DR. WALKER

Chron Disease Self Care

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel condition that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive track which can lead to severe diarrhea, weight loss and malnutrition. Crohn’s is considered to be an autoimmune disorder which essentially means that the persons own immune system inadvertently attacks healthy tissues. It is considered to be a progressive disorder that may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease:

Diarrhea.
Abdominal pain and cramping.
Bloody stools.
Mouth sores.
Weight loss.
Fatigue and anemia.

How is Crohn’s diagnosed?

The work up for Crohn’s disease involves a complete physical examination. Physical examination however may be completely normal. There are however several diagnostic tests that may be used to help the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Sometimes CT imaging of the belly or colonoscopy may be utilized.

What makes Crohn’s disease worse?

Cigarette smoking is not a cause for Crohn’s disease but smoking can lead to more severe disease. Additionally, NSAIDs/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication‘s such as Advil, naproxen, and Motrin may also lead to inflammation, worsening the condition.

Crohn’s friendly foods:

Lean protein such as salmon and other fatty fish tend to be a significant importance in a Crohn’s diet, partly due to high omega-3 fatty acids. Other seafood to include flounder or shrimp are usually well tolerated. Foods such as avocado is usually beneficial due to high concentration of vitamin E and vitamin B as well as other “good fats.” Additionally, avocados tend to have high soluble fiber content.
Be certain also to increase things like ginger, turmeric, green onions, cumin, and fresh herbs. Additionally, depending on the degree of inflammation, Crohn’s patients may be low on vitamin D, B12, and other fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, E, and K).
Lean protein like turkey and chicken may be tolerated with limited consumption when baked or grilled.

Foods to avoid with Crohn’s:

Raw vegetable and nuts tend to pull water into the gut and could result in worsening diarrhea and belly pain. Additionally, dairy/milk is considered a potential trigger for Crohn’s symptoms. A decent alternative would include unsweetened almond milk which also contains vitamin D and vitamin E. Other milk consideration would include flax or coconut milk. Lastly, fruits have several health benefits but tend to pose a problem for patients with Crohn’s disease due to its high insoluble fiber content. Dark leafy vegetables, whole wheat products and gluten also tend to be problematic.
Other things to exclude from diet would include red meats, sausages, and dark meat poultry. Beverages to avoid or include black tea, coffee, and sodas. Also consider reducing intake of black pepper, cayenne pepper, jalapeños, garlic, white/red onions and paprika.

References:

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