Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition that affects the digestive tract lining. Improving gut health is essential in maintaining the overall physical wellbeing of a Crohn’s patient, along with their mental health. Healing the gut and following the dietary tips for Crohn’s disease is necessary to add good bacteria to the digestive system. Here are six foods to include in the diet for gut health:
1. Fermented foods
One of the most common dietary tips for Crohn’s disease is to eat fermented foods rich in probiotics as they are extremely beneficial for gut health. Fermented foods are those that are left in a cool place for healthy bacteria to ferment, thrive, and grow. These foods include olives, cheese, yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, kefir, miso, and tempeh.
2. Cooked green vegetables
Green vegetables are filled with vitamins, phytonutrients, fiber, minerals, and protein. These vegetables are difficult to digest if eaten raw, so they should be cooked to make them easier to chew and digest. The digestive system can easily break them down into various nutrients that can be assimilated into the body. A helpful dietary tip to follow for Crohn’s disease is to include vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and seaweed in the regular diet. They can either be steamed or shallow fried with some seasoning.
3. Antibacterial foods
Another dietary tip for Crohn’s disease is to include foods like clove, garlic, onion, and cinnamon in the diet. Oregano oil, berberine, grapefruit seed, and olive leaf extracts can also be used in small doses as the extracts are powerful. These foods kill bad bacteria, making them essential to maintaining gut health.
4. High-fiber foods (including fruits)
One of the most underrated nutrients is fiber or roughage. People on a plant-based diet are eating a lot of fiber as it is present in most vegetables, plants, fruits, whole grains, beans, and legumes. It helps control blood sugar, improves digestion, and also maintains a healthy appetite. Some high-fiber foods to include in the diet are green cruciferous vegetables, flaxseeds, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, beans, legumes, and fruits like apples, bananas, and pears.
5. Bone broth
Either beef bone broth or chicken bone broth can be included in the diet to aid in the healing process of the gut lining. This provides a healthy inflammatory response and also supports the functioning of the immune system. Additionally, bone broth contains various essential minerals and healing compounds like collagen, gelatin, and amino acids like glutamine, proline, arginine. All these nutrients help in reducing the permeability of the gut and seal the lining of the gut.
6. Vegetables from the sea
One of the major benefits of eating sea vegetables is the trace minerals present in them. These vegetables are sustainable sources of protein and also generate healthy bacteria in the gut. A dietary tip for Crohn’s disease that doctors may want patients to follow is to add nori (used for sushi recipes), chlorella, spirulina, wakame, and dulse flakes to their diet.