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I was diagnosed with crohn's in may 2004 and had surgery in Oct 2005.  I was good for about a year then my symptoms started coming back and are not getting better.  The hardest thing for me is food.  I know everyone is different and some can eat certain things while others can't.  I just wanted to see if anyone out there has any suggestions for me cause at this point I eat but I really don't enjoy it cause I know what the end result will be!  I can't eat lettuce, nuts, popcorn, any raw veggies, spicey or fried food.  I tolerate dairy ok and I like eating meat but that's rough on me too.  I look at what I can't eat and I get frustrated...then what the heck am I supposed to eat.  I feel that changing what I eat would help the pain and diarrhea somewhat but I am just having a hard time figuring out what to eat.  I saw a registered dietician but it did not help me.  So any info would be greatly appreciated!

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Ditto on the Maker's Diet!  In case you haven't read it yet, the guy's story is amazing!  He almost died and now is very healthy!  As much as the drs say no diet is necessarily right or not right for Crohn's, I think this is well worth a try! 

My 6 year old son was recently diagnosed with Crohn's.  We have adapted the Maker's Diet for our whole family.  It takes out processed foods!  We typically eat so many chemicals that it really makes me wonder if what we eat could be part of the "trigger" to Crohn's.  Anyway, the basic idea is to eat foods that are in a natural state and cut out certain foods things entirely, like white refined SUGAR....which really is terrible for you.

Well, I've said enough.  The book speaks for itself! Get it!

 Reply posted for snxb05.

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I personally try to avoid sugar... as sugars rob our bones from calcium which we are already more likely to have issues with depletion of. Also it doesn't help with the joint pain. I choose not to ingest anything artificial, as I consider it a toxin to the body if it is not natural, and toxins have been linked to disease worldwide. I prefer using concentrated liquid stevia when it comes to sugar substitutions, as it is derived from a plant and is calorie-free -- but I have yet to discover whether or not this, as all other sugar substitutes, causes our bodies to become incapable of "correctly counting calories," so to speak. Someone please let me know if they come across this answer.

If you're interested, it's preferable to get the dark brown concentrate of stevia without any additives. If you find a dietary supplement that claims to be stevia and it is clear or white-powdered, this is not stevia in its natural form.

As much as I don't like to promote the use of once-living creatures in the diet, those of you who do eat meat would benefit from knowing that whereas many meats are pro-inflammation: pork is relatively anti-inflammatory, and wild fish of many species are incredibly anti-inflammatory, even more than many vegetables combined. (Always avoid farm-raised fish due to the metals.)

I'm now implementing turmeric supplements in my diet, and for health freaks like me... :) the best Bioflavanoids for soothing the inflammatory cascade are these 3: quercetin, rutin, and procyanidins (OPC's).

I'm currently looking into pine bark extract, grape seed extract, and boswellia.

Thanks everyone and I look forward to feedback.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

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Food is not medicine that cures a disease, but it IS medicine by which to aid oneself in treating and preventing future flare-ups. Here is where we can choose to do something about our situation, whereas we did not choose our genetic inheritance or many of the environmental toxins we were born into (though we do have a great degree of choice in that area now if we so decide).

Certain foods have an "Inflammation Factor" which is a number that has been composed based on much nutritional information (such as the glycemic index, serving size, the way the food is prepared, omega 3-omega 6 ratios, polyphenyls and bioflavanoids, etc...) that will hopefully soon be attached to every food we purchase next to the Daily Value label in the United States.

A positive number on the IF spectrum means the food is of an anti-inflammatory effect; a negative number reflects a pro-inflammatory food. The goal at the end of the day is to have your consumed numbers in the positive category.

One would be surprised about the results of the research done in order to acquire this "Inflammation Factor", as soybeans are a -7 while spinach is in the +200's, and many fruits are pro-inflammation. It's important to research this on your own to have a better idea of how to become more anti-inflammatory.

When it comes to the restrictions of diseases, these things many people believe they should eliminate, the natural raw foods... are actually the most beneficial for those specific digestive diseases. BUT -- you don't have to EAT a fruit or a vegetable in order to benefit from it. I know -- this can hurt a LOT! Juicing is very helpful here, though it does take much dedication to take charge of one's life. I understand that this can be a more expensive way of living, but health is more important than certain luxuries, and many of us can make the changes necessary in order to make up for the financial difference. (I'm on disability and I find a way.)

 Reply posted for snxb05.

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I think that being vegan or vegetarian with Crohn's is a great idea, as I have done much research on the Inflammation Factor and foods that promote inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response in our bodies. If you are not already familiar with the Inflammation Factor, or the IF -- I highly recommend that you research it as a means of treatment alongside treatment of your disease. It will also help one to get over feelings of helplessness, if they are there, in that there is power in knowledge, and in this case, it is power over our disease that we gain by learning, ...and so much more.

Essentially, systemic inflammation is the cause or is greatly linked to many negative experiences people are currently living -- from diseases to mental issues like depression; it is even linked to the simple process of aging -- all of these things are related to an inflammatory response in our bodies that, in good functioning, is meant to heal us rather than harms us.

( As many know, excess inflammation is what's going on in the bodies of the diseased, and in our case, it's in our digestive systems. )

From what I have read involving inflammation, some fruits, MANY vegetables, and a diet rich in herbs is the most beneficial to one in preventing and treating disease. Please, if you're skeptical, do your own research... "The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan" is a book that can be purchased on Amazon at a relatively cheap price for the information one can reap from it. I think it is important -- and especially important for anyone who already has a disease -- to understand and learn more about the effects of inflammation on our bodies and the undeniable source of such inflammation... besides genetic and environmental factors... which is diet, whether we want to hear it or not.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Hey. So, I've been obsessed with nutrition since my diagnosis. I have a lot of information to share that I think can help you... I'll break it up into several messages.

(message 1)

 Reply posted for snxb05.

When my Crohns was at its worst, I ate lots of peanut butter to get my protein- peanut butter and bagels, peanut butter and bananas... applesauce and canned pears are good options for fruit... cooked veggies, rice, toasted white bread are all good options.

I avoid alcohol unless I'm really feeling good, also carbonated drinks, dairy (for a while I used soy as a substitute, but that wasn't all that great either- now I drink lactose free milk).

Hope that helps- good luck!

 Reply posted for snxb05.

hi, im not sure if this will be of help to you because i have colitis not chrons, but my doctor turned me on to a supplement called VSL#3 it is a probiotic(good bacteria) i puccahse this online just google vsl#3. Of course you should consult your physician first but it may be worth a try.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

boiled eggs and anything veg are good...

i agree with
"i have a mile long list of foods that hurt me, but my top ones are caffiene, dairy, red meat, fried foods, tomato-based anything, and any roughage." completely.

and for cormac you should be careful because when your sick with this, it's painful to pass food, you want to puke before, during, and after eating, and your stomach feels like it has flake walls that can crumble into torture when food hits it. whatever this disease is your body doesn't know how to respond to it correctly, and basically it starts telling the mind "you know what, eating is nice and all but it f'ing hurts the whole way through... i kind of like not eating if you don't mind".

anyways that sounds more like a nausia problem and wrong diet, i say cook the right and better food and ask about dicyclomine. or pain killers / weed (really would be the perfect solution to that particular problem i'm afraid).

anyways my parents thought the same thing so they crammed down the wrong food at the wrong amounts and forced me to puppet with other things which werent correct like forcing me to shower even when i had to puke before and after to get the energy to it (when they could have just waited till i did have the energy) or making me wake up at 7am just because "it was the right thing todo".

if you don't come to an understanding of the true dire situation of your kid is in your just going to prolong his pain and healing. and if you prolong the pain and healing and acuse him of just being pyscho, he'll remember how much he hates you every single time he's in a healing period.

 Reply posted for stayceladybug.

most healthiest and easiest meal you can make..

baked salmon...
fresh chopped parsley
1 chopped mushroom
butter slices
sprinkled pepper
half a lemon
--top all on the slab of fish and wrap in tin foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350. you might want to try cheese on top afterwards. make sure the parsley doesn't take over.


otherwise...
chopped mushroom and potato pieces fried in butter with parsley while covered
then top with two eggs over easy or sunny side up and a slice of cheese or so

microwaved / baked potato with cheese and butter...

cans of vegetables boiled in their own juices, then drained and fried with butter.

no fruits or fruit juices, too acidic.
no sodas, especially colas. (some sodas may be okay, but i've had alot of super bad experiences with some to where im not willing to test which ones are good)

simple bread can be good to start the day and get the stomach in the mood again...

and of course soups of choice, funny how when your sick you can become sensitive to *** poison food? surprising how much you thought was ok and healthy turns out to feel like lead in a weak stomach.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Hi, I am writing on behalf of my sixteen year old son whose was diagnosed wtih Crohns in 2002. His symptom are fairly mild at the moment but he is going through a variety of drug treatments for the past 6 years which seem to have limited effect in terms of reducing his inflammation to any huge extent. His not growing and has started to lose a bit of weight , which he can ill afford. Has now become very sensitive to smells and it is proving very difficult to get him to eat anything . Every meal time is a bit of nightmare. He nibbles at thiings and then just flatly refuses to eat t hem .We have done as much as wee can to vary the foods and give him the things he can eat but he doesn't even eat the latter in sufficient quantities to keep going without losing even more weight. We are very worried and I wonder is the 'food' thing now becoming a psychological thing. Has anyone else come across this?

 Reply posted for Pam.

i know what you mean. i don't know how many times i've gone out with friends and had to settle for soup, a baked potato, or if i'm a little better, grilled chicken breast.  yeah, and mushy veggies.

at home it's sometimes tough to fix something both my hubby and i can eat, but often he'll fix his own veggies, which are more crunchy than mine. if i'm having a bad day, i'll go the nutritional shake route. for snacks, those juice-based popsicles aren't bad, at least it's almost like having something to chew. but i can't handle roughage during a flare-up, and i know to stay away from fried foods.

i have trouble with soy products, even soy drinks, it just lies in my stomach like lead for hours, don't know why. i'm able to handle low-fat dairy, and i like yogurt. that dannon activia is pretty good.

 Reply posted for stayceladybug.

Well considering that I am in a bad flare right now and having a CT Scan on Monday to see if I have yet another abscess, I am in the same boat. My diet consists of boost/ensure 2-3 times a day. I eat tuna in the package in water, with low fat mayo for lunch, and some type of broiled fished for dinner. I can tolerate green beans that are well cooked. Mash potatoes kill me, milk products are the devil. If I eat a baked chicken breast - it hurts really bad. Although I ate one yesterday and did fine so this one is toss up. My body is not my enemy and I keep telling myself this.  So ----hang in there, I have faith that this thing will get better. I am currently on 20mg Prednisone once a day. I have to pickup a prescription for levoquin tonight. Since I have a CT Scan on monday and I am allergic to iodine (shellfish), I have to take a crazy amount of prednisone on sunday along with Cimtedine (sp?) and benadryl. That will be fun.

 Reply posted for Jackie1980.

Thank you very much for that info.  I will definitely check out that book.  Sounds like it would be great especially since the author has crohn's.  Thanks again! 

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Hi! I totally understand what you mean.... it is like what can i have to eat? i kid you not for almost 2 months straight during the holidays last year i just ate mashed potatoes and jello. A friend of mine who was diagnosed with crohns and colitis gave me the book called The Makers Diet.... you must get it! it really makes you feel less crazy because the author has crohns disease and his recipes are really good. Ty it out,,, i did, and if you dont like it, it only costs about 20.00. But for me, potatoes are my thing as well as yogurt and cereal...lol.... Wish you the best! and remember to always keep a smile on your face! :) You are not going through this alone... there are alot of us.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

hi there I wanted to put some input on this. My doc recently told me that each person is different on what thier limits are, but I found that some dairy products really tear me up along with breads and some other foods. The only way to know is to try.

If you have trouble try those meal supplement shakes, they seem to help me on those days when I really get fed up with trying to sift through the dining menu here at work.

One thing that I found that seems to hit the snack spot is yogurt. My doc showed me this big long report study about this but seems to work for me. I'll try to dig up the report and share it with you if you're interested

 Reply posted for snxb05.

When I'm at home, I bake chicken or fish or sometimes skip the meat.  For sides, I fix mashed potatoes, or steamed veggies (very soft).  As far as veggies go, I can only tolerate green beans, potatoes, squash, and zucchini (steamed or grilled).  I rarely eat bread, and if I do, I eat white and leave off the butter.  I use salt sparingly, and NO black pepper.

Out to eat, I only go to restaurants with baked chicken or fish or sushi on the menu.  I've found that most places have some variation on this.  I simply order it to suit me.  If they serve, for example, peppercorn-encrusted talapia, ask for it without the peppercorn.  I havent been anywhere that wasnt accomodating.

I have a mile long list of foods that hurt me, but my top ones are caffiene, dairy, red meat, fried foods, tomato-based anything, and any roughage.

An energizing trick I've found (my dietician recommended it) is to work in eight ounces of soy milk with a packet of Carnation instant breakfast at a couple of snack times a day.  That way, I satisfy my hunger, take in some protein and vitamins, and my stomach isn't affected at all.

For a splurge, try pizza without sauce if you can tolerate the cheese.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Good Question!!  I wish there was an answer!  They used to say it didn't make a difference what a diabetic ate-now there are rows and rows of cookbooks for diabetic eating.    In my search to answer this question, I have read book for diets that are anti-inflammatory:  non-farm raised fish four times a week, low turkey consumption, low tropical fruit consumption, vegan: only one site talks about this and I am not ready to go there for my son yet, because every other site says Crohn's patients need more protein (I know, vegans do get protein but I need more info.), then there is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet--it is worth a read.  The book itself did not convince me, the reviews on Amazon did.  We have altered the diet for us--we are just learning as we go.  The best part about the diet is making one realize how much processed food they consume and replacing that with more wholesome foods.  If you are having diarrhea, you would have to start with the beginning diet-not the full on SCD.

I h ave gone on long enough.  Does anyone else have input onthis???

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Okay, I feel your pain literally!! I to have days where I look at what I can't eat, it is when out running around with friends. They look at me and I say give me a baked potato. It is the truth I don't test my limits any more. My doctor put me on prescription Immodium and have accepted that because its better than 8 immodium that take longer to kick in. My boyfriend, family & friends laugh when we go out to eat and I say can smell your food. Humor is my best defense. I have been diagnosed for 9 years. I just look forward to those good days and put on the best happy face I can.

Back to your question. My mother & I have discussed at length food. One conclusion is watch preservatives!! Make your own foods even though prepared foods are easier and faster. Stay away from fiber, fried foods (even donuts). Starches - pasta, breads etc.; mild spices, mexican; I have problems with Italian; anything with seeds-evil; meats-I can't eat beef, i eat ground turkey or chicken, some pork chops; restaurants don't be embarrassed to ask for it to be prepared a certain way. The other thing I have been told & found smaller meals or snacks more often (which is hard to do). Drink lots, less caffeine, (i don't drink caffienated soda only iced tea, no coffee), water, etc.; boost or ensure if you can tolerate it. Try a supplement live bacteria VSL#3 (found at Costco-check with your doctor-pour powder in food). Soups on a bad day. Mac&Cheese.

The thing is food is not necessarily our friend but a necessity to keep going. Keep your head up, laugh a lot. Find a way to say oh well. Look for that one food you can eat over and over again no mater how bad it is for you but you can tolerate! (Mine is cheese quesadilas or cheese crisps.) Blessings - hope this helps some - Take care

 Reply posted for stayceladybug.

Thank you for the information...I will definitely check it out.

 Reply posted for snxb05.

Diet helps me alot.  i honestly should be better at what i eat.  there are a number of good books on this on amazon and a few good cook books for CD.  i looked under Crohns Disease and Crohns disease cook books.  hope they help.