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.
