Yogurt: Helps the Crohn's Body Heal with Probiotics

There is no one food that works for all Crohn's patients all the time. No food can completely prevent flares of the disease, but there are plenty that can cause them. These vary by individual, but most high fiber carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates, and nuts cause problems at one time or another for most Crohn's patients.

My favorite Crohn's-friendly food is yogurt. Many doctors advise against the use of dairy products for Crohn's patients, as dairy can be hard to digest. The newest research suggests that dairy is mostly problematic for Crohn's patients with a lactose intolerance, and that lactose intolerance often accompanies Crohn's disease.

Thankfully, I'm not lactose-intolerant. I love yogurt, and have since I was a child. I like the smooth texture, and the fact that it contains no fiber. I usually add fruit that doesn't contain seeds, such as bananas, and a small amount of honey for sweetening. Since yogurt is essentially pre-digested, it's easier for me to digest than some other dairy products, but I rarely have adverse reactions to any dairy. Adequate nutrition is vital for Crohn's patients, and it's hard to get the calcium we need without dairy. Supplements tend to be less effective in Crohn's patients, because the small intestine can't keep them long enough to make sure the body gets enough from the supplement to actually use it.

One of the long-term effects of Crohn's disease is thinning or weakening of the bones. Having to take corticosteroids for long periods of time exacerbates the bone loss and can prevent new bone formation. By consuming foods like yogurt, which is rich in calcium and vitamin D, I can help to strengthen my bones, and over the long-term, reduce my chances of getting osteoporosis or having fractures, especially the hip fractures that are common among elderly women.

I choose an organic yogurt that contains more active, live cultures than most popular brands. The live cultures are considered probiotics, because they are the healthy bacteria that belong in the intestinal tract, and too many Crohn's patients are lacking in them. Taking supplements of probiotics is a nutritional therapy for Crohn's patients, and I get most of mine through the cultures in yogurt. It also helps prevent yeast infections when I'm forced by Crohn's to take antibiotics. I also find that yogurt decreases my acid reflux, another characteristic of Crohn's disease for some of us. I find that if I stray into white bread and sugar land, the home of simple carbohydrates, I'm much more likely to have a flare of Crohn's, as well as acid reflux (for me, that's probably part of the Crohn's flare). Yogurt with added live cultures helps prevent this if I don't overeat the sweets I enjoy.

As I hope this reveals, yogurt helps to prevent flares by helping to keep my intestinal flora and fauna properly balanced. It helps to rebuild bones damaged by long-term use of corticosteroids. It helps to prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics, and I believe it helps to prevent my Crohn's flares. This may not be true for all people, but I'm glad I've found a food I can eat and enjoy any time.