No one other than a Crohn’s disease patient can understand how disturbing a flare-up can be. With symptoms like cramping, diarrhea, and stomach ache, one can feel so miserable that all their plans are bound to be ruined. However, that is not all. Some speculations further complicate that specific nutritional can further worsen the symptoms, making it essential to know about avoidable foods for preventing Crohn’s disease flare-ups.

Crohn’s disease – Foods to avoid
Note that not much has been studied or discovered about the precise link between Crohn’s disease and food habits. Not all Crohn’s patients are affected by the same set of foods. Consequently, there is no one size fits all meal regimes for those with Crohn’s disease. Here are a few foods that a patient with Crohn’s disease must avoid, specifically when they experience a flare-up:

Whole grains
The first and foremost thing a patient with Crohn’s disease must avoid during a flare-up is fiber, of which whole grains like whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, bran, and popcorn are a rich source. Fiber tends to cause a lot of traffic along the GI tract, leading to irritation and inflammation in someone undergoing a Crohn’s disease flare-up.

Beans
For ordinary people, Beans serve as a rich source of nutrients. However, for those experiencing Crohn’s disease symptoms, Beans fall within the category of most harmful foods because of the high fiber content.

High-fiber foods
Most patients with Crohn’s disease are paranoid about having veggies and fruits as they feel that their bodies cannot digest so much of nutrients. However, such a perception is far from the truth, as the only time patients with Crohn’s disease must be careful about their nutrition intake is during a flare-up. Besides, it is better to opt for cooked veggies than raw ones to ease digestion. Also, ensure that none of the vegetables and fruits have their skins and seeds intact.

As far as the fruits are concerned, make sure to choose something on the lighter side, like craned pears or bananas, instead of those with high fiber content like apple or raspberries, as they are notable for their gas-producing properties.

Seeds and nuts
Because of their sharp edges, seeds and nuts tend to be harsh on the stomach, often leading to irritation along the GI tract lining. However, specific patients with Crohn’s disease have shown symptoms of tolerance for seeds and nuts. For such patients, it is recommended to perform some trial and error with sesame tahini and smooth peanut butter to avoid missing out on essential nutrients.