By Robert Stein, M.D.

Crohn’s disease is an illness that causes inflammation in the digestive system. Although it typically occurs in the small intestine and colon, in can affect other areas of the digestive tract – starting at the mouth and ending with the anus.

Since Crohn’s disease occurs in the digestive tract, it’s natural that a person would think that what they eat and drink would have a direct impact on their symptoms. However, there are no known foods or special diets that have been shown to be effective in either the treatment or the prevention of Crohn’s disease.

While diet does not cause Crohn’s, certain foods have been shown to irritate the condition in some people. In particular, milk, alcohol, hot spices, and fiber appear to be the most aggravating foods for some people with Crohn’s disease. Furthermore, patients with strictures (areas of narrowing of the bowel) may develop increased symptoms by eating things such as nuts, seeds or popcorn.

People with Crohn’s disease should eat a nutritious diet that contains protein; enough calories to maintain weight; vitamins A, B-12, C, D, and folic acid; and the minerals calcium, iron, and zinc. People with active Crohn’s disease may have an increased risk of becoming malnourished for the following reasons:

1. Often people with active Crohn’s disease do not have an appetite.
2. Chronic inflammation of the bowel and in other areas of the body leads the body to consume extra calories, which can lead to weight loss and malnutrition, especially during a flare up.
3. Eating a nutritious diet is very important, since people with Crohn’s disease are more apt to experience malabsorption and maldigestion. This means many of the nutrients consumed never actually get absorbed by the body.

The main thing to remember is to eat healthy and nutritious foods, and to try to avoid those foods that you do not tolerate well.