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What is IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective name for chronic conditions characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The two main types are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis affects only the colon and rectum.
In IBD, there is a disruption of the balance of bacteria that stimulate and activate the immune system. Extra inflammatory cells are created which irritate and damage the lining of the intestines. This fuels inflammation and makes it difficult for the body to heal itself.
Why Does Nutrition Matter in IBD?
For a long time, it was thought that diet does not matter when it comes to managing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two conditions that are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Growing evidence suggests that food does indeed matter, as diet is both a risk factor,2 and a therapeutic option. Increasing evidence associates Western diet and ultra-processed foods with the development of IBD,3 while growing evidence points to the therapeutic potential of manipulating diet.4
Hear From the Experts Why Nutrition Matters
Eating with IBD: A Personalized Approach
Living with IBD can make eating feel complicated. Symptoms, flares, and past experiences can shape how people relate to food, and it’s common for food to feel unpredictable, or even something to avoid. There is no single diet that works for everyone with IBD.
Learning about individual, evidence-based nutritional approaches, with guidance from your healthcare team, can help identify options that are safe, effective, and appropriate for each specific situation. Over time, this personalized approach can help restore confidence with food and return to a well-balanced diet while at the same time feeling well again.
The IBD Nutrition Navigator™
A Practical Guidance Tool for Integrating Nutrition into IBD Care
Because disease type, disease activity, and personal circumstances vary, choosing the right approach can feel overwhelming. "What should I eat?” is the most common question for patients after an IBD diagnosis. Our new algorithm-based tool assists healthcare providers and patients in using nutritional therapy alongside medication to optimize IBD care.
The IBD Nutrition Navigator™ follows a patient-centered approach and shared decision-making at every step. Together, the healthcare provider and the patient choose the right nutritional therapy after assessing nutritional status, evaluating the disease state, and considering the patient’s goals, resources, and interest in dietary treatment.
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References
- Wang R, Li Z, Liu S, et alGlobal, regional and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 BMJ Open 2023;13:e065186. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-06518
- Lo CH, Lochhead P, Khalili H, et al. Dietary Inflammatory Potential and Risk of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Gastroenterology. 2020;159(3):873-883.e1. doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.011
- Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al. Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. Published 2021 Jul 14. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554
- Sasson AN, Ananthakrishnan AN, Raman M. Diet in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;19(3):425-435.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2019.11.054
- García-Mateo S., Jesús Martínez-Domínguez S.,et al., Healthy Lifestyle Is a Protective Factor from Moderate and Severe Relapses and Steroid Use in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Volume 31, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 95–104, https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izae062
- F.Chicco, S.Magrì, et al., Multidimensional Impact of Mediterranean Diet on IBD Patients, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Volume 27, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izaa097
- Rozich JJ, Holmer A, Singh S. Effect of Lifestyle Factors on Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020;115(6):832-840. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000608
