Benefits of Working with a Registered Dietitian

Here are some of the key benefits of working with an RDN to manage inflammatory bowel conditions:

Develop a Healthy Eating Plan

An RDN can create an individualized eating plan to ensure you’re getting the recommended amount of nutrients while minimizing symptom flare-ups of IBD. A well-designed eating plan can also improve energy levels, support healing of the digestive tract, and promote overall health.

Some foods cause IBD flare-ups or are more difficult for those with IBD to digest. When you work with a dietitian, they will help you choose foods that are easy to digest, help your body combat inflammation, and are quality sources of essential nutrients.

Fiber is an important nutrient for managing IBD. It also supports gut health, heart health, and weight management, but increasing your fiber intake too quickly can cause uncomfortable bloating and gas. RDNs will help you gradually increase fiber intake to improve bowel consistency while minimizing the chances of unwanted side effects.

Help You Identify Food Triggers

Each case of IBD is unique. Some people can tolerate certain foods, like dairy, milk, wheat, and corn, without issue, while the same foods will cause a flare-up for others with the same condition. If needed, a dietitian can help you complete an elimination diet or food and symptom diary to identify which foods are your specific triggers. Then, you’ll work together to come up with ways to eat fewer trigger foods and find better-for-you alternatives.

Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies

IBD can impair how your body absorbs nutrients, especially during a flare-up. Common nutrient deficiencies for people with IBD include low iron, calcium, vitamin D, and B12 levels. True deficiencies of these nutrients can lead to anemia or poor bone health. RDNs can recommend specific foods and/or dietary supplements to increase intake of any nutrients of concern and prevent further health complications.

How Does Nutrition Play a Role in IBD Management?

A healthy diet is foundational for managing IBD. While there’s no cure for UC or Crohn’s disease, certain dietary strategies can help reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and promote healing of the gut lining. Proper nutrition is also vital for reducing malabsorption of important nutrients and preventing malnutrition.

IBD Diet

Nutrition therapy for IBD depends on your exact diagnosis and symptoms. We may employ different feeding strategies when you’re experiencing a flareup vs when you’re in remission. A common feature of IBD diets is identifying and avoiding trigger foods, which are anything you eat that causes or worsens symptoms, and increasing the intake of foods that help fight inflammation and promote healing of the gut lining.

Here are some of the diets commonly used to manage IBD:

Low Fiber Diet

Although eating enough fiber offers many health benefits, it can further irritate the digestive tract during an IBD flare-up. A low-fiber diet may be recommended to allow the gut lining to heal without worsening symptoms. On this diet, you’ll eat fewer high-fiber foods, including whole grains, raw fruit and vegetables, legumes, and nuts, and focus on easier-to-digest foods. This diet may include lean meat, eggs, white rice, white bread, and small amounts of fiber from soft-cooked vegetables.

High Fiber Diet

Eating a high-fiber diet is encouraged when IBD symptoms are in remission. Fiber is a prebiotic, which means it serves as food for the bacteria in your gut microbiome. Proper feeding of your microbiome is essential for keeping the good bacteria that promote a strong and healthy gut lining and minimizing the growth of bad bacteria that harm your gut health. Eating more fiber also improves the regularity and consistency of bowel movements.

Anti-Inflammatory Diets

On an anti-inflammatory diet, we focus on eating primarily whole foods and limiting the intake of highly processed foods. Whole foods refers to foods that are naturally occurring, not made in a factory, and undergo minimal processing. Examples include fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, meat, and seafood. 

Whole foods make up the foundation of an anti-inflammatory diet because they’re nutrient-dense foods, including gut-healthy fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. On the other hand, heavily processed foods lack essential nutrients and are high in sugar, unrefined carbohydrates, unhealthy fat, and sodium—all things that can contribute to inflammation and worsen IBD symptoms. Examples include packaged snacks, sweets, cereals, convenience foods, and soft drinks.

The Mediterranean diet is likely the most well-known example of an anti-inflammatory diet. It includes healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish and walnuts, and plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as berries and leafy greens. These foods can help your body fight inflammation and promote gut healing for fewer IBD symptoms and flare-ups.

Conclusion

If you’ve received a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or other form of IBD, a registered dietitian can support you in effectively managing your condition. Through dietary changes and meal planning, you can reduce symptoms, improve gut conditions, and support overall health. Nutrition counseling is never just about the food on your plate—the ultimate goal is to empower you to be in control of your health and live a more balanced life to optimize wellness.