Question:

How can diet help Crohn's disease?

My daughter, age 21, has just been diagnosed with Chrones disease. She has been a vegan for 2 years and would like to explore controlling flareups with diet. Will this be possible/likely?

Answer:

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Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and diet plays a key role in reducing flareups and healing the intestinal tract. Being vegan she has already cut out many known inflammatory triggers in her diet (dairy, red meat, pork, etc,). However, she will also want to investigate the types and amounts of grains being consumed. Many vegans have a high consumption of corn and refined carbohydrates - both of which are other known triggers. Another important area to investigate is to get a food allergy/sensitivity blood test run - testing 96-150 foods that may not be obvious upon consumption, but can create an inflammatory response 1-6 days after consumption.
As a side, another test that is very helpful for Crohn's/Colitis patients is a comprehensive diagnostic stool analysis (CDSA). A CDSA will help identify any microbial imbalances (bacteria, yeast, ova & parasites) that play a critical role in the health of intestinal lining. Any imbalances can be corrected with specific dietary changes and appropriate supplementation.

Dr. John Dempster, ND
www.thedempsterclinic.com
Response by John Dempster ND, FAAFM

Disclaimer:

Before starting any new health program or before you begin taking any medication, natural medicine, or supplement, always check with your primary health care provider.

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