Without milk in some form, it is difficult to get enough calcium, and supplements may be necessary. Check with your physician or nutritionist to find your requirement for calcium. Use the following table to combine foods that will provide that amount or ask to have a suitable supplement prescribed that will allow you to meet your need for calcium. Iron Many people with IBD are frequently anemic. There are a number of possible causes for this, and anemia cannot usually be treated with diet alone.
Iron supplements are necessary, but can cause bowel irritation and cramping.
It is therefore helpful to have some information about ways to increase the amount of iron in the food we eat. There are two kinds of iron in food, heme and non-heme iron. Heme iron is found in red meat. Non-heme iron is found mostly in plant foods and is less available to the body. Eating non-heme iron foods with meat, fish or poultry will increase its absorption.