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Unhealthy Food and Crohns

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/15/2011 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
I know there are certain foods that cause flare ups in different people. But I was never put on a diet by my GI because there were never any particular foods that caused flare ups for me except maybe peanuts and any type of nut. I eat healthy but a few times a week I eat some unhealthy food like a chocolate bar or chips ,at a reasonable amount, and if I go to a birthday party and there's cake I'll eat a slice. I don't ever have a flare up afterwards and I got blood work from the GI and he said my lab results were great with almost no inflammation but am I still doing something to make Crohn's worse in the long run?
Posted 5/16/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Food does not cause flares. Food can make flares, or inflammation worse/hurt more. That is why most of us avoid the foods that bother us. Things that are high in fiber or rough, like popcorn, legumes, raw fruit and veggies. It is the long term inflammation that will cause damage. You should always be on some sort of maintenance medication to try to keep even the most microscopic level of disease at bay.

As for chocolate, chips or other foods, only you know what bothers YOU. We are all so different. What bothers one of us, may not bother anyone else. I can eat dark chocolate in limited amounts, but milk chocolate bothers me, probably because of the milk. Chips are the same. Small amounts I can handle, if I get carried away, I will pay. Cake is actually a safe food for me. I have been known to make a white cake from scratch late at night because that is what I am craving.
Posted 5/16/2011 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I'm on Humira and doing well so I don't avoid much of anything except maybe salad, oatmeal and raisin bran. I can eat out at restaurants and have fast food ocassionally. Sometimes I feel yucky and sometimes I feel fine. For me the key is not to keep eating the same foods everyday. My doc says eat whatever you can . . .
Posted 5/16/2011 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lovely
I was only diagnosed about 1 1/2 years ago and what I have found since then is that the topic of diet is a hot topic.
Some really believe that diet has nothing to do with it. And that if you are not causing a flare then no worries. Other feel very different.
I am one that feels different. Unfortunatly I guess there is no one universal answer for all, but if I were you I would read some books and look into it.
I was feeling really bad (although not nearly as bad as some) and I got better based on diet.
I intent to eat to the diet until they find a cure to this DD even though I feel between good and great most days.
So I am like you right now, and I 100% believe that if I ate different I would flare.

lol, I bet that clears it up for you. One person says Yes, 100% for sure and the next says No 100 % for sure.

Yet another joy of this DD

Hope you figure it out for you

Dave
Posted 5/16/2011 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
I think diet varies for every individual. Overall, I personally believe in a healthy, unprocessed diet. That doesn't mean that I don't eat chocolate, McDonalds or chips! Every once in a while, I get a flare up which causes me to rethink my diet choices. For me, certain foods must be avoided when there is inflammation (beans, nuts, fresh vegetables : shoot sometimes all food except packaged mashed potatoes). I guess like most people with crohns I struggle with food:-) It sucks to love to eat but not be able to eat freely. I don't take maintenance medication and haven't for 20 years. I hope I am not gambling but rather try to rely on avoiding problems through lifestyle choices. I am currently having the occasional flare - Right or wrong, I blame it on poor diet, massive stress, and lack of de-stressing activities (exercise).
Posted 5/16/2011 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
The CCFC has not ruled out diet/food as a possible link to IBD triggering flares. Therefore food/diet most certainly can cause flares, not enough is known yet for anyone to rule this out which is why the CCFC does research on diet/food and the very possible link to IBD, afterall there are plenty of IBDers that have learned the hard way certain foods they need to avoid in order to feel better and that certain foods have sent them to the ER...if food/diet did not cause flares/trigger flares (same difference) then why are so many IBDers able to learn what foods to avoid in order not to get sick enough especially to end up in the ER.

Not to say that food/diet is the only factor and also not to say that it's every IBDers trigger for a flare either because many other IBDers do well regardless of what they eat just as many still get flares even if they avoid their "no no" foods.

Much still needs to be learned about IBD, until then it's anyone's guess as to the multitude of environmental triggers linked to IBD, food/diet being an environmental element. Also, just because diet/food isn't one IBDers "trigger to flares" doesn't mean it isn't for others.
Posted 5/16/2011 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your responses!
I take Humira and it has made me feel so much better. So since then I eat some unhealthy food and feel fine others not so much like popcorn. I never get carried away and eat a ton of it because then that'll be a different story. But then there are some healthy foods that make me feel bad like tomatoes.
Posted 5/16/2011 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
I eat whatever my body lets me eat at that particular time. I still allow myself junk food once in awhile and have had no ill effects from it. JMHO
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