What Should I Eat
Its not always easy knowing what foods best fuel your body, especially when you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Your diet and nutrition are a major part of life with inflammatory bowel disease , yet there is no single diet that works for everyone.
Nutrition affects not just your IBD symptoms, but also your overall health and well-being. Without proper nutrients, thesymptoms of your Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis can cause serious complications, including nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and malnutrition.
We have several tips for a healthy diet thats well-balanced and nutrient rich. These tips are for educational purposes only. You should work with your doctor or a dietitian specializing in IBD to help you develop a personalized meal plan.
Watch our with Emily Haller, registered dietitian at Michigan Medicine! Tune in to hear Emily review diet facts, debunk myths, speak about restrictions, and highlight ongoing research.
Gluten And Ibd: Whats The Connection
Researchers have long suspected a link between celiac disease an immune reaction caused by eating gluten and IBD. One 2020 analysis published in May 2020 the journal Gastroenterology, found that people with celiac disease are 9 times more likely to have IBD than people without celiac.
Both celiac disease and IBD are autoimmune diseases. Sometimes when there is chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, people could tend to have more than one condition, explains , director of integrative gastroenterology at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute at the University of California in Irvine.
When a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, an immune response is triggered in the small intestine. This can result in diarrhea, bloating, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, as well as fatigue and weight loss. Considering IBD also causes many of these symptoms, its easy to see how poorly managed celiac disease could make a persons gastrointestinal symptoms worse.
But what about people like Hanks and others with IBD who dont have celiac disease? Even without a celiac diagnosis, its still possible to have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance, which experts call non-celiac gluten sensitivity . For those with NCGS, consuming gluten can still trigger symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation as well as rashes, headaches, and feeling foggy, according to Mayo Clinic.
How These Diseases Are Different
Even though these two diseases share a lot of the same characteristics, they are different in many ways. For example, Crohns Disease is also an autoimmune condition, but its symptoms may appear to be much harder to control than the symptoms of Celiac disease. People with Celiac disease can often live a normal, symptom-free life if they avoid gluten.
However, Crohns Disease symptoms can often be triggered by foods that were previously tolerated. Sores can become infected and medical treatment of people with the advanced Crohns disease can involve removal of parts of their intestines While the damage from Celiac disease is generally limited to the intestines, Crohns disease can trigger inflammation in other parts of your body such as the eyes.
Also Check: Does Insomnia Cookies Have Gluten Free
Crohns Disease And Gluten: 4 Reasons Why Ibd Sufferers Should Not Eat Wheat
- Post author
If you have Crohns disease your doctor has probably told you that diet doesnt matter. You can go ahead and eat whatever youd like, just avoiding foods that seem to aggravate your symptoms like raw vegetables or spicy foods. If you have strictures, you might be advised to follow a low-residue diet to prevent obstructions, or if you have had surgery resulting in a shortened bowel you might be told to limit sugars or fats to prevent excessive diarrhea. But these dietary interventions do nothing to induce remission or prevent flare-ups and conventional wisdom among most doctors is that only pharmaceuticals can accomplish that with diet only being important in as much as it keeps you generally well nourished.
This is what I was told and believed for much of my 17 year journey with Crohns disease. The link between the two may not be definitively proven yet, but evidence is mounting against that conventional wisdom and a lot of smart people are reconsidering the link between Crohns disease and diet, particularly when it comes to consuming modern wheat.
Here are four good reasons, all supported by science, to ditch your bread and go gluten-free if you have Crohns disease.
Symptoms Similar In Celiac Gluten Sensitivity And Ibd
Celiac disease occurs when your body mistakes the gluten protein in wheat, barley, and rye for a foreign invader, triggering your immune system to attack your small intestine. Symptoms of celiac disease can vary widely , but many people with celiac suffer from diarrhea or constipation, stomach pain, fatigue, and anemia.
Symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity can mimic those of celiac diseaseboth conditions include similar types of digestive issues. Those with gluten sensitivity, though, seem to suffer from more headaches and other neurological symptoms , such as nerve damage that causes a feeling of “pins and needles” in the arms and legs, than those with celiac disease.
Finally, symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease differ depending on which specific condition you have . Both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can cause abdominal pain, cramping, severe diarrhea, and bloat.
You May Like: Is There Wheat In Bud Light
Finding Your Team To Support Your Health
I know that with the abundance of information available on the internet, it can be tempting to think you can figure this out on your own. Dont. I mean, please try, but for optimal results, gather your team of experts that can help you sort out what you need.
Choosing A Practitioner To Help You
I highly recommend seeking out a natural health or functional medicine practitioner who can be at the core of your health team. Some things to consider when working with a practitioner:
- Do they take a complete health history?
- Can they read your blood work and assess the tests youve had done?
- Do they address diet, or have someone they recommend to help you with that side?
- Do they address lifestyle?
- Can they assess any medications you may be on and ensure there is no conflict with any natural remedies? Can they work with those medications and help to mitigate the side effects.
- Will they support you as you go through their recommended protocol?
- Are they recommending a standard panel of tests that may not relate to your primary concern? .
- Are they experienced? This isnt standard weight loss were looking at here. You want a practitioner with at least five years of clinical experience and a track record of success.
Remember, if you are not getting results while following a protocol from your natural health care practitioner, it may be time for a follow up, or consider finding someone else who can help.
You May Like: Wholly Gluten Free Pizza Crust
Non Gluten Gut Bombs To Be Wary Of
Aside from gluten , other herbicides/pesticides, processed foods and additives, and many medications can also contribute to a fundamental break down in gut function. Because most gluten free food options are highly processed, are not organic , and lead to gut damage that traditional doctors will typically try to medicate. It is best to try avoiding these items if you want to have optimal GI function.
Don’t Miss: Gluten Free Bread Crumb
Crohns Disease And Celiac Disease
Celiac disease and Crohns disease are both diseases that deal with inflammation of the intestines. Because abdominal pain and diarrhea are symptoms of both diseases, differentiation between Crohns disease and celiac disease can be difficult. It is often left to blood tests, as well as endoscopy and biopsy to determine which disease is present.
Blood tests for celiac disease and IBD look for different characteristics, so doctors are able to distinguish between the two based on results. Unlike Crohns disease, celiac disease symptoms usually disappear when patients adhere to a gluten-free diet.
Even with some conflicting data, most studies conclude that celiac disease is more common in IBD patients. Researchers believe the prevalence of Crohns disease is higher than ulcerative colitis in patients with celiac disease .
Studies debate the extent of the connection between Crohns disease and celiac disease, but all conclude that Crohn’s disease is more common in those with celiac disease than in the general population.
Studies debate the extent of the connection between Crohns disease and celiac disease, but all conclude that Crohns disease is more common in those with celiac disease than in the general population.
Crohns Disease: Foods To Avoid
Taylor emphasizes that you shouldnt try to manage the disease with food alone. Crohns isnt something you can cure with diet you need to have a health care team treating this, she says. But if youre having a flare-up, these are some foods you might want to avoid.
1. Whole grains
The high amounts of fiber in foods like whole-grain bread, whole-wheat pasta, popcorn and bran can cause a lot of traffic through the gastrointestinal tract. That can be irritating to someone experiencing a disease flare, Taylor says.
2. Beans
Beans are a wonderfully nutritious food when youre feeling good, Taylor says. But during a flare, their high fiber content and tendency to cause gas is a lose-lose.
3. High-fiber fruits and vegetables
Some people think they cant eat vegetables with Crohns, and thats not true, Taylor says. But you do have to be careful during a flare. Aim for cooked veggies rather than raw to avoid irritating your gut. And avoid fruits and vegetables with skins and seeds intact.
Many people find that bananas or canned pears are gentler than an apple or bowl of raspberries, for instance. Also steer clear of gassy veggies like broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Theyre high in fiber and gas-producing kind of a double whammy, Taylor says.
4. Nuts and seeds
5. Alcohol and caffeine
6. Sweeteners
7. Dairy
8. Spicy foods
9. Greasy, fatty foods
Recommended Reading: Caputo Gluten Free Pizza Dough Recipe
Crispy Baked Peanut Tofu
With minimal prep required, this largely hands-off recipe is easy to make and friendly to those on vegetarian diets as well as those with Crohns disease.
It also allows you to enjoy crispy foods without frying, since fatty or greasy food can be a trigger for flare-ups or symptoms of Crohns disease.
Start to finish: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Makes: 2 servings
Who May Benefit From The Celiac Ibs Crohn’s Array
- Those with gastrointestinal symptoms and autoimmune disorders that might suggest a problem with gluten
- Those with increased intestinal permeability which has been linked to autoimmune disorders and other conditions
- Those suspected to have Crohns or celiac disease
- Those suffering from symptoms of IBS including diarrhea, bloating, or cramping
- Those with chronic fatigue
- Those with nutrient malabsorption and/or deficiency
- Those with unexplained symptoms such as unintended weight loss or skin rash
Also Check: Sabatassos Gluten-free Four-cheese Pizza
Do I Have Celiac Disease Crohns Disease Or Both
It is possible to confuse the symptoms of celiac disease with those of inflammatory bowel disease , especially Crohns disease. There is an overlap in the symptoms of these diseases.
As researchers have learned, there are also multiple genes that people with celiac disease and Crohns disease have in common. Celiac disease in one family member increases the risk that another person in the same family will have inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease, as its name says, involves inflammation in the bowels, or intestines. Crohns disease can involve every part of the intestinal tract, but a part of the small intestine called the terminal ileum is almost always affected.
People with Crohns disease have pain, especially in the lower right side of the abdomen, and diarrhea. There may be fever and weight loss. Crohns disease can also affect other parts of the bowel and cause different symptoms.
The other type of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, occurs in the large bowel it rarely affects the very end of the small bowel. Symptoms include diarrhea, crampy pain, passage of mucus, and rectal bleeding.
When Crohns disease attacks the small intestine, symptoms appear similar to those of celiac disease, because the same area is being damaged. In addition to pain and diarrhea, people with Crohns may not absorb enough nutrients, so that they can have weight loss and vitamin deficiencies like people with gluten intolerance.
How Do I Know If Gluten Free Is Right For Me
Honestly, it all depends on what you and your doctor think is best for you. I had to go gluten free because I was diagnosed with a disease that literally required me to. Yet, I know several people with Crohns or colitis that have gluten free diets that do not also have celiac disease. In short, if eating certain foods make you feel bad, do not eat those foods! There are other foods I avoid even though they are gluten free, such as popcorn and caffeinated sodas, because I know they upset me. It truly depends on each person and if it is going to help with your treatment for IBD.
Read Also: Kraft Italian Dressing Gluten-free
Read Also: Tequila Gluten Free Brands
Going Gluten Free With Ibd
If you dont have celiac disease but suspect gluten could be triggering your IBD symptoms, theres no harm in trying a gluten-free diet to see if it helps.
But youll need to take careful steps to make sure youre avoiding gluten completely for a set amount of time to truly understand whether it triggers your symptoms, Singh explains. Itll likely take at least two weeks of eating gluten free to notice any potential benefits, and Many will need a longer period like four to six weeks, he says.
Before cutting out gluten, get the green light from your gastroenterologist and plan to see a dietitian who specializes in IBD, Singh recommends. They can help you identify the sources of gluten in your diet and read food labels to find less obvious sources of gluten, such as packaged sauces and salad dressings. They can also help you fill any nutritional gaps in your diet that might come from cutting out gluten-containing foods, such as wheat-based pasta or bread.
In some cases, those with a mild gluten intolerance are eventually able to reintroduce gluten into their diets in small amounts without a problem. It depends how sensitive you are, Singh says. Oftentimes people might be able to tolerate a little bit of something, but when they cross the threshold of the amount they can take, they get symptomatic.
Symptoms Of Crohns And Celiac: How Do They Differ
Crohns and celiac disease are known for their digestive symptoms. However, when and how those symptoms appear can vary significantly between the two conditions.
People with Crohns disease usually start experiencing symptoms sometime during their late teens, 20s, or early 30s. Common symptoms of Crohns disease include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal skin tags on the buttocks
- Rectal bleeding
Some people may also experience appetite loss. I’ve gone through not being able to eat, wrote one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member. My gastro asks me at every appointment how my appetite is. This goes along with Crohns for some people.
In severe cases, people with Crohns may also experience kidney stones, anemia , and inflammation in the skin, eyes, joints, and liver or bile ducts. Infections may also lead to the development of pus-filled abscesses or fistulas .
People with celiac disease often share a few of these digestive symptoms. Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and stomach and abdominal pain, for instance, are all common. However, these symptoms tend to appear more frequently in children than in adults.
According to the Mayo Clinic, more than half of adults with celiac disease experience symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, including:
- Itchy skin rashes
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Infertility concerns or miscarriages
Don’t Miss: Insomnia Cookies Gluten Free Reviews
