March 2010

Individuals who suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Crohn’s Disease benefit from eating certain foods and watching out for others. IBD and Crohn’s disease involves inflammation of the intestines. Ulcers form and become inflamed which can cause scarring and bleeding. The symptoms of these diseases include diarrhea, acute abdominal pain, cramping, fever and fatigue. It’s very important to receive good nutrition in order to manage the symptoms of IBD and Crohn’s Disease. It is also important to receive proper nutrition in order to avoid extreme weight loss.

If you have IBD or Crohn’s Disease you ought to stay well-hydrated by drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Staying hydrated helps prevent constipation. You may also have been advised to take a daily multivitamin by your doctor or dietitian. A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement helps replace lost nutrients which can be lost due to your condition.

It’s also very important that your diet be one that’s high in fiber during times you are not experiencing a flare-up of IBD or Chron’s Disease.

High fiber foods include whole grain breads, bagels, buns, and muffins. There are also whole grain cereals such as Bran Flakes, All Bran, bran buds, corn bran and Shredded Wheat, as well as 100% Bran and fiber 1. You can eat cooked cereal such as Oat Bran and whole-wheat pastas, and whole grains including popcorn, barley, corn and brown rice.

Fruits can also be high in fiber such as dried fruits, oranges, berries, apples with the skin, avocado, mango, kiwi, and also pear.

Vegetables which contain high amounts of fiber include spinach, dried peas, broccoli, Swiss chard, green peas and other leafy, green vegetables, and beans (such as kidney beans and lima beans, black-eyed beans, chickpeas and lentils).

Seeds and nuts such as almonds, whole flaxseed and soy nuts are also very good for you to eat .

When you’re experiencing an IBD flare-up it’s crucial to limit the amount of fiber in your diet and to adopt a low-fiber diet or even switch to a low residue diet in order to rest your intestinal tract and reduce symptoms you experience. Your doctor or dietitian can give you more information about these types of diets.

You’ll also need to avoid lactose-containing foods such as dairy products if you are lactose intolerant.

Even with following a low-fiber diet, it is important to continue to receive adequate nutrients during flare-ups. Eat smaller meals and eat foods high in protein such as lean meats, fish and eggs. You may also be told to drink some recommended nutritional drinks such as Ensure in order to rest your bowel. Always follow your doctor or nutritionist’s instructions.

To help minimize and control IBD flare-ups, limit the caffeine in beverages or foods, the alcohol that you consume and any sorbitol (sweetener) as these can make your symptoms worse.

Try also to limit or avoid gas-producing foods because these can intensify your symptoms. The major gas-producing foods include broccoli, dried peas, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and lentils as well as onions, chives, and peppers. Limit your ingestion of carbonated drinks as these can also make your symptoms worse.

Reducing your fat intake will also help due to the fact that foods with fat can cause diarrhea and gas. There has been some research which shows that taking fish oil and flax seed oil may be beneficial for treating IBD or Chron’s Disease.