Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery stool that occurs more than 3 times per day. Diarrhea that lasts for 4 weeks or more is considered chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea is a typical symptom of Crohn’s disease. The severity of diarrhea ranges from mild to severe. It may get worse when the disease flares up and better when inflammation goes down. If Crohn Disease affects your small intestine, you may have mostly watery diarrhea. If your colon is affected, your diarrhea may be bloody. You may experience urgency or incontinence, which is when you are unable to control your bowel movements.

Inflammation is the main cause of diarrhea in people with Crohn’s disease. When your intestine is inflamed, it absorbs much less sodium and water. It also may leak more fluids. The result is loose, watery stool. However, other factors contribute to diarrhea in people with Crohn’s disease. These include:
-- Difficulty absorbing fat, starches, sugars, and bile acids
-- Bacterial infection
-- Fistulas
-- Malabsorption after surgery

Foods to Avoid During Diarrhea
As important as it is to know what to eat when you have diarrhea, it is equally important to know what not to eat. Certain foods can travel through your intestines very fast and aggravate your condition, or worsen diarrhea in other ways.

Gassy Foods:
It’s important that you eat generous amounts of fruits and vegetables every day. However, when diarrhea strikes, you want to avoid choices that are likely to increase intestinal gas, such as cabbage, beans, broccoli, and cauliflower, until you’re feeling better.

Tainted food:
Stay away from foods that may have been mishandled, including foods that have been out of the refrigerator for too long or improperly stored. Raw meat or fish can be problematic, too. Follow the old expression, "when in doubt, throw it out," and you may save yourself some stomach upset.

Fatty Foods:
These include fried foods and foods that are greasy or covered in gravy, which can make diarrhea worse.

Dairy Products:
Milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese are things you should put on hold even if your diarrhea isn’t caused by lactose intolerance (difficulty processing the sugar lactose, found in dairy products). You may be temporarily sensitive to dairy products, even if you usually have no problem with them. Probiotic rich yogurt may be the one exception to this rule.

Alcohol and Caffeine:
When you have diarrhea, you want to avoid foods and beverages that cause you to lose fluids. Alcohol and caffeine can act as diuretics, meaning they are dehydrating. Some people find that artificial sweeteners have a laxative effect on their digestive system. If you have diarrhea, it’s best to avoid sugarless candy and gum, diet soft drinks, and sugar substitutes.