Those suffering from Crohn’s disease exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. The condition is chronic, and symptoms are regular and persistent.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are together known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD. IBD causes inflammation of the intestine lining, which leads to diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
Usually, drugs that are prescribed for this condition come with a ton of side effects. Crohn’s can alter your daily life negatively in many ways, and it can even have life threatening complications. Luckily, this disease can be easily managed just by a few simple diet and lifestyle changes.
What to eat when you have Crohn’s?
- Avoid spicy and fried food, as well as pasta and white bread. Sodas, alcohol, and caffeine should also be avoided. Corn and oat grains and cereal can also increase Crohn’s symptoms, so avoid those, as well as pork meat, yeast, and onions.
- Try to eat equal amounts of clean protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates in forms of fruit and vegetables.
- Limit your intake of dairy, as it increases Crohn’s symptoms such as diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain.
- When eating veggies, make sure their fiber content isn’t too high. When possible eat them cooked, and not in large amounts. Most people suffering from Crohn’s have problems with cabbage, broccoli, and similar vegetables, so try to avoid those.
- Keep a food diary in which you’ll note what food sooths you, and what types of food increase your symptoms.
- More probiotics should be introduced to your diet. You can get a prescription from your doctor, or you can get probiotics the natural way. Asparagus, bananas, and honey are all recommended for this purpose. The important thing to note is that probiotics are a type of fiber, so be careful with how much you take.
- Smaller meals are your best friend. By eating smaller meals you’ll put less stress on your digestive system, and this will reduce the symptoms significantly. Rather than having 2-3 meals a day, have 5-6 small ones.
- Drink plenty of water, as you can get dehydrated due to diarrhea. Herbal tea with no caffeine, bone broth, and kambucha are also recommended
Supplements for Crohn’s
- Probiotics have already been mentioned, but their effect on your immune system and the ability to improve digestion and mineral absorption are worth another mention.
- Slippery elm is a herbal remedy and it promotes healing. It also protects irritated tissue. When consumed it coats your mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, and it sooths Crohn’s flare ups.
- Omega 3 acids are found in fish oil, and they fight inflammation.
- Glutamine is an amino acid and it helps intestinal function. Best taken on an empty stomach.
- Multivitamins are also recommended, due to Crohn’s disease interference with your body’s vitamin and mineral absorption. Don’t just take any multivitamin, make sure it doesn’t contain harmful elements. One of the bad ones is Centrum vitamins.
Essential oils to use for Crohn’s
- Lemongrass oil helps reduce pain from irritation. It has anti-inflammatory properties and therefore is a great addition to your Crohn’s fighting arsenal.
- Frankincense oil increases the secretion of enzymes needed for digestion. It also relaxes the muscles of digestive tract and improves circulation.
Lifestyle changes also need to be made in order to reduce Crohn’s disease symptoms. Regular exercise and stress reduction are some of the main factors in managing the illness and reducing its symptoms. Make sure you get at least 30-60 minutes of exercise, and schedule some “me time” for every day of the week.
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