Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that involves an immune attack on the intestinal tract. In people with Crohn’s disease, certain foods can trigger symptoms and cause disease flare-ups. Formulating a specific nutrition plan can help patients manage their disease and reduce symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
When creating a diet plan for Crohn’s disease, keep these tips in mind:
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Know That Every Patient Is Different
Crohn’s disease can be very individual. Different patients can get sick in different parts of their intestinal tract, have different symptoms, and react differently to certain foods and drinks in their diet. It is essential to listen to your body and determine which specific diet products are triggering your Crohn’s disease symptoms. This may need a moment of trial and error and a lot of patience. However, it is essential to identify what foods you can and cannot eat to control Crohn’s symptoms.
Keep A Food Diary
If you have trouble identifying dietary triggers for Crohn’s disease, keep a journal of everything you eat and drink. This can help you identify these problem foods and eliminate them from your diet (or at least minimize their consumption). Keeping a food diary can also an excellent tool for your doctor and nutritionist, and can help confirm that you get the right nutrients every day.
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Focus On Getting The Right Nutrients
While eating right is essential to everyone’s health, it can be especially crucial if you live with Crohn’s disease. Because of the inflammation, diarrhoea, and appetite suppression in Crohn’s disease, there may be an increased risk of nutrient malabsorption and deficiency.
Focus on nutrient-dense foods with a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals. You may need nutritional supplements, or meal replacement shakes to make sure you are getting vital nutrients in daily life.
Talk To A Doctor And/Or Nutritionist
A doctor or nutritionist can be a great tool in formulating a Crohn’s diet plan. These professionals know exactly what nutrients patients need and can help create a diet plan that allows for adequate nutrition while avoiding trigger foods. They can also help you spot patterns in your food journal and identify triggering foods, nutritional deficiencies, or other dietary issues that you haven’t identified. Working with a doctor and/or nutritionist will ensure that you make nutritional changes that will help treat Crohn’s disease safely and healthily.
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Other Dietary Suggestions Worth Trying
While every patient is different, some general tips can help create a Crohn’s disease diet plan. If you’re starting on your Crohn’s diet plan, these suggestions can be an excellent place to start.
- Avoid fatty, fatty and fried foods.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid dairy products, mainly if you are lactose intolerant.
- Foods high in fibre or producing gas (whole grains, bran, lentils, beans, certain raw fruits and vegetables, etc.) can make symptoms worse, especially diarrhoea.
- Try to have smaller, more normal meals instead of three large meals a day.
- Drink plenty of water, but small amounts throughout the day.
- Limit coffee, tea, and sodas as caffeine can make symptoms worse.
