Eating nutritious foods is an important part of any healthy diet, whether or not you have Crohn's disease.
Is There a Special Crohn's Disease Diet?It is only natural to assume that because Crohn's disease is a condition that affects the digestive system that diet could play a role in preventing or treating Crohn's disease. And many people wonder if there is a special "diet for Crohn's disease" to help slow the progression of, or even cure, the disease. The short answer to this question is no. Despite extensive research, there is no special diet that has been proven effective for preventing, treating, or curing Crohn's disease.
Until more data are available, patients should continue to follow balanced and healthy diets, be skeptical of 'miraculous' claims, and avoid elimination diets and fad nutritional practices.
The Well-Balanced Diet for Crohn's DiseaseIf you have Crohn's disease, it is important that you eat a well-balanced diet. A well-balanced diet can help you feel better and can be a positive step in dealing with Crohn's disease. It can also help decrease your chances of developing heart disease or certain types of cancer.
Some suggestions for eating a well-balanced diet include:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet. This diet should include heart-healthy foods such as:
- Fruits, vegetables, grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
- Limiting foods with saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.
- Limiting your intake of alcohol.
You should also try and get regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
Healthcare providers also recommend that people with Crohn's disease avoid any foods that seem to worsen symptoms. Because each person is different, it's important for you to take an active role in finding out which, if any, foods tend to make your symptoms worse.
Avoiding these foods and eating a nutritious diet may help you control your symptoms, but these healthy choices will probably need to be made for life. If you are able to control your disease by changing the foods you eat, you may not need to take medications.
People with Crohn's disease should only take vitamin supplements per their doctor's recommendations.