Doctors say processed food may make IBD worse, Mediterranean diet can help control it
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Sep 18, 2025, 21:44 IST
A study from Poland shows that diet plays a key role in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People who eat anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, and fish experience milder symptoms, while red meat and processed foods may worsen the condition. Experts recommend a Mediterranean diet along with lifestyle changes to support IBD treatment.
A new study from Poland has found that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may feel better by changing their diet. The research shows that those who eat more fruits, vegetables, and fish tend to have milder symptoms. On the contrary, eating more red meat and processed food may make the condition worse.
IBD is a long-term illness that causes swelling in the digestive tract. It includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms often include stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. In the United States, about 2.4 to 3.1 million people live with IBD. Doctors do not fully know what causes it, but both genes and the environment play a role.
The study was carried out at the Medical University of Lodz in Poland. It included 90 patients with IBD. Of them, 46 had Crohn’s disease and 44 had ulcerative colitis. Each person shared details about their diet through interviews and food surveys. They also gave blood samples to measure inflammation levels.
Researchers used a tool called the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) to score how healthy or harmful each diet was. A lower DII score means the food causes less inflammation, while a higher score means the opposite. The results showed that people with low DII scores had milder symptoms or were in remission. This means their disease was not active. Those with higher scores were up to three times more likely to have moderate to severe symptoms.
Even after considering other factors such as age, smoking, and medication, the trend remained the same. Red meat, processed foods, and sugary items were linked to worse symptoms. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish, and whole grains were linked to better outcomes.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta from the University of California told Medical News Today that the study supports what doctors already know and that is, diet matters. He said processed foods can damage the gut and increase swelling. He advised people with IBD to follow a Mediterranean-style diet with more fresh and natural foods.
Dr. Amit Ahuja from Cylinder Health agreed. He said eating healthy is important, but it should also be combined with good sleep, less stress, and regular exercise. The study had a small sample size, so more research is needed. But experts believe diet changes could help people manage IBD better, along with regular treatment.
IBD is a long-term illness that causes swelling in the digestive tract. It includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms often include stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. In the United States, about 2.4 to 3.1 million people live with IBD. Doctors do not fully know what causes it, but both genes and the environment play a role.
The study was carried out at the Medical University of Lodz in Poland. It included 90 patients with IBD. Of them, 46 had Crohn’s disease and 44 had ulcerative colitis. Each person shared details about their diet through interviews and food surveys. They also gave blood samples to measure inflammation levels.
Anti-inflammatory diets linked to fewer symptoms
Researchers used a tool called the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) to score how healthy or harmful each diet was. A lower DII score means the food causes less inflammation, while a higher score means the opposite. The results showed that people with low DII scores had milder symptoms or were in remission. This means their disease was not active. Those with higher scores were up to three times more likely to have moderate to severe symptoms.
Even after considering other factors such as age, smoking, and medication, the trend remained the same. Red meat, processed foods, and sugary items were linked to worse symptoms. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish, and whole grains were linked to better outcomes.
Doctors suggest lifestyle changes along with treatment
Dr. Raj Dasgupta from the University of California told Medical News Today that the study supports what doctors already know and that is, diet matters. He said processed foods can damage the gut and increase swelling. He advised people with IBD to follow a Mediterranean-style diet with more fresh and natural foods.
Dr. Amit Ahuja from Cylinder Health agreed. He said eating healthy is important, but it should also be combined with good sleep, less stress, and regular exercise. The study had a small sample size, so more research is needed. But experts believe diet changes could help people manage IBD better, along with regular treatment.