Prednisone Vs. Diet to Treat Crohn's Disease Flare-Ups

Crohn's disease can cause a chronic inflammation throughout your gastrointestinal tract. The corticosteroid prednisone and the foods you eat are equally vital components in the successful management of this illness. Changes in diet will enable you to avoid foods that can cause flare-ups. However, diet alone cannot bring about healing during flare-ups. Your doctor may prescribe prednisone to heal the inflammation accompanying the active stage of this disease and to bring about remission.

Prednisone

• In moderate to severe cases of Crohn's disease, prednisone is prescribed, along with diet modifications, to promote healing by relieving the inflammation caused by flare-ups. It will be difficult, if not impossible, for medication alone to accomplish healing without the changes in diet described below in "Diet for Flare-Ups."

  Although prednisone can be successful in bringing about remission, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it has numerous side effects including infection, metabolic bone disease, hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma and cataracts. If your condition requires a high-dose regimen of this medication, your doctor may suggest alternative procedures that eliminate these risks.

  Enteral nutrition is an alternative procedure that may be recommended by your doctor if you wish to avoid prednisone's side effects. It requires the use of tubes inserted into the stomach or small intestine to deliver liquid nutrition to meet your nutritional needs. According to Dr. Khursheed N. Jeejeebhoy, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, enteral feeding has been shown to reduce disease activity and induce remission.

  Another alternative to prednisone is total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a procedure that delivers liquid nutrition intravenously. As stated by Dr. Jeejeebhoy, TPN supplies nutrition to the body while bypassing the digestive system thereby allowing the bowel to rest and healing to occur. Liquid feeding solutions consist of sugar, protein, sodium, potassium, vitamins and minerals, and may or may not include fat depending upon your specific nutritional needs.

Diet for Flare-Ups

• Receiving adequate nutrition is a challenge during a flare-up of Crohn's. Diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite reduce the ability of your intestine to absorb dietary nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, water, vitamins and minerals and can result in malnutrition.

  Although a change in diet can meet nutritional needs during flare-ups, it must be accompanied by a medication such as prednisone to bring about healing. During flare-ups, your diet should consist of soft, bland foods including cooked or ready-to-eat cereals like cream of wheat or oatmeal, soft-boiled eggs, gelatins, tender meats that are roasted or stewed, chicken, fish, baked, boiled or mashed potatoes, noodles, white rice, broth, and cooked vegetables. Your doctor will supply you with a list of soft foods to fulfill your treatment and nutritional requirements at this time.

Standard Crohn's Diet

• To manage the symptoms of Crohn's disease on a daily basis, the diet recommended by your doctor will stress the need for fruits and vegetables. If you are unable to eat foods with a high fiber content, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends eating low-fiber fruits like blueberries and cherries. Bake or steam your vegetables instead of eating them raw. Foods high in antioxidants, such as tomatoes, and squash, should also be included in your diet. Low-fat meats, fish and poultry will supply the needed protein. It is best to avoid foods that can cause flare-ups like milk, processed foods and foods that are spicy or high in saturated fat and sugar. The University of Maryland Medical Center also recommends eliminating white breads, pastas, and other refined foods from your diet. Discuss with your doctor the advisability of eliminating these food items before making any dietary changes.

  Herbs like slippery elm, marshmallow and turmeric have proven helpful in the treatment of Crohn's according the University of Maryland Medical Center, but you should be aware of the side effects and possible medication interactions when using herbs. It is always best to consult your health care provider before including them in your diet.

  Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided. The Foundation for Better Health Care (FHBC) states the risk of developing Crohn's disease is higher in smokers, and is linked to a higher risk of relapse in people who already have the disease. Quitting smoking will help you to avoid unnecessary complications associated with tobacco use.

  There is no cure for Crohn's disease, but with treatment, most Crohn's patients live a normal, productive and active life.