TL;DR

Some studies suggest that food choices may affect symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Research has linked food sensitivities, high sugar and starch intake, and fast food with worse symptoms, while certain diet approaches have been linked with symptom improvement in some people.

Diet and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions involve ongoing inflammation of the digestive tract. While diet does not cause IBD, research suggests that what people eat may affect symptoms in some cases.

Food Sensitivities and Symptoms

Some people with IBD may react poorly to specific foods. A small study published in South African Family Practice (June 1995; 16:393–399) looked at the effects of an elimination diet in people with IBD. Six out of seven patients became symptom-free after removing certain foods.

Foods that caused problems varied from person to person and included:

  • Pineapple

  • Banana

  • Cheese

  • Tomato

  • Coffee

  • Milk

This suggests that individual food sensitivities may matter for some people with IBD.

Elemental Diets and Gut Rest

Another approach studied is the elemental diet, where nutrients are given in liquid form so digestion requires very little work from the gut.

A study published in Hepato-Gastroenterology (1990; 37:72–80) examined people with Crohn’s disease who followed an elemental diet. In this study, patients on the elemental diet improved more than patients receiving drug therapy.

The idea behind this approach is that giving the digestive tract a break may reduce irritation and allow healing.

Sugar, Starch, and Fast Food

Several studies suggest that refined carbohydrates may be linked with worse IBD symptoms.

  • A study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (January 1995; 7(1):47–51) found that people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis tended to eat more starch and sugar than expected.

  • Another study published in Epidemiology (January 1992; 3(1):47–52) followed people with IBD and healthy controls for three years. It found:

    • Higher sugar intake was linked with a higher risk of Crohn’s disease

    • Higher fiber intake was linked with lower risk

    • Fast food intake was linked with increased risk of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

A Dietary Theory: The Specific Carbohydrate Model

These findings are often discussed in relation to ideas proposed by Elaine Gottschall in her book Ending the Vicious Cycle.

Gottschall suggested that eating large amounts of starches and certain sugars may overwhelm digestion. Undigested carbohydrates may feed gut bacteria, irritating the intestinal lining. This irritation may reduce digestive enzyme production, leading to even more undigested food and ongoing inflammation.

Her approach recommends:

  • Avoiding starches and refined sugars

  • Allowing sugars naturally found in fresh fruit

Some people with IBD report symptom improvement using this approach, though not everyone responds the same way.

The Big Picture

Research suggests that:

  • Food sensitivities may affect symptoms in some people with IBD

  • High intake of sugar, starch, and fast food may be linked with worse outcomes

  • Certain diet approaches may support symptom relief in select individuals

These findings highlight the idea that IBD symptoms can be influenced by many small factors adding up, including diet. Dietary strategies should be understood as supportive and educational, not as a replacement for medical care.