8 Foods to Avoid for Crohn’s Disease

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease vary from person to person. They may come and go, and sometimes certain foods can trigger worsened symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d764ce4f-afe0-4e30-88a1-976d61e430b1 Although no one diet can alleviate all Crohn’s symptoms, limiting or avoiding certain foods could help you get some relief. Be sure to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor or dietitian first. These eight foods are common triggers of Crohn’s symptoms.
Red, Processed, and Fatty Meats People with Crohn’s disease may be sensitive to certain compounds in pork and beef that can worsen symptoms, says Devinder Kumar, PhD , a professor of gastrointestinal surgery at St. George’s University in London.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294cb1a967-c6f5-4cbb-a176-ca6d3700eb20 If you include meat in your diet, choose lean cuts of meat that are low in saturated fat and provide high protein content without causing as much inflammation, 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, Massachusetts. Because red meat can be hard to digest, Olendzki recommends choosing fish, bison, elk and other types of protein that have more beneficial fats than inflammatory fats. Red, Processed, and Fatty Meats
Lactose-Containing Dairy Inflammation in the gut can make it harder to digest lactose , a sugar found in milk and other dairy products.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a9a9600f-df26-4d57-b756-90c266ab65fb If you limit or cut out dairy foods that contain lactose, look for other sources of calcium and vitamin D, which can include soy, almond, or fortified rice milk; calcium-set tofu; canned sardines; and dark leafy vegetables, such as cooked kale, collard greens, and spinach.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629459360b5-af15-4bf8-a037-36df6cd17bfa Olendzki says that yogurt, kefir , and some hard cheeses contain little lactose and may provide beneficial probiotic cultures . Lactose-Containing Dairy
High-Fat Foods 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.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293de2bd3d-53fa-4a67-a586-04c132440039 One reason for this may be that the fats in these foods are often not fully absorbed in the small intestine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b8931451-b3fa-4e0b-8702-156bf7d7ab09 Instead, stick to healthier fats, such as monounsaturated fats — peanut butter, olives, and olive, canola, or sesame oils, for example — says Angel Planells, RDN , a Seattle-based spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629eba4996e-3565-40ef-a1b8-4632f852a3d0 He also recommends polyunsaturated fats, which are found in fatty fish and soy milk .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629891fe3b3-8ce4-434b-97bf-cd307672fa0c Try to aim for foods with omega-3 fatty acids , such as salmon and nuts, too, which may help relieve inflammation.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762928ca3c71-ab89-47c9-83f8-bc04e7615660 High-Fat Foods
High-Fiber Foods Although fiber is an important fuel source for the healthy bacteria living in the gastrointestinal 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, avoid:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a4258eaa-35a1-44a5-932d-9fe05ebd714a Fruit and vegetable skin Raw produce with seeds intact High-fiber whole grains Opt for low-fiber fruits, such as bananas and melons, and cook vegetables 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. High-Fiber Foods
Some Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, and fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fab22f0c-13b0-42a0-a98b-d293b47fa25f But some seeds, such as popcorn kernels, and raw nuts can be difficult to digest.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ad551644-897a-4c62-8cd4-4086248e76de 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 — such as peanut, cashew, or 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. Some Nuts and Seeds
Spicy Foods Spicy foods, including those high in capsaicin , are a common trigger of Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629791d96f0-fd58-40be-881b-7bc9808f3157 They may cause inflammation and inhibit production of important gastric acid.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299e23bf0e-8e16-46df-82b4-f43f2e4bb613 Effects vary by person, however. You can try small amounts of each spice individually to see if it suits you, Olendzki says. Spicy Foods
Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages The effects of caffeinated drinks can vary from person to person. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recommends avoiding caffeinated drinks in general — such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, or sodas — and instead choosing noncaffeinated drinks , such as water or smoothies.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a4fe2f3-dc39-4393-a663-55a1a0358408 Alcohol use and Crohn’s are often connected, with alcohol sometimes worsening Crohn’s symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629075271c9-c8d7-4d44-8786-b61938258e14 Wine, for example, usually contains sulfites, a food preservative to which many people are sensitive, Olendzki says. “For those not having a [Crohn’s] flare, a 6-ounce glass of wine for women, and up to 12 ounces for most men, could be fine,” she says, adding that the impact depends on your liver’s ability to process the alcohol. Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages
Sugar Removing almost all added sugar from your diet could improve Crohn’s disease symptoms, says David L. Suskind, MD , a gastroenterologist and co-chair 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 that by reducing added sugar, people may also be eliminating most processed foods, which tend to trigger Crohn’s disease symptoms . Try not to consume more than the daily recommended amount, which is 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 teaspoons a day for men.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c9069082-4f1e-4282-8d34-5dd9ae7deee5 Sugar
The Takeaway Certain foods and beverages may be symptom triggers for Crohn’s disease and similar gastrointestinal disorders. Some foods can cause or worsen symptoms in some people but not others. Fiber and some fats can be hard to digest, but not all are bad for people with Crohn’s disease. Always discuss dietary changes with your healthcare professional to ensure you are making healthy choices. Additional reporting by Linda Thrasybule .
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Crohn’s DiseaseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Crohn’s Disease BasicsCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Find a Support GroupNutrients: Let Food Be Thy Medicine — Its Role in Crohn’s DiseaseUniversity of California San Francisco Health: Nutrition Tips for Inflammatory Bowel Disease