Introduction to Crohns Disease Diet

As you have read in my introduction my father has Crohns Disease. My father has been seeing the same specialist for about 20 to 25 years. The Specialist has told him that he is amazed how well he is doing. He said that most of his patients end up with colostomies after 10 years! He wanted to know what my father's secret was. Here's what he told him. "I follow the diet and stick to it as best as I can. I keep active, take my medication, and come in for my check ups faithfully." Dad knows that when he accidentally eats something like black pepper, he's going to be distended, in pain, and have diarrhea. He also knows that when he follows his diet he feels so much better. When he does have a lot of pain or is exceptionally sick he calls he specialist and sets up an appointment. This way they can be sure nothing more serious is occurring. Below is my father's diet that he follows.
No lettuce or other hard to digest leafy vegetables,
No caffeine, and No black pepper or cinnamon.
No skins off of fresh vegetables or fruits because
they are hard to digest.
He can have nuts, seeds, and corn but sparingly
and occasionally (treats.)
Please note that this is my father's diet. You do need to follow the diet provided to you by your dietitian and doctor. Most times you are given a basic list of what you can not have. However, they may also tell you the rest is by experimentation. In other words trying foods to see what bothers you and what does not. If this is your case, it is best to try one new food for a week to see how it affects you. Then try a new food the following week. This way you can tell what works for you and what does not. If a food does not work for you; quit and wait a couple days before trying a new food. This way the irritant is out of your system prior to trying a new food. ALWAYS communicate with your doctor and dietitian as to what works and what does not work for you. This not only helps them to keep track of your case but may also help them help others. REMEMBER, everybody is different. Crohns affects everyone differently, so there is no cookie cutter solutions. You need to work as a team with your health care professionals for best results in your health plan. Never give up hope. In the beginning my father could not have dairy. But because he cooperated with his health care professionals, he can now enjoy dairy products. I am not a doctor or dietitian, but I do hope this blog provides you with some hope and direction.