| Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that | | | | - onions |
| usually involves the small intestine. Men and women | | | | - cauliflower |
| are affected equally. | | | | - cabbage |
| A Crohn's disease diet plan is essential for sufferers | | | | High-fiber foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits and |
| as inflammation in the intestine impedes the | | | | whole grains may worsen abdominal pain and diarrhea |
| absorption and retention of essential nutrients and | | | | although their digestion is made easier through |
| prescription medication may further interfere with the | | | | cooking. As an alkaline diet of fruits and vegetables is |
| bone renewal process. | | | | essential for healthy bones, it is important to find a |
| The erosion of bone health from Crohn's disease | | | | way of including these foods in a Crohn's disease diet |
| may occur for any of the following reasons: | | | | plan. Soluble fiber will be easier to digest from |
| - Sufferers may reduce the amount they eat in order | | | | sources such as: |
| to avoid the pain associated with digestion- and avoid | | | | - bananas |
| dairy and high fiber vegetables that are essential for | | | | - rice |
| healthy bones | | | | - applesauce |
| - Absorption of nutrients (and calcium in particular) | | | | - tapioca |
| may be poor through the inflamed digestive tract | | | | - oatmeal |
| - Diarrhea may cause a loss of nutrients | | | | ...but these are not a sufficient replacement for the |
| - Some steroids and antibiotics impede the bone | | | | nutrients available in dark, leafy green vegetables and |
| renewal process | | | | in a variety of fruits. |
| No special Crohn's disease diet plan has proven | | | | BONE BUILDING SUPPLEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL |
| effective for preventing or treating the disease. | | | | The antibiotics and corticosteroids used to treat |
| Some symptoms are made worse by milk, alcohol, | | | | Crohn's disease can interfere with the bone renewal |
| hot spices, or fiber-but this may not be true for | | | | process and may begin to destroy bone health after |
| everyone. To control diarrhea, it often helps to: | | | | only 3 months. Studies show that after one year of |
| - Eat small, frequent meals. | | | | corticosteroid therapy, patients lose an average of 14 |
| - Avoid dairy products that contain lactose. | | | | percent of their bone mineral content. |
| - Drink liquids at room temperature and between | | | | Vitamin and mineral supplements can help to reinforce |
| meals rather than with meals | | | | a Crohn's disease diet plan...if taken consistently and |
| - Avoid caffeine. | | | | appropriately. Calcium is best absorbed with meals |
| - Avoid concentrated sweets such as candy, cakes, | | | | and in amounts less than 600mg at a time. Sufficient |
| and pies. | | | | vitamin D is essential to facilitate calcium absorption |
| - Avoid gas-producing foods such as: | | | | and is absorbed best when accompanied with foods |
| - beans | | | | that contain some fat. Magnesium, vitamin K2 and |
| - peas | | | | strontium should also be included in a bone building |
| - broccoli | | | | program for the best results. |