For those suffering from Crohn’s disease, it’s not always easy to know what type of foods can fill the body in the best possible manner. Since Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, one should carefully choose what to eat and drink. So, to ensure that the food one chooses doesn’t worsen the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, we have listed some of the important food items one should avoid at all costs.

Foods that worsen Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease causes digestive tract inflammation and uncomfortable symptoms, including long-term conditions like malnutrition. And to make matters worse, certain meal habits can majorly impact and worsen the symptoms. Here are some foods to avoid for those with Crohn’s disease:

Dairy products

Those with Crohn’s disease are usually lactose intolerant. And having this issue means that the body cannot digest milk, cheese, and other dairy products. Hence, one may suffer from symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. Instead, one can try to fulfill their nutritional needs through fortified juices, leafy green vegetables, supplements, and cereals.

Spicy foods

When one experiences a Crohn’s disease flare-up, having spicy foods can lead to more pain. So it’s crucial to identify what spices are tolerated by the body. For instance, if one finds red chilies irritating, mild herbs can be used for seasoning instead.

Greasy and fried foods

Those with Crohn’s disease don’t have the ability to absorb the fat in foods like french fries, fried chicken, and heavy sauces inside their small intestines. As a result, symptoms like loose stools or stomach cramps occur. Hence, instead of choosing fried or greasy foods, have baked, steamed, or broiled foods. Avoiding junk foods altogether is the best step to take.

High-fiber foods

Even though high-fiber foods like fruits, whole grains, and vegetables are beneficial for the human body, the opposite is true for people suffering from Crohn’s disease. So, if one is experiencing a flare-up, they should try refined pasta and bread instead. Refined food items are better tolerated by the body than their high-fiber content counterparts, especially when suffering from Crohn’s disease.

Nuts and seeds

Usually, nuts and seeds in their raw form can prove to be a great source of healthy fats and protein. However, they’re also difficult to digest, which can be challenging for someone suffering from Crohn’s disease flare-up. Instead, it’s recommended that one opts for peanut butter rather than raw nuts. Furthermore, it’s suggested that one avoids food items with lots of seeds, such as strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, flax, and chia seeds.

Popcorn

Most people fail to realize that popcorn is a type of whole grain, which can be difficult to break down in the body, especially if one suffers from Crohn’s disease. Owing to that issue, one may end up experiencing uncomfortable symptoms like stomach cramps and aches. Thus, it’s recommended that one has pretzels instead because they’re low in fiber and fat content.

Sweetened, caffeinated, and carbonated beverages

Doctors recommend that those with Crohn’s avoid caffeinated, highly sweetened, or carbonated beverages. These beverages are known to aggravate flare-ups to a concerning degree. Highly sugar-content beverages will worsen the diarrhea patients suffering from Crohn’s disease usually experience during a flare-up. Additionally, caffeine stimulates the bowels, which also worsens the diarrhea condition. Hence, reducing caffeine intake to a max of one cup of coffee per day makes sense.

One should critically consider that Crohn’s disease symptoms depend on what one eats and how one cooks and processes meals. Fatty and fried foods will always tend to cause flare-ups, so it’s recommended that one opts for broiled or baked items instead. Furthermore, digestion of fats becomes difficult when one suffers from Crohn’s disease, leading to worsened symptoms like diarrhea.