Crohns_Diet_Food-Facts_2023

Your flares and what you eat may go hand-in-hand. So, to help set you on a good path forward when it comes to managing your symptoms, here are a few fast facts.

• Some foods or drinks can irritate Crohn’s disease symptoms, so it’s important to learn which foods are irritants and alter your diet as needed. For instance, a lot of people living with Crohn’s disease find that eating insoluble fiber, high-fat foods, and certain seeds or nuts can make symptoms worse
• Soluble fiber found in oatmeal, legumes, fruits and veggies, and certain other foods can help with digestion and reduce diarrhea
• Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, nuts, some green veggies, and certain other foods can also help. Ask your doctor which good fatty foods are better for you
• Highly processed and high-fat meats can be hard to digest during a flare
• Supplements and vitamins like curcumin (for inflammation) and vitamin D may be recommended for you as part of a specific dietary plan

Food labels have a lot of important information that can help when it comes to making good diet choices. You just have to know what to look for—here are some tips that can help:

• Check the serving size—if you plan to eat more or less than the serving size, you’ll need to adjust the food label information accordingly by multiplying or dividing based on the amount you will eat
• Check the total amount of calories—make sure the number of calories, based on the serving size you will eat, fits into your daily nutrition plan
• Review the macronutrients—take a look at the macronutrients (number of carbs, fiber, proteins, fats) to make sure you’re getting enough and not too much
• Review the micronutrients—check the number of essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to be sure you aren’t getting too much or too little
• Use the Percent Daily Value as a guide—quickly identify foods and beverages that have high or low amounts of specific nutrients to make sure you’re meeting your nutritional needs. For example, macronutrient percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The percentages on a label can help you identify if you are choosing foods high or low in a particular nutrient, like this:
  • 5% Daily Value or less is low
  • 20% Daily Value or more is high
• Look at the amount of fats—there are different types of fats, and some are better than others. Talk to your doctor about which fats are right for you
• Look at the amount of fiber—foods that are rich in fiber are good for gut and heart health. Talk to your doctor about the types and amount of fiber that are right for you

The food and beverages we consume are broken down into two categories, macronutrients and micronutrients. We need larger amounts of daily macronutrients for things like energy, muscle building, and healthy cells. Smaller amounts of daily micronutrients are used for things like processing energy, growing, and overall health. Let’s break down what these nutrients look like and why they are important:

Macronutrients (larger amounts)

• Carbohydrates
  Carbohydrates are the body’s primary sources of energy and fuel.
• Fiber
  Fiber is a carbohydrate that can be soluble (can dissolve in water) or insoluble.
  • Soluble fiber: good for gut health and can slow down movement through the bowel (can help with symptoms like diarrhea)
  • Insoluble fiber: can be found in fruit and veggie skins and moves food more quickly through the bowel
• Proteins
  Proteins help the body make muscles, bones, cells, enzymes, and hormones.
• Fats
  Fats are a more concentrated fuel source for the body.

Micronutrients (smaller amounts)

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that the body gets from the food and beverages we consume. They are required in relatively small amounts for normal growth, development, and functioning. To get enough of the nutrients needed, make sure you include a variety of foods in your diet.

People with Crohn’s disease are at a high risk for malnutrition. This is due to the frequency of symptoms that can cause the body to lose essential nutrients and vitamins. The other common symptoms like abdominal pain and nausea can lead to people eating less than they should and therefore not getting the proper daily nutrients they need.

Signs of malnourishment

It’s so important for you to make sure you’re getting the proper daily intake of macro- and micronutrients to avoid becoming malnourished. Here are some signs of malnourishment to look out for:

• Undereating/severely restricting the variety and types of food you eat
• Weight loss
• Fatigue or low energy
• Weakness
• Loss of muscle mass
• Vitamin and mineral deficiency