Diet for Crohn's disease?

We're having a friend with Crohn's disease over for dinner tonight, and I want to make sure I don't cook anything that will make her sick. Long story...but she doesn't know that we know she has this disease, and I don't feel comfortable bringing it up with her.

Is there anyone out there living with the disease, or who knows about it and can fill me in?

Also, does this menu sound OK - all I know about the disease is that sufferers should avoid spicy food:

grilled chicken marinated in lemon, olive oil, thyme
sauteed asparagus and snow peas
white rice

I am trying to keep it as neutral as possible. Thanks!

It's hard to say, since you can't ask her and you don't know the details of her condition, but it should be fine. I have Crohn's disease and grilled chicken and white rice are some of my "safety foods" and I have never heard of anyone having problems with them, or read anything about problems with them. The one hangup could be that if she's on a low-residue diet for a stricture (narrowing of intestines, which is common with Crohn's), then she may need to only eat vegetables that are very well-cooked, almost mushy. (And some vegetables shouldn't be eaten at all on a low-residue diet.) This could be done by steaming or baking the vegetables. But it's very kind for you to be considerate, and I would just cook the meal and not worry about it and if she chooses not to eat something (because she's not supposed to), just don't mention it and offer her more of the other foods she can eat.

Katzen, she sure is lucky to have a friend like you who cares. I have a wife who is highly allergic to many foods and most people don't go out of their way to find out what she can't eat.bully for you.search the net for Crohn disease diets and see if your menu is right. it sounds good to me but be sure.enjoy the evening.

Sounds great....can I come over too?

Living With Crohn's Disease
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Last Updated: May 31, 2002

Most people living with Crohn's disease find that periods of remission (when they are free from symptoms) are longer and more frequent than periods of acute illness. This has never been truer than it is today, when doctors have large and growing arsenal of treatment options to prescribe.

The severity of Crohn's disease can be measured objectively with indexes that chart symptoms, including:

The number of bowel movements per day

Appetite level

Fever

Number of days in a month when an individual must modify his or her work, home, or social schedule because of diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and other symptoms


Severity can also be measured subjectively, through a doctor's assessment of an individual's general state of being (such as whether he or she is angry, depressed, in pain, or embarrassed by needing to use the toilet frequently in social or business situations).

There is considerable variation in how people with Crohn's disease experience their illness. An individual whose radiological examinations reveal an extent of disease that would seem to be debilitating may lead a relatively normal life, while a person with few objective signs of disease may find his or her symptoms totally debilitating, both physically and mentally.

Remission And Relapse
Although Crohn's disease is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory bowel disease, it is not a constant disease. That is, Crohn's disease is characterized by acute flare-ups of symptoms followed by remissions that last for varying periods of time. Each individual's pattern of symptoms is different, and conscientious doctors treat patients according to their reported symptoms rather than the results of laboratory tests or radiological exams.

Diarrhea, pain, and fever-along with fatigue, chills, and possibly vomiting-come and go, sometimes in waves and sometimes in sharp bursts. Flare-ups can occur out of the blue, following a viral illness such as a head cold, or during times of extreme personal, business, or social stress.

Nutritional Issues And Proper Diet
Compromised nutrition, even malnutrition, is a constant threat to an individual with Crohn's disease. This is because the disease creates a vicious cycle:

Fever and diarrhea cause a loss of appetite.

Fever, by raising the body's metabolic rate, adds to the need for caloric energy.

Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and temporary lactose intolerance (the inability to digest milk sugars).

Lactose intolerance causes milk sugars to ferment in the colon, leading to cramps and more diarrhea.

Lactose intolerance can also indirectly lead to calcium deficiency, which in turn can lead to the loss of bone density called osteoporosis. This side effect can be especially prevalent among those being treated with corticosteroids such as prednisone.


Nutritional treatment for Crohn's disease has two main goals.

The first is to increase the intake of calories, especially in the form of proteins, along with vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, to prevent nutritional deficiency.

The second is to create an eating pattern that minimizes stress on the diseased digestive tract. This often means eating smaller, more frequent meals. Many nutrition counselors suggest that people with Crohn's disease consume six half-sized meals each day, spacing them equally and consuming the last at least three hours before bedtime.


Most doctors tell people with Crohn's disease that their diet should be "normal, as tolerated." There is no conclusive evidence that particular foods cause flare-ups. During a flare-up, however, doctors often suggest that individuals reduce their intake of dietary fiber, such as whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables.

Colon Cancer Risk
Statistically, individuals with Crohn's disease have a slightly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, although not as much of an increased risk as those with ulcerative colitis. Scientists are still searching for the link between inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

For individuals with Crohn's disease, the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases over time, as is true for the general population. For this reason, regular screenings-either a colonoscopy with biopsy or a barium enema-should begin about 12 years after initial diagnosis if the disease is confined to the small intestine, and eight years after diagnosis if there is disease in the colon.