Last updated: June 2026
If you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you've probably asked yourself at least one of these questions:
- Should I stop eating fibre?
- Is gluten making my IBD worse?
- Do I need to avoid dairy?
- Are probiotics worth taking?
- Why do I still have symptoms when my tests are normal?
- Is there actually an IBD diet I should be following?
These are some of the most common questions I hear in clinic.
And honestly, I understand why.
Food is one of the few things that feels within your control when you're living with IBD. When symptoms are unpredictable, it's natural to start looking for answers in your diet.
The problem is that there is so much conflicting advice online. One article tells you to avoid fibre. Another says you need more of it. One person swears dairy is the problem. Another insists everyone with IBD should go gluten free.
It's no wonder people end up confused.
As both an IBD Specialist Dietitian and someone living with Crohn's disease myself, these are the questions I answer most often and what the current evidence actually tells us.
Question 1: Is There an IBD Diet I Should Be Following?
The short answer is no.
There is currently no single diet that works for everyone with IBD.
That's because IBD is incredibly individual. The foods that work well for one person may not work for someone else.
What you can tolerate often depends on:
- Whether your IBD is active or in remission
- Where inflammation is located in your digestive tract
- Whether you have strictures or narrowing
- Your current symptoms
- Whether IBS-type symptoms are also present
- Your medications and overall nutritional status
That said, there are specific dietary approaches used in certain situations.
During a flare
Some people with Crohn's disease may be prescribed a liquid diet called Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) under the supervision of their IBD team and specialist dietitian.
For mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease
The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) may sometimes be recommended. This combines specific food choices with partial liquid nutrition and has been shown to help some people achieve remission.
For ongoing symptoms in remission
If inflammation is controlled but symptoms continue, a Low FODMAP Diet may be helpful where IBS overlaps with IBD. This should always be done with specialist support because the reintroduction phase is essential.
During remission
Current guidelines support working towards a Mediterranean-style eating pattern, including:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Wholegrains
- Pulses
- Nuts and seeds
- Olive oil
- Fish
while limiting highly processed foods and large amounts of red and processed meat.
Question 2: Should I Stop Eating Fibre?
This is probably the biggest misconception I see in clinic.
Many people are advised to reduce fibre during a flare. The problem is that nobody tells them when and how to add it back in.
Years later, they're still avoiding fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains because they're worried symptoms will return.
For most people with IBD, fibre restriction is a temporary strategy, not a lifelong one.
Fibre plays several important roles:
- Feeds beneficial gut bacteria
- Supports production of short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate
- Helps maintain the gut lining
- Supports overall digestive health
If you've been avoiding fibre for a long time, increasing it gradually is important.
A gentle starting point might include:
- Cooked vegetables instead of raw salads
- Smooth nut butter instead of whole nuts
- Peeled fruit
- Porridge oats
- Small portions of well-cooked lentils
If you have strictures or bowel narrowing, fibre advice needs to be individualised by your IBD team or specialist dietitian.
Question 3: Is Gluten Making My IBD Worse?
Not necessarily.
Many people notice symptoms after eating bread, pasta or cereal and assume gluten is the problem.
However, there are several possible explanations.
Sometimes people feel better because they:
- Eat fewer highly processed foods
- Reduce fructans, a type of carbohydrate found in wheat
- Have overlapping IBS symptoms that respond to dietary changes
This is different from gluten directly causing inflammation.
Unless you have coeliac disease too, there is currently no evidence that everyone with IBD should avoid gluten.
Before removing gluten completely:
- Speak to your GP
- Make sure coeliac disease has been tested for
- Consider whether IBS-type symptoms could be contributing
Unnecessary gluten restriction can make eating more difficult, more expensive and may reduce overall fibre intake.
Question 4: Do I Need to Avoid Dairy?
For many people, the issue isn't dairy itself but lactose, the natural sugar found in milk.
Some people temporarily become more sensitive to lactose during a flare, particularly if inflammation affects areas involved in digestion and absorption.
The important thing to remember is that dairy foods provide nutrients including:
- Calcium
- Protein
- Iodine
- Vitamin B12
Not all dairy foods contain the same amount of lactose.
Many people tolerate:
- Yoghurt
- Hard cheese
- Kefir
- Lactose-free milk
If you're considering removing dairy completely, it's worth discussing this with your dietitian first.
Question 5: Are Probiotics Worth Taking?
This is where marketing often gets ahead of the evidence.
Many probiotic products promise to improve gut health, but the research in IBD is mixed.
For Crohn's disease, there is currently very little strong evidence supporting routine probiotic use.
For ulcerative colitis and pouchitis, some specific probiotic strains may have a role in certain situations, but results are inconsistent and highly strain-specific.
This means:
- Not all probiotics do the same thing
- The strain matters
- Higher doses are not necessarily better
- Some products have never been studied in IBD
In some people, probiotics can even worsen bloating and discomfort.
If you're considering a probiotic, it's worth discussing whether there's a specific reason for taking one rather than choosing a product at random.
Question 6: Why Do I Still Have Symptoms When My Tests Are Normal?
This is one of the most frustrating situations people experience.
You are told your inflammation markers are normal.
Your colonoscopy looks reassuring.
But you still feel far from well.
You may be experiencing:
- Bloating
- Urgency
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Food-related symptoms
- Anxiety around eating
The good news is that these symptoms are real, common and often have explanations beyond active inflammation.
Nutritional deficiencies
People with IBD remain at risk of deficiencies even during remission.
Regular monitoring may include:
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D
- Folate
A blood test can only tell part of the story. Looking at your diet is equally important.
IBS-type symptoms
Research suggests that up to one-third of people with IBD in remission experience IBS-like symptoms.
When this happens, the solution is often different from treating active IBD.
That's why understanding whether symptoms are coming from inflammation, food intolerances, IBS overlap or nutritional issues is so important.
The Most Important Thing to Know About Diet and IBD
There isn't one perfect IBD diet.
The best dietary approach depends on where you are in your disease journey, your symptoms, your nutritional needs and your personal tolerances.
For many people in remission, the current evidence points towards:
- Eating as much variety as possible
- Gradually including fibre in forms you tolerate
- Following a Mediterranean-style eating pattern
- Limiting highly processed foods
- Reducing excessive amounts of red and processed meat
- Having regular nutritional reviews
IBD changes over time so your diet will need to adapt with it.
Learning how to adapt your eating to what your body and disease are doing is often far more valuable than following a rigid set of food rules.
Still Not Sure Which Foods Are Helping or Hindering Your Symptoms?
One of the biggest frustrations I hear from people with IBD is this:
"I feel like I'm doing everything right, but I still don't know what's actually causing my symptoms."
If that sounds familiar, the IBD Nutrition Assessment may be a helpful next step.
This is a one-off, 60-minute consultation designed to help you get clarity on your diet, symptoms and the one thing that is most important to focus on right now.
What's Included?
- A custom food and symptom diary template to complete before your appointment
- Detailed review by an IBD Specialist Dietitian
- A 60-minute online consultation
- A personalised written report with key recommendations
- A strategic action plan focused on your highest-priority nutrition goal
Whether you're newly diagnosed, struggling with ongoing symptoms despite being in remission, or feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, this assessment can help you understand what to focus on next.
Investment: £247
You can find out more and book your assessment here.