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i am fairly new to crohns disease and i am wondering if anyone has found any specific diets that help there are lots of crohns diet books out there?! and also has anyone found that exercise is good or bad for crohns ? please let me know what you think>?

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

There are no specific diet changes that you need to make, but if something doesn't seem to make you fell alright don't eat it

 Reply posted for ssteal1.

I was diagnosed a few years ago, and was told to avoid high fiber foods, nuts, popcorn etc.  Also no dairy except hard cheese and yogurt or kefir.  Also no carbonated beverages, and no caffeine or chocolate. (!)  And that I should cook all my veggies well.  And no beans or tofu or cabbage or anything else that might create gas or bloating.  At that point I ad been a vegetarian for years and eating about 60% raw foods.  I was in shock.  Someone gave me the "Heal Your Digestion Naturally" book by Jordan Rubin and Dr. Brasco, but it was a very meat-centered diet.  I put that aside, and was eating mainly rice, pasta, white bread, cooked sauces...Eating like a picky toddler. Then I started getting flareups.  Last Sept I decided to go gluten free and that has made a huge difference.  I've had a few minor flare ups, until last week when I ate ice cream and chocolate cake.  It was like a suicide mission for my gut.  I was in bed for three days and I'm still depleted and so sorry that I was so foolish.  I am eating meat too, because most of my other sources of protein are off the plate, but it makes me sad to eat animals.  I find the chicken that says "humanely raised" (though it doesn't say anything about humanely killed does it) and make the Brasco broth from Rubin's book.  That's all I eat during the flare and post flare period.  I'm going to try to eat nothing but that for the next few weeks... sort of like doing penance for the ice cream and cake fiasco.  What was I thinking?  It was gluten free cake and I took lactaid but really. All this leads to yes, I think diet makes a huge difference.  When I flare my ileum can completely close.  Luckily it didn't happen this time, but lesson learned.

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

I'd say that changing your diet is almost necessary with Crohns.  There's plenty of things that you could do, and everyone has their own success stories, but you'd have to try them for yourself to really see if it works for you.  If I'm going through a flare up, reducing to only liquids almost always helps me out.  Some people juice, drink shakes, low residue etc.  Now I pretty much try to avoid greasy/fattening foods, exercise semi-daily, and drink Shakeology.  Works for me, been problem free for about a year and half :)

 Reply posted for tummyache6.

What kind of liquid diet?  Protein shakes?  

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

Yes, changing my diet 40 yrs ago made a huge difference for me: I am 100 % dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free. I include in my diet supplements like fish oil, vitamins + minerals, and probiotics.  I do not consume sweets or deserts, alcoholic beverages or sodas, and eat as little processed food as possible. I eat natural, whole foods and organic if I have a choice. I avoid all preservatives, especially sodium phosphate  The flares have greatly calmed down since I changed my diet 180 degrees.  When I flare, I go on a liquid diet for 2-3 days, then try soft foods, and if things don't improve; I return to a liquid diet again for 2-3 days; then again try to ease back into my regular diet.  This always seems to work for me. I don't recommend this for everyone.  I would think you have to have mild Crohn's and be stable to control it with diet alone.  

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

Yes, changing my diet 40 yrs ago made a huge difference for me: I am 100 % dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free. I include in my diet supplements like fish oil, vitamins + minerals, and probiotics.  I do not consume sweets or deserts, alcoholic beverages or sodas, and eat as little processed food as possible. I eat natural, whole foods and organic if I have a choice. I avoid all preservatives, especially sodium phosphate  The flares have greatly calmed down since I changed my diet 180 degrees.  When I flare, I go on a liquid diet for 2-3 days, then try soft foods, and if things don't improve; I return to a liquid diet again for 2-3 days; then again try to ease back into my regular diet.  This always seems to work for me. I don't recommend this for everyone.  I would think you have to have mild Crohn's and be stable to control it with diet alone.  

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

I have had Crohn's for 7 years. Many different diets and lots of pills later still a struggle. I have been using Advocare and eating clean. Using Advocare has helped me get off of some of my meds. I have also lost weight, have energy and feel better. I hope some of this helps.

 Reply posted for kmj122687.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 16 years ago and was on medications everyday up until about 2 years ago when I stopped taking them because I felt like I no longer needed them.  I started seeing an alternative medicine doctor when I had reach a point where I thought I was going to have quit working I was so sick. I was taking anywhere from 12-15 pills a day. He took me off of gluten, dairy, soy, caffine, sugar, red meat, and of course fried foods.  I was allowed to eat rice, potatoes, whey, millet, flaxseed.  I did this without cheating and was significantly better in 3-6 months time.  After about 9 months I started introducing things back in one at a time to see what my triggers were.  Now, 8 years later, I can eat about anything I want too within reason.  As a rule I avoid all those things listed above completely.  If I do cheat I only do it for a day or two and then make sure I have at least 5 "clean" days in a row.  I had a colonoscopy about 2-3 years ago and the doctor said everything looked perfect. 

Good luck!
Shannon