Is there one diet that treats my disease?

No. There is no single diet that suits every patient or replaces medicines. The aim is varied food that protects you from malnutrition, and you should not cut out foods without a clear reason Proven

What is the best everyday pattern in remission?

• A Mediterranean diet: varied vegetables and fruit, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and fish twice a week Proven
• Fewer ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks and fast food Proven
• In ulcerative colitis: less red and processed meat Proven

What should I change during a flare?

• Small, frequent meals and soft, low-coarse-fibre foods for a short time, with protein at every meal.
• Enough fluids, and oral rehydration solution with severe diarrhoea.
• If you are eating little or losing weight, your team may prescribe a medical formula Proven
• Return to varied food as soon as you improve; a temporary diet does not treat inflammation.

Should I avoid fibre and vegetables?

No, unless you have a narrowing of the bowel. Vegetables and fruit are helpful, and with a narrowing they are peeled and well cooked or mashed rather than removed Proven

Should I stop dairy or gluten?

Only if you are proven not to tolerate them. Laban, yoghurt and lactose-free milk are good alternatives that keep your calcium up. Do not start a gluten-free diet before being tested for coeliac disease.

Should I avoid additives and emulsifiers?

Reducing ultra-processed food in general is helpful. But a recent trial found that emulsifiers within a healthy diet did not change Crohn's disease activity over 4 weeks May help, so there is no need to worry about every E-number unless you are on a specific treatment diet.

Are there diets that help treat the disease?

• Crohn's disease: exclusive enteral nutrition (formula only, for several weeks) settles the disease, with the strongest evidence in children. The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet with partial enteral nutrition may settle mild to moderate disease of recent onset; it is proven in children, and adult trials are small but encouraging Proven
• Promising recent results: a whole-food diet lowered inflammation markers in young people with silent inflammation, and a "fasting-mimicking" diet for 5 days a month improved mild to moderate Crohn's disease May help These are used only under the team's supervision.
• Ulcerative colitis: no treatment diet is proven yet, and the Mediterranean diet is a safe choice.
• After Crohn's surgery: in one trial, two months of liquid nutrition reduced the return of inflammation at one year May help; discuss it with your doctor.

Bloating and diarrhoea even though the disease is quiet?

A temporary low FODMAP diet with a dietitian may help, once tests confirm the inflammation is controlled Proven

What about vitamins and smoking?

• Iron, vitamin D, B12 and folate are checked regularly and replaced if low Proven
• Smoking worsens Crohn's disease, and stopping is one of the most important treatment steps Proven