The best foods for Crohn’s disease

For those who suffer from Crohn’s disease – a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system – it can be difficult to determine the right foods that will be easy on your digestion.

Some foods are much harder than others to digest, but adding to the complication is that the symptoms of Crohn’s vary from person to person. Studies have not identified a specific food or drink that directly causes flare-ups or induces remission, and there is no set diet plan to cater for all Crohn’s symptoms.

In order to better cope with Crohn’s, there are a number of foods that can help you stay well-nourished without aggravating symptoms.

See below for a guide on the best foods that are considered beneficial for people suffering from Crohn’s disease:

Best foods

• vegetable soups are nutritious and easy to digest

• seeds

• milk alternatives such as soya, almond or rice milk

• white fish is a good source of protein and easy to digest

• eggs can be scrambled, boiled, or soft cooked and provide a good source of easily digested protein

• oatmeal has soluble fibre, which absorbs water and passes more slowly through the digestive system

• white meats such as chicken and turkey

• avocados

• rice

• smooth nut butters.

Triggers

• high-fibre foods such as vegetables, whole-grains and fruits

• dairy products

• ‘gassy foods’ such as beans, cabbage, sprouts, spicy foods and anything containing caffeine.

It is important to remember that while the consumption of trigger foods should be limited, they should not be completely cut from your diet. To maintain good nutrition, a balanced diet is key, and it is best to eat little and often to ensure your digestion is as comfortable as possible. Crohn’s sufferers are particularly at risk of nutrient deficiencies, so try to make all meals as nutrient dense as possible.

Finding the right foods for your individual condition is all about trial and error, so keep a food diary to identify which foods trigger symptoms so you can avoid them in the future.