Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, that leads to inflammation of the digestive tract lining. This inflammation typically leads to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation usually spreads deep into the layers of tissue in the bowel, making the symptoms painful and debilitating. If not treated in time, Crohn’s disease can be life-threatening.

Sometimes the symptoms of Crohn’s disease flare-up suddenly, making it difficult to manage them. However, following a proper diet plan can help relieve the symptoms and help prevent flare-ups. Here are some dietary tips and foods to eat for Crohn’s disease to manage the condition effectively:

1. Refined grains
It has been observed that refined grains relieve inflammation in comparison to fiber-rich whole grains as they quickly pass through the digestive tract. If you are a patient of Crohn’s disease, here are some foods to include in your regular diet:

• Low-fiber ready-to-eat cereals
• Pancakes
• Pasta
• White rice
• White bread
• Pasta
• Plain crackers
• Waffles
• Rice snacks

Besides, you can also have fortified products as they contain essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, iron, thiamine, and folate.

2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the healthiest options among refined grains as refined oatmeal contains less fiber than steel-cut oats. A dietary tip to manage a flare-up of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease is to avoid foods that contain insoluble fiber as they can worsen diarrhea. Oatmeal is good in such cases as it contains a soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which eases diarrhea by absorbing water in the intestines by forming a gel, slowing down digestion and adding bulk to the stool.

3. Low-fiber fruits
Low-fiber fruits are easier to digest and can relieve diarrhea. You can include the following fruits in your regular diet to alleviate the symptoms of Crohn’s disease:

• Peaches
• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Honeydew melon
• Cantaloupe

A dietary tip for Crohn’s disease that should be kept in mind is that ripened fruits contain less fiber in comparison to unripe fruits, so it is better to opt for ripe fruits.

4. Peeled or poached fruit
Always opt for fruits that are peeled as it helps limit the intake of insoluble fiber like cellulose and lignin, which is present in the skin. Additionally, preserving and poaching reduce the amount of fiber. You can also opt for canned fruits as they are low in fiber, but they contain a high amount of sugar, so moderate intake is recommended.

5. Peeled and cooked vegetables
Just like fruits, vegetables are fiber-rich, so do not eat them without peeling. Peeling the veggies will help you avoid the insoluble fiber, and boiling and cooking also help reduce fiber content. Another dietary tip for Crohn’s disease patients is to avoid frying or roasting the vegetables in butter or oil as the fat content can aggravate the symptoms.