Table of Beneficial Nutritional Supplements
This information is offered as an introduction to supplements, herbs, foods and substances known to help with Crohn’s. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and it is suggested that sound advice is taken by an appropriately qualified practitioner.
The supplements highlighted are generally considered to be ‘first choice’, while the additional selected supplements are complementary.
Positive Foods
Cereal grains oats, whole brown rice, millet, wheat grass.
Vegetables garlic, chives, onions, leafy green vegetables, miso.
Fruits freshly squeezed & diluted lemon juice, grapes (including pips), pears, apples, plums.
Legumes beans & pulses.
Teas, Herbs & Spices camomile tea, fenugreek seed tea, green tea, basil, turmeric, ginger.
Nuts & Seeds sesame seeds, sunflower seeds (chewed thoroughly).
Fungi Maitake mushrooms.
Fish oily fish (but not mackerel) – not grilled or fried.
Dairy daily small portion of live organic yoghurt.
Additional Foods organic honey.
Negative Foods
Cereal grains refined cereals, refined flour products.
Vegetables excess garlic.
Fruits orange, orange juice, grapefruit & grapefruit juice.
Legumes soya milk.
Teas, Herbs & Spices
Nuts & Seeds old Brazil nuts and high intake of peanuts.
Fungi
Fish mackerel.
Poultry battery chicken, hens’ eggs.
Meats pork & pork products, reduce intake of proteins from red meat, salami.
Dairy cow’s milk, reducing dairy to a minimum, reduce non-organic cheese.
Fats hydrogenated fats, refined cooking oils, fennel oil, trans-fatty acids.
Food Additives tartrazine, artificial sweeteners, sulphates (preservative).
Beverages avoid excess caffeine & alcohol; avoid artificially sweetened drinks. See Additional Comments below.
Avoid low fat foods, refined carbohydrates, white sugar (sucrose), high additive processed foods, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, pickled foods.
Cooking methods fried foods, barbequed foods.
Additional Comment
- As part of a healthy lifestyle, it is well understood that smoking is deleterious to good health.
- Being aware of appropriate weight management is also well understood.
- Less well discussed in relation to good health, however, is the importance of our feelings and emotions. Lack of self-esteem is so often associated with poor eating and lifestyle habits. All of us have positive aspects to our life, and focusing on these will improve our well-being.
- It is important that attention is paid to the balance between acid-forming and alkali-forming foods. The optimum balance is around 60% alkali-forming and 40% acid-forming. (See Acid-Forming and Alkali-Forming Food Charts and Guidelines on this site).
- Adopt a diet based on organic wholefoods, vegetables, fruits and grains.
- Raw foods such as salads and fruits should be about 20% of the daily food intake for optimum health benefits.
- There is benefit in eating in a specific order: fresh ‘live’ foods first such as salads to prepare the digestive system. Next follow cooked vegetables, then proteins. Anything starchy should be last. Eating in this order ensures food enters the digestive system in order of digestion time.
- Chew foods slowly and thoroughly, as this increases their nutritional benefits, particularly as we get older.
- Research has shown that reducing intake of dairy products in later life is beneficial.
- It is best to reduce red meat within the diet to occasional intake. As a general guide, the best meat sources are lamb, and with regard to poultry, properly-fed and organically-reared chicken.
- White fish are generally the better option. Coastal fish such as mackerel are best reduced, as they tend to contain more of the undesirable toxic pollutants.
- As the years progress it is sensible to reduce the total intake of refined sugars.
- Avoid dehydration - take plenty of fresh water. Good quality still mineral water from a glass container is the superior form; though a good tap filter is also satisfactory.
During exercise, the body loses up to 3 litres and it is good to remember that muscles are composed of 70% to 75% water.
Adequate water intake is known to help reduce the feeling of tiredness and fatigue.
Increased intake of water can help to reduce weight.
- Avoid high intake of beverages containing caffeine, e.g. excess coffee, artificially sweetened fizzy (carbonated) and still drinks, and soft drinks high in sugars ending in ‘-ose’ such as ‘sucrose’, ‘glucose’ and ‘fructose’.
- Foods cooked in aluminium cookware reduce water’s ability to be used by the body.
- Take alcohol only in moderation as it can aggravate negative symptoms. Good quality organic wines can contribute to good health, spirits, beers and lagers less so. Organic red or white wine can be taken, but no more than 1 glass a day is suggested. Spirits should be avoided for a period of at least four months after dietary reform, and beer kept to an absolute minimum.
- Take exercise as much as possible out of doors in clean air. Prolonged exercise in air conditioning with artificial lighting should be no more than an hour at one time.
- Isotonic exercise has been found beneficial in reducing muscle weakness.
- Sunlight has a beneficial effect on the whole person, and is also known to alleviate the experience of fatigue that can also occur with extended periods of exposure to artificial lighting.
- Wearing sunglasses can reduce energy levels, as they block out some beneficial rays that can actually enhance energy. Men should try to avoid pink tinted glasses.
- Try to obtain cosmetics that are not full of chemicals. There is a saying: “If you can’t eat the ingredient safely, then it may be best not to put it on your skin.”
- Avoid shampoos and soaps containing Sodium Lauryl Sulphate.
- Antiperspirants are usually applied to help reduce body odour. However, these preparations contain aluminium, which actually gets absorbed into the body. This metal is known to produce many undesirable toxic side effects.
- Possible irritants specific to Crohn’s include high intake of saturated and hydrogenated dietary fats, caffeine drinks, alcohol, chocolate, eggs, cheese, red meat and salty foods.
Additional Help & Support
Homeopathy and Alexander Technique can be valuable adjuncts.
Slippery elm powder helps to reduce gastric distress.
