Nutritional Pearls: Could A Mediterranean Diet Help Reduce Crohn Disease Risk?

Your patient is a 36-year-old woman with a family history of Crohn disease. She tells you that she is concerned about her risk of developing the disease as well and is planning to begin researching potential diets online that could help to lower her risk. She asks if there are any specific dietary changes she could make to lower her risk.

How would you advise your patient?

(Answer and discussion on next page)

Dr. Gourmet is the definitive health and nutrition web resource for both physicians and patients with evidence-based resources including special diets for coumadin users, patients with GERD/acid reflux, celiac disease, type 2 diabetes, low sodium diets (1500 mg/d), and lactose intolerance.

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, is a board-certified internist and professional chef who translates the Mediterranean diet for the American kitchen with familiar, healthy recipes. He is an assistant dean for clinical services, executive director of The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, associate professor of medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, and faculty chair of the Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist program.