If you or someone you know has Crohn's Disease, you are familiar with the challenge of this frustrating, life-altering condition. Crohn's Disease can cause you to know where every restroom in your city is located, discourage you from eating at restaurants or at parties and even keep you from leaving your home. The negative effects of Crohn's Disease can often be lessened by altering your diet and reducing stress.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Crohn's Disease are varied and range from mild to severe. They include abdominal pain, intestinal cramping, frequent diarrhea that doesn't respond to over-the-counter medicines, blood in the stool, ongoing fever, loss of appetite and unplanned weight loss.
Causes
There is no known cause of Crohn's Disease. It does appear to strike people in urban and industrialized areas and usually begins in childhood. Some researchers believe it is the body's immune system mistakenly fighting off the helpful bacteria in your digestive system. Others propose the cause to be environmental. The medical community agrees that there is a genetic component, since your risk of Crohn's disease is much greater if other family members have this condition.
Alter Your Diet
Though the cause of Crohn's Disease is uncertain, what you eat and how much stress you experience does make a difference. Though there are no specific dietary guidelines for people living with Crohn's Disease, there are several food groups you can watch out for. Keep a food journal and note which types of foods aggravate your condition. Try eating small meals four or five times a day and be sure to drink plenty of water.
Because certain food groups may be hard to digest, try to limit or modify the following foods:
Foods high in fiber:
Raw fruits and vegetables and whole grains may cause gas and irritation of your digestive tract. Foods that produce large amounts of gas---like broccoli, cabbage and beans---may be especially troubling. Take note of which of these you can eat in raw form and if you find that some of these foods cause gas, abdominal pain, or cramping, try modifying them by baking, steaming, or stewing them.
Fried and fatty foods:
Foods like butter, creamy sauces or soups and foods that are fried may not be properly digested if you have Crohn's Disease. These could increase the frequency and severity of diarrheal symptoms.
Dairy products:
Many people have problems digesting the sugars in milk products and people with Crohn's Disease can be even more negatively affected. Cutting out dairy products, finding alternatives or using an over-the-counter digestive aid like Lactaid may help.
Other Problem Foods:
Other foods and beverages to monitor include alcohol, coffee, citrus fruits, chocolate, spicy foods, and foods and drinks high in acidity or containing caffeine.
If you find that these restrictions leaves you with little to eat, talk to your doctor about recommending a nutritionist.
Reduce Stress
Since stress can exacerbate the symptoms of Crohn's Disease, activities that reduce stress are likely to alleviate your discomfort. Exercise, relaxation techniques (like yoga, meditation or biofeedback), and regular, restful sleep can help decrease flare-ups.
Other Treatments
Medical treatments for Crohn's Disease range from anti-inflammatory drugs to surgery. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, immune system suppressants, nutritional supplements, pain medications, laxatives or anti-diarrhea medications, depending on the type and severity of your symptoms. If your digestive tract has been damaged by scar tissue, your doctor may remove a section of your bowel and join healthier sections together.
Because traditional medical treatments are often costly, ineffective, and produce unwanted side effects, some people living with Crohn's Disease prefer to seek alternative treatments. These treatments include the use of fish oil, acupuncture, probiotics and herbal remedies.
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