Crohn’s Disease: The 10 Cornerstones of the Ideal Diet

Among those who have the Crohn’s disease – chronic inflammatory bowel disease – the need to follow a specific diet and give up various foods can hinder socialitymaking it difficult to socialize during meals as well as going out with family, friends and colleagues. In 95% of cases, to avoid the acute phases of the disease, it is necessary to take further food sacrifices: it is easy to understand how these essential precautions can in many cases lead to a sense of frustration, isolation and social-relational difficulties.

According to the latest epidemiological estimates, the spread of the disease – the inflammation can affect the entire alimentary canal, from the mouth to the anus, but it is more frequently acute in the last part of the small intestine and in the colon – continues to increase: it affects approximately 200 thousand people in Italy, with a peak prevalence among young adults between 20 and 30 years old. People suffer from it all over the world. more than two million people.

However, the incidence is increasing in Western countries and in Italy we are currently observing approximately 10 new cases per 100,000 individuals. Although the exact cause is still unknown, Crohn’s disease may be caused by an incorrectly stimulated immune system. Broadening the scope to the so-called IBD, the chronic inflammatory bowel diseasesthere are approximately 250 thousand patients in Italy and 7 million on a global scale.

Nestlé Health Science in collaboration with the patients’ association FRIENDS non-profit organization has launched a new campaign for this reason, «Crohn’s disease“, with the aim of helping to show the impact of Crohn’s disease on different aspects of daily life, both physically and psychologically, with a focus on the central aspect of nutrition. From the interviews carried out with patients, the strong impact of nutrition on the symptoms of the pathology emerges and Patients are constantly looking for information on the most appropriate diet. It was born like this «FAQ: Nutrition and Crohn’s Disease» which collects the answers to the most frequently asked questions and doubts: the document – ​​edited by Camilla Fiorindidietician-nutritionist of the Careggi University Hospital of Florence with the patronage of AMICI Onlus – is available free of charge, in digital format, on the site by Nestlé Health Science.

«A balanced and healthy diet plays a fundamental role in the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment, so much so that it can influence its composition and correct functioning – explains the expert – however, during a phase of exacerbation of the disease the diet must often be modified based on any symptoms presenton the location of the recurrence and on the previous surgical history. According to recent data, the majority of those who present with IBD did not receive any dietary advicemisinformation pushes people to seek information about nutrition from various sources, finding general advice that is not always based on scientific recommendations. For these reasons and more, the support of a nutrition professional is essential in all phases of the disease to ensure the maintenance of an adequate nutritional status but also to educate the person with IBD by guiding them in their daily food choices and at the same time promoting a better quality of life related to nutrition. The handbook that I edited together with AMICI Onlus and Nestlé Health Science provides all people with Crohn’s disease with the information they need to navigate doubts and questions about the diet to follow.

Here you are 10 tipsa summary of the vademecum for those with Crohn’s disease – also aimed at family members and caregivers.

1. Opt for three small meals and two snacks a day instead of three larger meals.

2. In the active phase of the disease, give priority to vegetables rich in soluble fibersuch as small portions of cooked potatoes, carrots, squash and zucchini, as recommended in the CDED diet (the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet), which excludes all pro-inflammatory foods.

3. For fruit you can opt for the cooked or grated applewithout peel, ripe bananas, citrus juices, centrifuges or fruit extracts.

4. The consumption of saturated fats, simple sugars, food additives and emulsifiers can increase ongoing intestinal inflammation: limiting or excluding them, therefore, can have a positive impact on intestinal health.

5. Regardless of drug therapy, a healthy and balanced diet improves nutritional status and drug efficacy.

6. If someone in your family has Crohn’s disease, it is advisable to prioritize boiling and the steaming.

7. The shortcomings to pay particular attention to are the following: vitamin B12, Vitamin D And iron.

8. For pregnant women, it is important to regularly monitor the level of iron and of thefolic acid.

9. The CDED (Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet) represents a valuable therapeutic strategy for children, adolescents and adults with this pathology.

10. In phase three of CDED, you can consume – once a week and in moderation – even prohibited foods.