Today you’re going to learn how a patient with Crohn’s disease was able to heal his gut and become free of both symptoms and medication while following an anti-inflammatory diet.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®. I’ve been blessed to have seen over 100,000 patient visits over the last 39 years, many involving thyroid and chronic gut issues—and this patient was one of them.
Patient Background: A 7-Year-Old with Daily Abdominal Pain
A 7-year-old boy came in with:
- Abdominal pain for 2.5 years
- A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease
- Constipation tendencies
- Inability to eat breakfast due to pain
- Very slender build, concerning to his mother
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract—most commonly the lower small intestine. Conventional medicine states there is no known cause or cure, only lifelong medication and possibly surgery.
He had already been placed on:
- Budesonide (a steroid)
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
- Supplements
- Guidance from a health coach
These reduced his pain slightly, but he still had daily abdominal pain and could not eat breakfast.
Comprehensive Testing Revealed the Root Causes
I ran functional testing to uncover what was driving his inflammation.
- Food Sensitivities
He had:
- Gluten sensitivity
- Celiac genetics
- Egg sensitivity
- Other food reactions
- Leaky gut
- Infections
He tested positive for:
- Dientamoeba fragilis parasite
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Inflammation
His calprotectin (gut inflammation marker) had previously been very high.
- Toxins
He had:
- High mold toxins
- Elevated fungal antibodies
- Nutrient Deficiencies
Due to leaky gut and infections, he had low levels of:
- Vitamin A
- Selenium
- EPA
- Folate
- Other nutrients
These deficiencies can worsen inflammation and impair gut healing.
The Treatment Plan: FreeDiet® + Targeted Supplements
I put him on:
- The FreeDiet®
- Targeted supplements based on his testing
I’ll outline these below.
His Results: Pain Gone in 1 Month
At his 1-month follow-up:
- Abdominal pain was completely gone
- He was able to eat breakfast every morning
- Energy improved
- Appetite improved
At 3.5 months, a repeat stool test showed:
- Dientamoeba fragilis — gone
- Dysbiotic bacteria — gone
- Calprotectin — undetectable
He had also gained 8 lbs, filling out nicely.
At 6 months:
- Still no abdominal pain
- Normal bowel movements
- Completely symptom-free
- No medication the entire time
How the FreeDiet® Helped Him Heal
The FreeDiet® is a diet I developed years ago while healing my own Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, skin issues, and other chronic health problems.
The FreeDiet® foods to avoid in phase1:
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These are the foods most commonly responsible for inflammation, gut issues, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic health problems.
If you’d like a copy of the FreeDiet® Phase 1 Food Chart, I’ll include a link below.
What He Ate
- Breakfast: A nutrient-dense smoothie (recipe included with the chart)
- Lunch & Dinner: Meat, chicken, or fish with vegetables and healthy fats
As he improved, we introduced Phase 2 foods to tolerance.
Supplements That Supported His Recovery
He took the Functional Five™:
- Multivitamin
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Fish oil
- Probiotic
Plus targeted gut-supportive supplements:
- Nutrients he was deficient in: vitamin A, Methylfolate, vitamin C, selenium, zinc
Why This Worked: Fix the Inflammation at the Source
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease.
You can:
- Suppress inflammation with steroids, anti-inflammatories, and biologics OR
- Identify and eliminate the causes of inflammation
In his case, the root causes were:
- Food reactions (especially gluten)
- Parasites
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Mold toxins
- Nutrient deficiencies
Once these were addressed, the inflammation resolved—and so did the Crohn’s symptoms.
The Bottom Line: Healing Is Possible
With the right testing, the right diet, and the right supplements, this 7-year-old boy was able to:
- Heal his gut
- Eliminate abdominal pain
- Normalize inflammation
- Gain healthy weight
- Become symptom-free
- Avoid medication entirely
If you have chronic gut, thyroid, or other health issues, getting the proper testing to uncover your root causes—and being provided the right solutions—I believe can help almost anyone get better.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
