Although the mechanisms of Crohn’s are not well understood, certain lifestyle changes help the majority of patients. Maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the odds of certain complications. Complete smoking cessation might make future flare-ups less common.
Many people with Crohn’s have specific food triggers that worsen their symptoms. Keeping a daily symptom journal makes it easier to discover these over time. Foods that cause severe symptoms should be restricted or eliminated.
Foods that may be hard to digest include fatty foods, dairy, raw fruits or vegetables, red meat, butter, and high-fiber foods.