The Best Foods for Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and painful symptoms along different areas of the digestive tract (i.e., fatigue, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition). If you have Crohn’s disease, the choice of what you eat and drink may be complicated. Often, dietary habits may trigger the symptoms of the disease, which is why doctors often recommend certain foods that may provide added energy and help prevent the symptoms of the disease.
The following are the foods that help manage Crohn’s disease symptoms:
1. Poultry
Poultry such as chicken and turkey are rich in protein. These foods can be cooked in many ways and are also easy to digest, which makes it a good source of food for people suffering from Crohn’s disease.
2. Oily fish
Oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and herring have an anti-inflammatory effect, and are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. However, it is best to prepare these foods with simple recipes to avoid any aggravation of the disease.
3. Eggs
Eggs are a great source of easily digestible protein, which is highly recommended for people with Crohn’s disease, especially during a flare-up. Scrambled, hard-boiled, or omelet – eggs can be cooked in various different ways to keep things interesting. Scrambled, omelet, hard-boiled, soft-cooked or whatever ways you cook them, eggs are an inexpensive source of protein that gets easily digested. It is a must to make sure you’ve always had some in your house if you have Crohn’s disease.
4. Yogurt
The probiotic in yogurt supports the intestine’s barrier functioning and helps in reducing the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Yogurts are a great source of good bacteria and probiotics. It is also best to consume yogurt that mentions “live-culture yogurt.” It is also recommended to opt for yogurt without any added sugar.
5. Almond milk
Most people with Crohn’s disease are intolerant to milk and a few other dairy products. However, it does not mean that you should avoid them totally. In such cases, you can always prefer almond milk, which is quite easy on digestion. Almond milk also contains calcium as equally as regular milk. It is also a great source of Vitamin D and E. However, make sure to opt for almond milk without any added sugar.
6. Rice
White rice has always been a remedy for all such digestive problems. Though white rice is not very nutritious, it is easy on the stomach for those suffering from Crohn’s disease. You can always consume boiled white rice with yogurt.
7. Avocados
Avocados are the only fruit that is digestion-friendly that contains soluble fiber. They are also rich in vitamin B, E, and potassium.
8. Papaya
It is a wrong that people with Crohn’s disease should avoid fruits altogether. For instance, tropical fruits like bananas are digestion-friendly and are rich in nutrition. Also, papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which helps in the digestion of essential proteins. Papaya is rich in potassium, folate, and vitamins like vitamin A and C.