Let’s talk a little about diet. In this case it’s not meant in the context of losing weight, but rather how to keep our intestines the “healthiest” they can be to keep us off of medications and out of the hospital.

The fact is I’ve had at least 6 GI doctors over the last 30 years and every time I’d ask them if I should be on a certain diet, they’d all just say “You know what you can eat and can’t.”

But in doing the research, some of the dietary “shoulds” are the same as any diet for keeping the body as a whole, and the intestinal tract healthier: plenty of fiber, omega 3 oils, flax seed and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake.

Indeed caffeine is still a hotly debated topic among GI docs. One doctor told me, “NO NO” while the next one said, “Oh, it’ll be all right. Just don’t over-do-it.”

Some people maybe have discomforts (even when not in a flare-up) with dairy products such as milk and cheese. In that case you can use lactase enzymes to treat the milk, or buy specially treated lactose intolerant dairy products.

To minimize painful bloating and gas, stay away from foods and sugar free foods with sorbitol. I know I can’t use artificial sweetners. There is something about it that my digestive system rejects. Likewise, I have to limit my intake of refined sugar as well. Kool-Aid has never been my friend.

Of course, fried and spicy foods will probably always affect you, unless you’re in remission or at the top doses of steroid and immuospressant therapies. Sometimes I tolerate them better than others.

With fried foods, especially, it’s also the higher fat content. High fatty foods can be a strain on a diseased intestinal tract. Oddly enough, these are the foods I always craved the most.

It’s also thought that certain yogurts containing probiotics (live culture) will also help. I know in recent years, I’ve eaten a lot of yogurt and I’ve had less problems.

When in a flare-up, you should always give your intestines a rest with a low residue diet.

Low residue Foods

Grain Products:

• enriched refined white bread, buns, bagels, english muffins
• plain cereals e.g. Cheerios, Cornflakes, Cream of Wheat, Rice Krispies, Special K
• arrowroot cookies, tea biscuits, soda crackers, plain melba toast
• white rice, refined pasta and noodles
• avoid whole grains

Fruits:

• fruit juices except prune juice
• applesauce, apricots, banana (1/2), cantaloupe, canned fruit cocktail, grapes, honeydew melon, peaches, watermelon
• avoid raw and dried fruits, raisins and berries.

Vegetables:

• vegetable juices
• potatoes (no skin)
• well-cooked and tender vegetables including alfalfa sprouts, beets, green/yellow beans, carrots, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mushrooms, green/red peppers, squash, zucchini
• avoid vegetables from the cruciferous family such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard etc

Meat and Protein Choice:

• well-cooked, tender meat, fish and eggs
• avoid beans and lentils

Nuts and Seeds:

• Avoid all nuts and seeds, as well as foods that may contain seeds

The main point should be that every body is different. What one person can eat, another may not be able to. While the above is a good general guideline to follow, a diet that works relies on each individual knowing their own body and what their body can handle.