Im still trying to work out what i can eat, I have regular bowel movements most of the time and then have very narrow stools only now and then along with diaherra. Im not sure if i need more roughage or not, as sometimes I bloat and other times i dont after eating brown bread, cereals, nuts, seeds and milk. I never get constipated. Is this why some people wont eat nuts and seeds as they dont want to get a blockage. Has anyone avoided surgery and felt better for changing their diet?
Does diet change help?
- Thread starter lara5559
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I feel better eating more tolerable foods when flaring. When not flaring I can eat nearly anything, in moderation. That said for each person the "bad" foods can differ. Nuts never bother me but I rarely eat beef as it tears me up inside. My GI always recommends high fiber when I am in remission to help keep things moving in the bowels. He explained that food does not cause or trigger Crohn's, but if you have inflammation foods that are irritating for most normal people can be even more trouble for a Crohn's patient.
He said to keep a food diary to find out what foods bother me and then stay away from those but that there is no Crohn's diet.
He said to keep a food diary to find out what foods bother me and then stay away from those but that there is no Crohn's diet.
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My son's dietitian said to stay away from corn, seeds and nuts (peanut butter, nutella are fine, just not 'pieces' of nuts) because they could cause a blockage. I plan on asking if this would be just during a flare as she didn't specify. She also recommended staying away from 'skins' (apple, potato, etc.).
I'm confused, though, about fibre. Lately, my son has complained about very hard stools but I'm afraid to give him too much fibre as that seems to cause problems with other people??? For the most part, his diet includes mainly lower fibre foods (i.e. some whole wheat bread but mainly white, low fibre cereal).
Teeny - you don't have any problems with high fibre while in remission? Are there any fruits/veggies that you avoid?
I'm confused, though, about fibre. Lately, my son has complained about very hard stools but I'm afraid to give him too much fibre as that seems to cause problems with other people??? For the most part, his diet includes mainly lower fibre foods (i.e. some whole wheat bread but mainly white, low fibre cereal).
Teeny - you don't have any problems with high fibre while in remission? Are there any fruits/veggies that you avoid?
David
Co-Founder
That enteral / elemental nutrition is shown to have about the same remission inducing rates as prednisone is proof positive to me that diet plays an ENORMOUS role. Much moreso than is communicated.
I'm starting to feel like a big key is avoiding foods that agitate existing inflammation while still ensuring your body gets all of the necessary nutrients so it can heal (easier said than done I realize). Of course, there are multiple forms of agitation. Nuts and seeds and the like that literally hurt as they pass through, certain foods that invoke allergic responses which are different for everyone, and then of course the science experiments: the additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, pesticides, herbicides, and all the crap that is ending up in our food supply that has no business being there.
On the dietary side of things, if I had Crohn's (I have a different form of IBD that is currently in remission) I would go on an elemental / enteral nutrition diet to induce remission while taking a broad spectrum of very high quality supplements and having those levels checked every couple of weeks. Once in remission for awhile, I would begin introducing back one food at a time to see if they caused me any issue. Those foods would only be organic.
I'm starting to feel like a big key is avoiding foods that agitate existing inflammation while still ensuring your body gets all of the necessary nutrients so it can heal (easier said than done I realize). Of course, there are multiple forms of agitation. Nuts and seeds and the like that literally hurt as they pass through, certain foods that invoke allergic responses which are different for everyone, and then of course the science experiments: the additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, pesticides, herbicides, and all the crap that is ending up in our food supply that has no business being there.
On the dietary side of things, if I had Crohn's (I have a different form of IBD that is currently in remission) I would go on an elemental / enteral nutrition diet to induce remission while taking a broad spectrum of very high quality supplements and having those levels checked every couple of weeks. Once in remission for awhile, I would begin introducing back one food at a time to see if they caused me any issue. Those foods would only be organic.
I've found that when I'm on a successful treatment plan, my diet matters less and less. But I have never been able to drink acidic drinks (i.e. soda) and I, as a rule, avoid dairy.
Tess, I've always had to have a high-fiber diet. But I've had to be careful with the kind of fiber I eat. I eat oat-fiber and avoid wheat (wheat is harsh). I also eat a lot of fiber-one bars and high-fiber oatmeal. I've had a big problem with constipation, never diarrhea.. so fiber was a necessity for me during flare-ups
There are gentle fiber products out there that work with the system and don't tear you up.
Tess, I've always had to have a high-fiber diet. But I've had to be careful with the kind of fiber I eat. I eat oat-fiber and avoid wheat (wheat is harsh). I also eat a lot of fiber-one bars and high-fiber oatmeal. I've had a big problem with constipation, never diarrhea.. so fiber was a necessity for me during flare-ups
There are gentle fiber products out there that work with the system and don't tear you up.I have also heard that diet doesn't cause flare-ups.. but that it can make things worse mid-flare if you eat harsh foods. I think that's an important way of looking at it. My family has often blamed me for flare-ups because they believe I should be able to control my disease with diet. I know that diet can contribute.. when I was put on an all-liquid diet at the hospital, my pain completely went away. It was amazing. But the diet doesn't cause the disease...
I have an IBD recipe book that said to think of your crohn's during a flare-up as a bad scratch in your intestines. Now look at the foods that you are planning to eat.. and imagine rubbing it against an open wound. Rough or acidic foods will obiviously aggravate the problem whereas softer, gentler foods will pass through more smoothly. I don't really know if that applies to everyone, but I've followed the diet book fairly closely with some success.
I have an IBD recipe book that said to think of your crohn's during a flare-up as a bad scratch in your intestines. Now look at the foods that you are planning to eat.. and imagine rubbing it against an open wound. Rough or acidic foods will obiviously aggravate the problem whereas softer, gentler foods will pass through more smoothly. I don't really know if that applies to everyone, but I've followed the diet book fairly closely with some success.
David
Co-Founder
I agree that diet doesn't CAUSE the disease, but I believe it can lead to a flare or protect you from one. For example, try a diet high in polysorbate 80. That same link extolls the virtues of plantains. There are foods than benefit the intestinal mucosa and there is all kinds of crap that such as polysorbate 80 that damages it. I have little doubt that list of damaging agents will increase in the years ahead and we'll look back wondering what the heck we were thinking by consuming this stuff. Or what about all of our meat that is raised on factor farms and isn't being fed what it naturally would consume, how could that affect us?
If you have a diet that is lacking in various essential nutrients, it would make sense to me that your body would then become stressed and potentially lead to a flare. Or speaking of stress, we all know that can lead to a flare yet there are many foods that help protect the body from affects of stress.
It goes on and on. No, I don't think diet causes Crohn's but if I put dish soap in my car and don't change the oil, I shouldn't be surprised when it breaks down.
If you have a diet that is lacking in various essential nutrients, it would make sense to me that your body would then become stressed and potentially lead to a flare. Or speaking of stress, we all know that can lead to a flare yet there are many foods that help protect the body from affects of stress.
It goes on and on. No, I don't think diet causes Crohn's but if I put dish soap in my car and don't change the oil, I shouldn't be surprised when it breaks down.
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I do have trouble with fiber if I don't watch it. My GI recommends metamucil. As far as fruits or veggies...apples tend to irritate my tummy, stuff like onion rings and fried veggies are bad-anything fried for me is a once in a great while event. I can eat salads a couple times a week, but everyday and I would be in pain. Hard to eat healthy when all the healthy stuff hurts
Popcorn is ok sometimes, but not all the time.
As for fiber in foods I try to stay away from anything with less than 3grams of fiber...just not very nutritional for you. I shoot for 5-10 grams per serving. Once I get over 20 grams per serving it is too much...just painful gas that I don't like or need. However, refried or cooked beans are ok for me any time. Veggies I try to cook them till they are soft. Just be carefull or you'll cook all the good nutrients out.
Oh and too much sugar is bad too. Sugar is naturally an inflammatory agent in the intestines.
