Dietary Recommendations for Reducing Bowel Inflammation

Primary Foods to Eliminate

Sugar-sweetened beverages have been directly linked to increased etiopathogenic risk and a more severe multiyear clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease in prospective cohort studies, according to the American Gastroenterological Association 1, 2
Red and processed meats, especially for ulcerative colitis, should be eliminated from the diet to reduce flares, though evidence is weaker for Crohn's disease, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 1, 3
Ultraprocessed foods high in added sugar, salt, and artificial additives should be minimized, as suggested by the American Gastroenterological Association 1, 2

If you have intestinal strictures or active inflammation, avoid high-fiber foods in their raw, unprocessed form, and instead cook, steam, mash, or blend them to achieve a soft texture, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 2, 3, 4, 6
Raw fruits and vegetables, especially unpeeled apples, lettuce, and fibrous vegetables, should be avoided in their raw form, according to the American Gastroenterological Association 5
Whole corn should be avoided in its raw form, as suggested by the American Gastroenterological Association 6

The American Gastroenterological Association strongly recommends a Mediterranean diet pattern as the foundation, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, monounsaturated fats, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy if tolerated 1, 2, 5
Fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked or soft texture if strictures are present, are recommended, according to the American Gastroenterological Association 3, 4
Monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and nuts if tolerated, are suggested, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 5
Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, are recommended, according to the American Gastroenterological Association 5
Lean proteins, such as fish, poultry, shellfish, beans, and legumes, are suggested, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 1, 2

Do not adopt overly restrictive elimination diets, as IBD patients are already at high risk for malnutrition, and excessive restriction worsens nutritional deficiencies, as warned by the American Gastroenterological Association 5
Do not follow carnivore or other extreme restrictive diets, as they contradict evidence-based guidelines and eliminate essential nutrients, according to the American Gastroenterological Association 5
All patients with complicated IBD, malnutrition, or requiring complex nutrition therapies warrant co-management with a registered dietitian, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 5