If you have Crohn’s disease, changes in your diet may affect the inflammatory activity of the disease. Occasional periods of bowel rest may speed up your recovery.

The clinic dietitian, in consultation with your physician, may recommend a diet that includes a special liquid supplement.

Some patients drink this formula as a milkshake, while others prefer to take it through by “tube feeding,” via a nasogastric (NG) tube.

Nutritional therapy is generally more effective for Crohn’s disease than for ulcerative colitis, and generally works better for children and teens than for adults.