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Crohn's DiseaseTaking Control of Crohn’s
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8 Foods to Cut Back On or Cut Out to Help You Manage Crohn’s Disease

If you know your food triggers, you can gain more control over your symptoms.
By
Madeline R. Vann, MPH, LPC
Updated on October 5, 2023
by
Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

Next up video playing in 10 seconds

8 Foods to Cut Back On or Cut Out to Help You Manage Crohn’s Disease

Learn how to manage Crohn's disease symptoms with smart dietary choices in this simple and straightforward way.

There’s still a lot doctors don’t know about how a person’s diet affects their Crohn’s disease. What is known, though, is that certain foods — for example, those containing dairy, high amounts of fat, or fiber — may worsen symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, urgent bowel movements, loss of appetite, and weight loss, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Although there is no single diet to alleviate Crohn’s symptoms, cutting out (or back on) certain foods — like the ones on this list — could help you get some relief.

Once you take out a few foods, remember to add a few in. By only cutting out certain foods, you risk running low on essential nutrients that can help support your immune system and prevent disease.

Don’t assume you have to cut out all produce, for example. “People often cut out fruit and vegetables, or nuts and seeds, thinking they can’t eat them at all, when the answer could be to change the textures of these foods so they can be easily digested,” says Barbara Olendzki, MPH, RD, an associate professor of medicine and the director of the Center for Applied Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester.

Below are eight tips to guide you through making the healthiest food choices that won’t irritate your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Just be sure to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor or dietitian first.

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Pick Lean Cuts of Meat

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Liudmila Chernetska/iStock

People with Crohn’s disease may experience an immune response to certain compounds in pork and beef that can contribute to symptoms, says Devinder Kumar, PhD, a professor of GI surgery at St. George’s University in London.

In research published in 2016, Dr. Kumar and his colleagues reviewed the effects of diet on Crohn’s disease. They found that although people with Crohn’s disease did not have an allergy to eating pork or beef, they did have a hypersensitivity to these foods.

If you choose to include meat in your diet, eating cuts of meat that are leaner and low in saturated fat could provide higher protein content without all the inflammation caused by saturated fat, says Olendzki.

Because red meats are also harder to digest and break down, she recommends choosing other types of protein, such as fish, bison, and elk, which have more beneficial fats versus inflammatory fats.

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Ditch the Dairy for Other Sources of Calcium

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Esin Deniz/iStock

Inflammation in the gut can damage certain cells that produce lactase — an enzyme that helps you digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products, according to a review published in 2023 in Nutrients.

Make sure you look for other sources of calcium and vitamin D: soy, almond or rice milk; tofu fortified with calcium and vitamin D; canned sardines; and greens, such as turnips, kale, and collard greens. If you follow a lactose-free diet, yogurt, kefir, and some hard cheeses contain very little lactose and provide beneficial probiotic cultures, according to Olendzki.

“The idea is to nourish the patient while also catering to their tastes,” she says.

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Opt for Foods That Are Packed With Healthy Fats

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Helen Rushbrook/Stocksy

Fried foods and high-fat meals with large amounts of cream, butter, or oil can aggravate Crohn’s symptoms, causing abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. One reason for this may be that the fats in these foods are often not fully absorbed in the small intestine.

Instead, stick to healthier sources of fat, such as monounsaturated fats — olive, canola, or safflower oil, peanut butter, nuts, and olives, for example — according to Angel Planells, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who is based in Seattle.

“I don’t like to use the words ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ but instead use ‘better,’ in that they promote heart health,” he says. He also recommends polyunsaturated fats, which are found in fatty fish, soy milk, and tofu.

Aim for foods with omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, and ground flaxseed, which help regulate inflammation at the cellular level.

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Be Choosy With Your Fiber Intake

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Getty Images

Although fiber is an important fuel source for the healthy bacteria living in the GI tract, high-fiber foods can be difficult for many people with Crohn’s disease to digest.

For some people with Crohn’s, eating foods high in insoluble fiber (stems and seeds) can aggravate symptoms such as bloating, gas, and abdominal pain, Olendzki says, especially during a flare or if you have strictures (narrowing of the intestines).

To help your body digest fibrous foods during a flare, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recommends avoiding the skins of fruits and vegetables; raw produce, especially cruciferous vegetables (for example, broccoli and cauliflower) and fruits with seeds (raspberries); and high-fiber whole grains. Opt for low-fiber fruits, such as bananas and melons, instead. As for vegetables, you can steam them instead of eating them raw.

To avoid cutting out these nutritious foods entirely and make them easier to digest, Olendzki recommends pureeing them or making them into smoothies. Taking digestive enzymes before eating can also help prevent digestion problems, she adds.

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Try Creamier Forms of Nuts and Seeds

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iStock

Nuts and seeds are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, and fiber. But, for people with Crohn’s disease, the choice to eat nuts and seeds may not be so simple. Some seeds, such as popcorn kernels, can be difficult to digest. Nuts may also be problematic because of their fiber content, if you eat too many.

Olendzki recommends trying ground seeds and seed flours, such as flaxseed meal, which you can sprinkle on oatmeal or yogurt to add a bit of nutty flavor. She suggests trying small amounts first to see how well you tolerate it.

Opt for creamy nut butters — peanut, cashew, almond — which can be easier to digest, or try nut flours, such as almond or hazelnut flour, as a baking substitute for wheat-based flour, she adds.

1182

Pass Up Spicy Foods if You’re Experiencing Symptoms

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Marco Reggi/Stocksy

Tolerance of spiciness is highly individual, but many people with Crohn’s find it difficult to take the heat of some foods, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. If you find certain spices irritating during a Crohn’s flare, use mild herbs and a little bit of citrus juice, which can provide flavor in their place.

You can also try small amounts of each spice individually to see if it suits you, suggests Olendzki.

1183

Keep Caffeine and Booze to a Minimum

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Drinking caffeine or alcohol can aggravate Crohn’s symptoms. Wine usually contains sulfites, a food preservative, which many people are sensitive to, says Olendzki.

“For those not having a flare, a 6-ounce glass of wine for women, and up to 12 ounces for most men, could be fine.” But, she cautions that this depends on how well each person’s liver can detox the alcohol.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recommends avoiding caffeinated drinks — coffee, tea, energy drinks, sodas — and instead choosing noncaffeinated drinks, such as certain herbal teas or diluted, sugar-free flavored water. Some people with Crohn’s can tolerate coffee in small doses, such as a morning cup, though, so ruling out caffeine may not be necessary for everyone.

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Consume Healthy Sugar Alternatives in Moderation

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Removing almost all added sugar from your diet could improve Crohn’s disease symptoms, says David Suskind, MD, a gastroenterologist and cochairperson of the nutrition subcommittee at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Although researchers haven’t found a clear link between sugar and Crohn’s disease, Dr. Suskind says the benefit of cutting out sugary foods may be related to the fact that in doing so, people are also eliminating most processed foods, which tend to trigger Crohn’s disease symptoms.

Healthy alternatives to refined sugar include real maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, pureed fruit, or raw, organic honey. But, keep in mind that even with healthier sources of sugar, you shouldn’t consume more than the daily recommended amount.

Additional reporting by Linda Thrasybule.

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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

Medical Reviewer

Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

See full bio

Madeline R. Vann, MPH, LPC

Author

Madeline Vann, MPH, LPC, is a freelance health and medical writer located in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has been writing for over 15 years and can present complicated health topics at any reading level. Her writing has appeared in HealthDay, the Huffington Post, Costco Connection, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Huntsville Times, and numerous academic publications.

She received her bachelor's degree from Trinity University, and has a master of public health degree from Tulane University. Her areas of interest include diet, fitness, chronic and infectious diseases, oral health, biotechnology, cancer, positive psychology, caregiving, end-of-life issues, and the intersection between environmental health and individual health.

Outside of writing, Vann is a licensed professional counselor and specializes in treating military and first responders coping with grief, loss, trauma, and addiction/recovery. She is a trauma specialist at the Farley Center, where she provides workshops on trauma, grief, and distress tolerance coping skills. She regularly practices yoga, loves to cook, and can’t decide between a Mediterranean style diet and an Asian-fusion approach.

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