Crohn’s disease affects everyone differently, which means there are no hard-and-fast rules about what foods to eat or avoid. The best way to shore up your Crohn’s diet is by evaluating your own experience with certain foods.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295eca3623-42bd-4dca-9d51-6036b3cb1971 To identify foods that can trigger your Crohn’s symptoms , keep track of your meals in a food diary and then start eliminating the ones you can’t tolerate. Next, find nutrient-rich foods that you can digest easily.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290909d441-2928-4c78-8a83-d3f32360c59e Looking for suggestions? Consider these 10 easy-to-digest foods for Crohn’s disease.
Oatmeal Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber , a type of fiber that dissolves in water. Eating oatmeal may help reduce diarrhea by absorbing water in the gut and delaying emptying of the intestines, says Keren Gilbert, RD , founder and president of Decision Nutrition. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, can irritate the intestines.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298bce4ed8-8da0-4078-81ba-31b10687df20 Found in some vegetables, wheat bran, and nuts and seeds, insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It is more difficult to digest because it goes through the body faster and may mean frequent visits to the bathroom .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762923de12cf-a3d8-4f40-a6c3-18b281fab1f1 Oatmeal
Salmon Fillets “Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids , which help reduce inflammation,” Gilbert says. This fatty fish also contains potassium , which helps your body maintain fluid balance when you have a flare, she adds. Salmon is also easy to make and can be prepared in a variety of ways, including broiled, poached, grilled, or baked. Just be mindful when adding sauces that may contain ingredients that can cause irritation, such as sugar or certain spices.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d49f1e3a-80ad-44bd-97db-f4babbf94ffd Salmon Fillets
Mashed Potatoes Another good source of potassium ? Potatoes . Mashed potatoes may be an easy food to introduce during or after a flare.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629047c4040-9cfc-47a3-a119-917531b1787c You can also try baking or boiling potatoes, but make sure you avoid the skins, which are more difficult to digest because they contain insoluble fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298a14a1df-68ce-480f-ad98-2ba08075674f Try pairing skinless potatoes with salmon for dinner. Mashed Potatoes
Avocados Avocados are filled with healthy fat , B vitamins, and vitamin E, Gilbert says. They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they can aid in digestion.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e4c554d7-1f73-4563-8858-768f96c26a99e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762925326dbc-0fca-43fb-92a0-d88f45e5214d To prepare, cut the fruit in half lengthwise and twist the two halves apart. Remove the pit, score the fruit, scoop the avocado out of the skin, and cut into slices. Top white bread or fat-free saltine crackers with the avocado slices.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762970c65b1c-0698-4c83-8301-2827b2c97a06 Avocados
Fresh Vegetable Juices Vegetables are an important source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. But many vegetables, especially raw vegetables, have insoluble fiber, which makes them difficult to digest.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e8eecd06-54ce-4289-84f2-70891d73302e You can still get most of the nutritional benefits of veggies by making fresh vegetable juice at home, Gilbert says. The tough, indigestible fiber is removed, but the vitamins and minerals remain.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296da409b7-1ac4-481f-8771-11400c8cdfb7 Try juicing carrots, beets, apples, leafy greens, and other fresh produce. Fresh Vegetable Juices
Smoothies With Pineapple Juice Smoothies are another great way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables. Unlike juices, which are liquid extractions of fruits and vegetables, smoothies are made using the whole fruit. To make a smoothie, opt for fleshy fruits likes papaya and bananas.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762979b8ac86-81f9-41b5-a22b-7e2c1dc69596 Gilbert also recommends adding pineapple juice; the fruit contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes that digest protein, which has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d8bbde35-12d0-4108-b118-7de322109206 Smoothies With Pineapple Juice
Eggs When you have inflammation or are recovering from a flare , you may need extra protein.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299e7348f8-848b-4b0c-8456-d2c2a1ffe5ce Animal proteins contain amino acids , which are used by the body to perform a number of functions, including making hormones, repairing tissue, and supporting the immune system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291062d09d-9252-4378-aef9-41a79e23f8b4 Gilbert recommends eggs because they’re an easily digested form of protein.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a9f7b620-2de4-4676-99e2-4f442ca0f537 Eggs can be prepared many ways — poached, scrambled, boiled — and unless you’re adding extra ingredients to the pan, any of these methods should be easy on your gut. Experiment until you find what you like, she says. Eggs
Chicken Breasts Another good protein choice is skinless chicken. Other proteins, such as red meat, are higher in linoleic acid, a hard-to-digest type of fat, and can increase inflammation and make symptoms worse.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d3faf17-17e2-499d-91a5-758a4dc9784f When preparing chicken, be mindful of marinades that may have spices or sugars that can cause uncomfortable symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297ee04ad2-346a-4689-a31f-d3f30720fb0f Portion size is also important. A standard portion size for chicken is 3 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762915b3bd4e-b446-4c7e-b84c-280b3dc5f2a2 Chicken Breasts
Yogurt Calcium deficiency is a common concern for people with Crohn’s disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762992e8fb48-b441-4cf0-b7e4-db40c6bf7d8b To meet the recommended daily value (about 1,000 milligrams for most adults), aim to eat several servings of calcium-rich foods like yogurt, milk, and cheese.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629825bfb59-0456-4f45-8411-2c381962bd49 If you can’t tolerate lactose, nondairy sources of calcium include leafy greens, fortified orange juice and plant-based milks, and tofu.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298c3a670e-c553-4fd9-9f87-8e3d1b16e9c6 Other nondairy sources of calcium include beans, nuts, and seeds; however, these foods may trigger uncomfortable symptoms. Consider avoiding these foods during a flare.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629157df968-54fd-4fb1-995d-1d7eb9cc3e5a If you can tolerate lactose-containing dairy, Gilbert recommends live-culture yogurt. It has the added benefit of probiotics , or good bacteria, which can aid in the recovery of the intestines. Yogurt
Baked Apples Sometimes you just want something sweet. Baked apples make for a healthy dessert while providing an easier-to-digest source of fiber when prepared without the skins. Once apples are peeled, the remaining fiber is soluble, so it is gentler on your digestive system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762996381e50-4edf-4272-b087-7c49c37f24d4 Raw fruits can be difficult to digest, Gilbert says, but peeling the skin and baking or cooking the fruit makes them softer. Unsweetened applesauce is another good option. Baked Apples
The Takeaway Foods that are high in soluble fiber, such as oatmeal, tend to be gentler on the digestive system than insoluble fiber. They absorb water and may take longer to process, reducing the risk of diarrhea. To soothe a flare, consume foods that are high in other minerals and nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, and protein, in addition to soluble fiber. Removing the skins from certain fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes and apples, can make them easier to digest. Skins are typically high in insoluble fiber, which can trigger uncomfortable symptoms. Changing the texture of raw fruits and vegetables, such as blending them into a juice or smoothie, can remove the insoluble fiber while preserving the important vitamins and minerals.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: A Nutritional Plan for Anyone Living With Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative ColitisMayo Clinic: Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy DietCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Gut Friendly RecipesCrohn’s and Colitis Canada: Eating and Drinking With IBDCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Managing Flares and IBD Symptoms
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