Low Fiber Smoothie Recipes for People with Crohn's Disease

The Benefits of Low Fiber Smoothies for People with Crohn's Disease

Smoothies are a great way to pack in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into an easy-to-digest beverage. However, for people with Crohn's disease, some smoothie ingredients like raw veggies and fruits can be difficult to tolerate due to their high fiber content. The good news is that you can still enjoy smoothies on a Crohn's-friendly diet by choosing low fiber ingredients.

Why Limit Fiber with Crohn's Disease?

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant foods that the body cannot digest. For most people, fiber is healthy and provides many benefits. However, those with Crohn's disease may find high fiber foods difficult to digest and they can exacerbate symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and gas. This is because Crohn's causes inflammation and damage in the gastrointestinal tract, which can make it harder to pass high fiber foods through the intestines.

During flares, it is especially important to follow a low fiber diet to give your GI tract a chance to rest and heal. That's where low fiber smoothies come in! By blending foods that are naturally low in fiber or removing fiber from high fiber foods, you can still enjoy a refreshing smoothie without irritation.

Tips for Creating Low Fiber Smoothies

Here are some tips to keep your smoothies low in fiber:

• Use seedless, peeled fruits like bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew, oranges, peaches, pineapples, and watermelon.
• Remove peels, skins, and seeds from fruits and vegetables.
• Use cooked vegetables instead of raw.
• Avoid whole grains like bran, oats, and wheat germ.
• Use low fiber nut butters like peanut, almond, and sunflower instead of whole nuts.
• Choose yogurt and milk instead of higher fiber non-dairy milks.
• Limit high fiber boosters like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and psyllium husk.
• Strain smoothies to remove excess fiber from fruit and veggie pulp.

Delicious Low Fiber Smoothie Recipes

Here are some nutritious and delicious low fiber smoothie recipes to try:

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Enjoy!

Peachy Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 peach, pitted
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until creamy and smooth.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Melon Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cubed honeydew melon
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/2 cup strawberries, hulled
• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 cup apple juice

Directions:

1. Add melon, berries, banana, and apple juice to blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Add yogurt and blend briefly to mix.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Creamy Watermelon Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon chunks
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1/4 cup plain kefir
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 4-5 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour into a glass and enjoy this refreshing low fiber smoothie!

Orange Cream Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 orange, peeled and segmented
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass and top with an orange slice if desired.
3. Enjoy this creamy, dreamy smoothie!

Berry Almond Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup strawberries, hulled
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Taste and add honey if desired for sweetness.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Peach Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 peach, pitted
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
• 3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Taste and sweeten with honey if desired.
3. Drink and enjoy this nutritious smoothie!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup strawberries, hulled
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup milk of choice
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
• 3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Taste and sweeten with honey or maple syrup if desired.
3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Tips for Tolerating Smoothies with Crohn's

Here are some additional tips to help you tolerate fruit and veggie smoothies with Crohn's disease:

• Go slow - only drink a 1/2 cup or less to start and see how your body reacts.
• Try strained smoothies to remove excess fiber from pulp.
• Avoid raw veggies, use

  FAQs

  Why limit fiber with Crohn's disease?

  Fiber can be difficult to digest for those with Crohn's disease since it can exacerbate symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and gas. Crohn's causes inflammation and damage in the GI tract, making it harder to pass high fiber foods through the intestines. Limiting fiber allows the digestive system to rest.

  What foods are low in fiber?

  Fruits like bananas, melons, citrus fruits, and pineapple are low in fiber, as well as tender cooked vegetables and canned veggies. Choose seedless fruits, remove peels/skins, and avoid whole grains, nuts, seeds, and raw vegetables.

  How can I make smoothies easier to digest?

  Use ripe, soft fruits and cooked vegetables. Avoid raw veggies. Blend the smoothie well to break down fiber. Strain smoothies to remove excess pulp. Start with small amounts like 1/2 cup and gradually increase tolerance. Add yogurt or kefir for probiotics to support digestion.

  What ingredients make a gut-friendly smoothie?

  Bananas, canned peaches, melon, citrus fruits, tender cooked vegetables like carrots or spinach, yogurt, milk, nut butters, avocado, apple sauce, coconut water, protein powders, honey and vanilla make great low fiber smoothie additions.

  Can smoothies help Crohn's disease symptoms?

  When made with low fiber ingredients, smoothies provide important vitamins, minerals and nutrients that can help nourish the body during Crohn's flares. However, everyone has different tolerances so start slowly with low fiber smoothies.

  Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.