Andrew Weill is an MD who has been an influential proponent of holistic medicine and the health benefits of good nutrition. He has a stellar reputation and in known for straddling the divide between traditional western medicine and alternative medicine.
In reading through his article Anti-Inflammatory Diet info from Dr. Weil I have some takeaway points especially for foods that do not bother my Crohn's. Of course each person is going to have different trigger foods that set them off, so this is just my suggestions for anti-inflammatory foods that are easy on the gut.
1. Cook with extra virgin olive oil. If you need an oil that will go to high heat or a tasteless oil use expeller-pressed, organic canola oil.
2. Eat fishes high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon (preferably fresh or frozen wild or canned sockeye), sardines, herring, and black cod.
3. Go light on protien. Weil advises that your daily servings of protein should be between 80 and 120 grams but to eat less protein if you have autoimmune disease. That's us, folks! My doctor advises I eat light protien and avoid fatty meats. She also advises agains lunch meats that may be higher in fat. I know from experience that hot dogs are an iffy proposition. (Even if they were light kosher dogs) Don't ask me how I know this.
4. Eat protein from beans. For Crohn's disease, beans can be difficult to digest in many forms. But tofu and other soy protiens may work fine for you. Miso soup with little cubes of tofu in it is a delicious and light broth for those days when you have a sorry tummy.
5. Try to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and mushrooms.
6. Choose organic produce whenever possible.
7. Eat cruciferous vegetables. Many Crohn's patients are going to have a really hard time with this one. I find cabbage to be indigestable, and the same goes with brussels sprouts. I can however eat broccoli with no problem. I make sure it is very well steamed.
8. Drink tea instead of coffee.
9. Weill advises that if you drink alcohol, red wine is preferable. Red wine irritates my GERD so that's out for me. My poison of choice these days if I drink is a cup of rooibos tea, honey, and a shot of Courvisier. Snicker. No I don't think there is any health benefit to this, but it helps me sleep.
10. Dr Weil says to enjoy plain dark chocolate in moderation. Oh man this is a tough one. Chocolate is probably the #1 bad food to my digestive system. It gives me acid reflux, irritates my Crohn's and is just BAD BAD BAD. But I love it and I have been known to sneak a piece or two. My trick is to eat it earlier in the day. If I eat it in the evening the gastric reflux is not a pretty picture.
11. This anti-inflammatory diet should include to drink 6-8 glasses of pure water a day, or drinks that are mostly water such as tea, diluted juice, or sparkling water with lemon.
12. Weil also recommends vitimin supplements. Check with your doctor on these. I take a plain old regular daily vitamin. Since Crohn's causes malabsorbtion of nutrients I feel this is prudent. The onyl mega-doses I take are when I drink a 5 hour energy every once in a while. These are actually not bad for you - they have a lot of niacin, b vitamins, and about 1 cup of coffe's woth of caffeine. I think it does have artificial sweetener though, which I generally avoid. I think they aggravate my Crohn's for some reason.
Here is the Dr. Weil's book that I read and own - 8 Weeks to Optimal Health. It is a very good book but a crohnie will have to evaluate the food choices based on their own digestive system's individual quirks. It is very heavy on fiber, nuts, and other stuff that can irritate an inflamed colon.
