Best Foods to Eat During a Crohn's Flare - The Lifestyle Dietitian (2024)

FAQs

What foods are good for Crohn's flare-up? ›

Your body uses more protein than usual if you are in a flare-up. So you might want to try protein-rich foods like eggs, dairy, meat, fish, pulses, beans, or nut butters. Eat fibre that is easy to digest, like well-cooked, peeled vegetables, bananas, melons, or fruit juice.

Calming techniques like deep breathing or meditation may help you relax. Make sure you get enough exercise and sleep, too. And set limits on how much you take on. That way, you won't have too much to do when a flare hits and you don't feel well.

Foods to increase in your diet include:

Fruits: bananas, raspberries, applesauce, blended fruit. Vegetables: squashes, fork-tender cooked carrots, green beans. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids: fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc.), walnut butter, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, flaxseed meal.

For that reason, maintaining adequate protein intake is crucial to help your body bounce back. Fatty meats such as high fat red meat, fried meats, oily/greasy proteins may worsen symptoms during active disease. Instead, stock up on skinless, white-meat chicken or turkey; eggs; fish; and tofu.

Like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). During a flare-up, a person may benefit from eating soft, bland, sufficiently nutritious foods. It may also be best to avoid foods that trigger inflammation.

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes swelling of the tissues (inflammation) in your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.

Eating foods that are low in fiber and high in protein may help you stay full and well-nourished during a Crohn's flare-up. These may include eggs, chicken, tofu, white bread, bananas, some nut butters, and yogurt, among others. If you notice that a particular food triggers symptoms, remove it from your diet.

Fruits and vegetables

If raw fruits make your flare-ups worse, try applesauce and bananas. Both are good for you and can fulfill a craving for sweets. In addition to these, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation recommends raspberries, squashes, green beans, and cooked and blended fruits and vegetables.

No matter where the fat deposits come from, maintaining a low-calorie, low-fat diet will help eliminate some of them and lessen Crohn's disease symptoms. Eat a lot of leafy greens, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats to help prevent fat storage. Consume seafood and lean meat instead of fatty meat.

What are the 10 worst foods for inflammation? ›

Avocados are packed with B vitamins, vitamin E, and potassium. They're also one of the only fruits that contain digestion-friendly soluble fiber along with the insoluble type. Consuming avocado is good news for someone with Crohn's, as it's an easily digestible, good-for-you fruit loaded with vitamins.

Anti-inflammatory foods

green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards. nuts like almonds and walnuts. fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines. fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges.

Cooked vegetables: Well-cooked vegetables such as green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes without skin, steamed asparagus tips and pureed squash. Use fresh or frozen. Canned or soft fruits: Peeled apples, ripe bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, and canned fruit in fruit juice or light syrup.

Water: In addition to its importance for digestion, research indicates warm water may aid gut bacteria. Herbal and spiced teas: This includes peppermint tea, turmeric tea, ginger tea, and fennel tea. The herbs and spices in the tea can reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of digestive distress.

Daily Meal Planning Tips from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Eat four to six small meals daily. Stay hydrated — drink enough to keep your urine light yellow to clear — with water, broth, and tomato juice.

Raw or unpeeled veggies aren't a good choice. Whether you're using them for dip or in a salad, these tough, fiber-rich plant foods can make you poop even more. They could make a Crohn's flare feel worse. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage can also cause gas.