Should I avoid certain foods?

Practical answers, without strict diets

• Know your food
• Food diary
• Ask a specialist

Not necessarily

The short answer

There is no list of foods banned for all patients. A particular food may bother you without increasing the inflammation; what matters is finding out what suits you.

Cutting out lots of foods unnecessarily can cause malnutrition and lower your quality of life.

How do you find out what bothers you?

Food diary

• Write down what you eat every day — with the amount and the time
• Write down your symptoms — such as bloating, pain and the number of bowel movements
• Look for a repeated pattern — over two to four weeks
• Discuss the results with a specialist — before cutting out any whole food group

What about these foods?

Common questions

• Milk and dairy products — reduce them only if they cause clear symptoms; yoghurt (laban) and cheese are often easier to tolerate
• Wheat and gluten — no need to avoid them unless you have coeliac disease or a proven intolerance
• Spicy foods — may bother some patients, but they do not cause inflammation
• Coffee and tea — in moderation; they may increase diarrhoea in some patients
• Vegetables and fruit — good for most patients; cook or peel them if needed
• Fizzy drinks and processed foods — all patients are advised to cut down on them

If you have a narrowing in the bowel

A special situation

You are usually advised to cut down on coarse (rough) fibre, such as fruit skins, seeds, whole nuts, sweetcorn and stringy raw vegetables, and to cook food well and chew it slowly.

Repeated vomiting with a swollen tummy and not passing wind needs an emergency visit straight away.

What about special diets?

Special diets

• Low FODMAP diet (low in fermentable sugars) — may ease bloating for a limited time under a dietitian's supervision, but it does not treat the inflammation
• Crohn's disease exclusion diet — a structured eating plan that may help some people with Crohn's disease; it needs specialist supervision
• Gluten-free diet — not recommended unless there is a medical need
• Diets spread on the internet — many are unproven and may be harmfully restrictive

Can I fast?

Ramadan

Many patients can fast without problems when their disease is calm, after talking to their doctor. During flare-ups, while on steroids, with a narrowing, or with other conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease, fasting may not be advised.

Discuss your medicine times before Ramadan and do not change them yourself. Drink enough fluids, and break your fast and contact the clinic if you notice blood, dizziness or dehydration.

Avoiding foods: the summary

Key messages

• There is no single list of banned foods for all patients
• A food diary helps you find out what bothers you
• Do not cut out whole food groups without advice
• With a narrowing: cut down on coarse fibre
• Ask your doctor before fasting or any special diet

Contact the clinic if you have:

• A wish to follow a special diet
• Weight loss without trying
• Repeated bloating and pain after eating
• Repeated symptoms after certain foods
• Plans to fast in Ramadan
• A need to see a dietitian

If you have persistent vomiting with a swollen tummy and are not passing wind, go straight to the nearest emergency department.