Common Diet Recommendations for Those Living With Crohn's Disease

For the more than half a million people in the United States who are living with Crohn’s disease, managing the discomfort and avoiding complications are keys to living with the condition. One of the most effective ways you can accomplish both is through your diet.

As experts in inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease, board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Sam Weissman and our team understand that diet can have no small impact on the condition.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some common diet recommendations that we provide for our patients with Crohn’s disease.

Know your triggers

The first dietary step to take when you have Crohn’s is to understand your unique dietary triggers. What causes discomfort for you may not for another person with Crohn’s, so there’s no tidy checklist that applies across the board.

Instead, it’s important that you note those foods that cause discomfort or other issues so that you avoid them in the future.

Some of the common problematic foods include:

• Foods high in insoluble fiber
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Artificial sweeteners
• Lactose
• Spicy foods
• Full-fat dairy
• High-fat meats
• Sugary foods
• Processed foods with additives

Again, what triggers your Crohn’s disease is unique to you, but these are some of the more common culprits. 

Avoiding a high-fiber diet

We’re constantly told that a high-fiber diet is desirable, but this may not be the case for people with Crohn’s disease. A good place to start when you’re trying to manage Crohn’s disease through your diet is to avoid foods high in insoluble fiber, such as whole wheat, broccoli, seeds, apples with skin, and even popcorn.

Substitutes for wheat-based foods can include:

• Rice
• Gluten-free breads
• Polenta or cornmeal
• Oatmeal
• Couscous

You can also enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables with lower amounts of insoluble fiber like bananas, melons, and carrots.

Prep your fruits and veggies differently

People with Crohn’s can still get nutrients through fruits and veggies, but it’s a good idea to prep them a little differently. For example, removing the skin is a great way to avoid irritation in your intestine. You can als try steaming your veggies or pureeing your fruits (think applesauce instead of apples) or adding leafy greens to a smoothie.

Swap out your proteins

It may also be a good idea to cut out greasy meats like sausage and fried chicken. Eggs, fish, chicken without skin, and lean beef or pork are gentler on your system.

Dairy substitutes

If full-fat dairy products make your Crohn’s disease flare or you have trouble with lactose, the good news is that there are plenty of substitutes these days. If you’re OK with lactose, you can try lower-fat or skim dairy options. If lactose is a problem, you can use a lactase enzyme or go with a plant milk, like almond or oat milk.

Drink up

For many people with Crohn’s disease, caffeine can be problematic, as well as carbonated drinks. We suggest sticking with plain old water in ample amounts, which can aid with digestion and combat constipation. As well, soothing herbal teas can be a gut-friendly beverage.

We’re happy to sit down with you to review your unique triggers so we can come up with the best dietary plan for managing your Crohn’s disease.

To get started, call our New York City office in the Brighton Beach area of Brooklyn or request a consultation through this website.