7 foods to avoid for a Crohns flare-up

7 foods to avoid for a Crohns flare-up

Crohns disease is an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that mainly occurs in the colon and the small intestine and can affect any part of the GI tract. It causes sudden and painful symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, cramps, bloody stool, and fatigue. While food doesn’t cause Crohns, it can perhaps worsen the disease by leading to flare-ups. Here are some foods one needs to avoid if they are experiencing discomfort due to Crohns.

Grains

Grains contain a lot of fiber, which can worsen the symptoms of Crohns. This is because a high amount of fiber can make your intestines work harder. This makes the normal digestive process difficult, leading to abdominal pain, cramps, and even bloating. Avoid eating whole wheat bread or pasta, rye products, and barley to prevent these painful symptoms.

Spicy foods

Regarding the worst foods for Crohns flare-ups, spicy foods rank among the top. Most foods with spices are rich in capsaicin, which causes a burning feeling inside your mouth and stomach. These include chili, paprika, pepper, nutmeg, clove, and mustard. Capsaicin increases the level of acids in your stomach and may worsen symptoms, such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and acidity.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables

Like grains, fibrous fruits and vegetables don’t get digested easily, and can cause constipation and cramps – typical symptoms of Crohns flare-ups. However, you don’t need to avoid vegetables and fruits altogether. For instance, you can have cooked veggies instead of consuming them raw. For fruits you can limit your intake of apples with skin, cherries, peaches, and plums. You should also avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli. They are not only high in fiber, but can also cause flatulence, leading to a double whammy for an already irritated intestine.

Nuts and seeds

Foods such as pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc., are more complex for your body to break down even on regular days. When you are experiencing a Crohns flare-up, they can wreak havoc in your system. Not only will they cause digestive issues, but their sharp edges may also irritate the lining of your gastrointestinal tract and cause pain. So, consider giving the nuts and seeds a break. Instead, opt for hummus, tahini, and smooth peanut butter.

Dairy products

Dairy products such as milk, butter, cream, and cheese are high in lactose. This is a naturally-occurring sugar in dairy that exacerbates the symptoms of Crohns, such as abdominal cramps, gas, and diarrhea. However, since dairy products are a rich source of calcium, essential for your health, you may include low-fat dairy products in your routine with less lactose. Some examples are yogurt, aged and hard cheese, and clarified butter.

Artificial sweeteners

Since sugary foods and drinks increase the risk of several serious diseases, we often substitute sugar with artificial sweeteners. These include aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and xylitol. However, these artificial sweetening agents are said to increase gut inflammation and can worsen the symptoms. This happens due to the increase in the growth of E.coli bacteria and negatively affects those who suffer from Crohns .

Coffee and alcohol

Who doesn’t love to unwind with a cup of coffee or a chilled beverage? But if you are experiencing discomfort , you must be mindful of the caffeine and alcohol intake. With its high levels of caffeine, coffee can easily aggravate the symptoms where people have reported diarrhea. Alcoholic beverages also irritate the gastrointestinal tract and may interact with treatments that you may be taking to treat Crohns . Instead, it would be best if you opted for plain or coconut water to improve your hydration levels.

What you eat and drink plays a significant role in the management of Crohns . While the list of foods and beverages is long, these are the major ones you should consider eliminating from your routine to relieve the condition’s symptoms. Also, always consult your doctor before changing your eating regime.

Featured Articles

3 ways to deal with an overactive bladder
health

3 ways to deal with an overactive bladder

People with an overactive bladder (or OAB) experience a sudden and frequent urge to urinate. About 40% of women and 30% of men in the country deal with this condition, which can be caused by weak pelvic muscles, nerve damage, and excessive caffeine consumption. Those affected may have to urinate more often than usual and can even experience leakage. Here are a few treatment options, foods to eat and avoid, and ways to manage OAB: Treatment options Persistent symptoms should be discussed with a doctor so that they can determine the right course of treatment for OAB. Here are popular options that can be considered based on the doctor’s recommendation: Gemtesa:  It is an FDA-approved prescription treatment for adults affected by OAB. It helps relieve urinary symptoms like urgency, frequency, and even incontinence. Gemtesa is an oral treatment, usually taken with water. Common side effects include diarrhea, headache, or nausea. Myrbetriq:  It can help treat bladder issues like neurogenic detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder. This treatment option relaxes the detrusor, a bladder muscle, making it easier for the bladder to accommodate more urine and reduce OAB symptoms. Doctors recommend oral consumption of  Myrbetriq once a day. Adults can have it with or without food, while children must take it with food.
Top tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis
health

Top tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that affects one’s joints. In some cases, it can also damage several other body systems like blood vessels, the heart, lungs, eyes, and skin. It is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system starts mistakenly attacking your body’s tissues. The condition affects the joint’s lining, resulting in painful swelling, which can later cause joint deformity and bone erosion. Here are some treatment measures for rheumatoid arthritis: Treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis Actemra® It is a prescription, FDA-approved biological therapy for relief from rheumatoid arthritis. Actemra ® helps lower the inflammation in the body by directly blocking the action of a protein in your body called interleukin-6 (IL-6). Your doctor may administer it as a subcutaneous or intravenous injection. The former is administered at home or at a medical facility, but the latter is given solely at a medical facility. Plaquenil It is an FDA-approved prescription treatment that helps treat acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. It helps manage symptoms such as stiffness, inflammation, joint pain, and swelling. It is to be taken exactly as per the recommendation of one’s primary healthcare professional. Rinvoq® Rinvoq ® helps treat moderate to severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis in adults when tumor necrosis factor blockers were used but could not be tolerated or did not work well.
4 practical ways to deal with psoriatic arthritis
health

4 practical ways to deal with psoriatic arthritis

Arthritis commonly affects people with psoriasis, a disease that results in red patches on the skin with silvery scales. Typically, people experience psoriasis years before they get diagnosed with this arthritis. It affects thirty percent of people with psoriasis. However, in some people, joint problems start before psoriasis or during the same time. Swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the key signs of psoriatic arthritis. Here are the prevalent treatment options for psoriatic arthritis: Treatment options These prescriptions are known to work well against the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis: Otezla Otezla is an oral treatment plan that can be taken with or without food, or as the healthcare professional recommends. You should not chew, split, or crush the tablet before consumption. The recommended dosage depends on your response to treatment and condition. To keep side effects at bay, the doctor may start with a low Otezla dosage and gradually increase it. Rinvoq Rinvoq  should be consumed by mouth with or without food, typically once daily or as the doctor recommends. Do not split, chew, or crush the tablet. It can release the entire dosage in one go and heighten the susceptibility to side effects. To get maximum benefit, you must use Rinvoq regularly. The dosage depends on age and response to the treatment.
How to manage osteoporosis and improve bone health
health

How to manage osteoporosis and improve bone health

Osteoporosis is a condition that makes the bone brittle and weak. When severe, even slight pressure caused by coughing, bending over, or falling can cause a fracture. Such fractures are predominant in the spine, wrist, or hip. Osteoporosis occurs if the new bone fails to keep up with the loss of the old bone. It affects men and women, but post-menopausal women are more susceptible. Let’s discuss the correct osteoporosis treatment and management plan: Treatment plan Prolia It is a prescription treatment plan for relieving osteoporosis in women post-menopause who cannot use other options or have not responded well to prior treatment and are susceptible to fractures. Doctors will prescribe it for at least six months. Prolia helps treat both men and women. However, professionals do not recommend it for pregnant women, women trying to get pregnant anytime soon, or people with low blood calcium. Further, those allergic to denosumab or any other Prolia ingredient must avoid it.   Evenity Evenity helps with osteoporosis in two ways: it slows down bone loss and helps build new bone simultaneously. It is an FDA-approved treatment for osteoporosis that comes as a prefilled, single-use syringe with solution. But Evenity may have severe side effects.

Top Articles