Advertisement

7 foods to skip if you have IBD

Steering clear of these foods can help ease digestion.

Updated on October 26, 2022

A trip to the grocery store.
1 / 8

When people are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), one of the first questions they’re likely to ask their healthcare providers (HCPs) is, “What can I eat?” But the better question might be, “What can’t I eat?” While diet doesn’t cause ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, certain foods can be difficult to digest, and other foods can actually make yourShow More

A woman eating a greasy cheeseburger.
2 / 8
High-Fat Foods

Fried foods and other heavy, greasy meals should be limited by pretty much everybody because they’re high in calories and saturated fat. But if you’ve got IBD, they’re problematic for another reason. “Fatty foods are more difficult and slower to digest, and that often leads to stomach upset,” saysShow More

Slicing apples.
3 / 8
Raw Fruit and Veggies

Raw food may be trendy among health-food advocates right now, but it’s high on the list of tricky foods if you have IBD. That’s because raw fruit and vegetables can lead to additional bloating, gas, and stomach pain, says Woodward. The biggest offenders are edible produce skins (such as the skin onShow More

coffee
4 / 8
Coffee and Other Risky Drinks

Caffeine and alcohol aren’t recommended because both are stimulants, which means they can worsen some IBD symptoms, such as diarrhea and cramping. Sodas and other carbonated drinks are also on the “to be avoided” list because anything that introduces more gas into your digestive system can make youShow More

spicy soup
5 / 8
Spicy Dishes

Your taste buds may be in heaven after a bite of buffalo wings, chicken vindaloo, or some other fiery feast. But if you’ve got IBD, chances are the rest of your GI tract won’t be loving it so much. The problem? Spicy foods are gastric stimulants (just like alcohol and caffeine) and can irritateShow More

A woman eats mixed nuts.
6 / 8
Nuts, Seeds, and Popcorn

Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds: Nutritionists are usually big fans of these foods because they contain healthy fats and other beneficial phytonutrients. But they’re no-gos if you’re living with IBD, mainly because they’re difficult for your body to digest and can often causeShow More

A glass of milk.
7 / 8
Dairy Products

Research suggests there’s little difference in dairy tolerance between people with IBD and those without IBD. But some people with IBD report that milk, cheese, and other dairy products make their symptoms worse, especially if they have Crohn’s disease (and may be lactose intolerant). Whether youShow More

woman eating in car
8 / 8
Anything Eaten Quickly

Keep in mind that the digestive process starts in your mouth, and the better you chew your food before you swallow it, the easier it will be for the rest of your digestive system to do its job. “Take time to slow down when you’re eating,” says Woodward. “After all, eating should be a relaxing activity.”

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Schreiner P, Martinho-Grueber M, et al. Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Digestion 2020;101(suppl 1):120-135. 
Knight-Sepulveda K, Kais S, et al. Diet and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(8):511-520.
Fedewa A, Rao SS. Dietary fructose intolerance, fructan intolerance and FODMAPs. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2014;16(1):370.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. What Should I Eat? Accessed October 26, 2022.
Y Chen, C Ma, et al. P082 Spicy food is a vital trigger for relapse in patient with inflammatory bowel disease, Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, Volume 14, Issue Supplement_1, January 2020, Page S176. 
Reddavide R, Rotolo O, Caruso MG, et al. The role of diet in the prevention and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Acta Biomed. 2018;89(9-S):60-75. Published 2018 Dec 17. 
IBD Clinic University of Alberta. IBD and Diet: Lactose Intolerance. Accessed October 26, 2022.

Featured Content

Can mindful eating help you manage ulcerative colitis?

article

Can mindful eating help you manage ulcerative colitis?
Digestion is the process by which the gastrointestinal (GI) tract breaks down the foods and beverages you consume into smaller and smaller pieces. The...
Coping with the mental and emotional burden of ulcerative colitis

article

Coping with the mental and emotional burden of ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a type of irritable bowel disease (IBD). Like other chronic illnesses, ulcerative colitis (UC) can take a toll on a person’s emo...
Avoiding stress-induced IBD flares

article

Avoiding stress-induced IBD flares
Stress can have numerous negative effects on your health. For people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), stress may lead to flare-ups or wor...
Mind your health: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and mental health

video

Mind your health: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and mental health
When building a treatment plan for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, you should focus on your mental health and physical condition.
6 drug options for Crohn's disease

article

6 drug options for Crohn's disease
Recent years have given rise to a treatment revolution for the more than 1.4 million Americans who live with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which i...