Diet Tips for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can be challenging, especially when it comes to your diet. Our blog, 'Diet Tips for Inflammatory Bowel Disease,' is your compass through this journey. We'll explore how your food choices can make a difference in managing IBD. From gut-friendly options to what to avoid, our goal is to provide practical insights for a healthier life with IBD.
A balanced diet is essential for sustaining excellent health with IBD. There is no one diet that is specifically for IBD, nor is there anything in your child's diet that causes IBD.
Diet with IBD is very individualised, since one child may be sensitive to one food while another is not. Furthermore, due to the body's failure to absorb nutrients efficiently or the increased demands caused by the inflammatory process, your child may be at risk for insufficient nutrition with IBD.
The recommended diet for IBD is the same as it is for a kid or adolescent who does not have IBD. A well-balanced whole-food diet rich in calories, protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and water is ideal. Consuming more vegetables and fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein sources, as well as fewer sugary and processed meals, falls under this category.
Some children and adolescents with IBD may develop dietary intolerances or sensitivities. Greasy or high-fat meals, dairy (lactose), coffee, or spicy foods are examples. These sensitivities or intolerances might rise or decrease over time, so keeping a food journal will help you track and identify any uncomfortable foods.
IBD Diet : What to Eat In case of a Flare Up
If a kid or adolescent has an intestinal stricture or narrowing, a "low residue diet" may be prescribed. This includes avoiding meals high in fibre to reduce the likelihood of foods becoming trapped and producing a blockage in the bowel. However, this is only a temporary diet, and the objective is to relieve the stricture or narrowing so that the kid or teen may return to their regular diet.
A low-residue diet may also help reduce symptoms during a flare; however, this varies from person to person with IBD.
When you have a stricture or flare, consider the following:
- Fruits should be peeled and pureed, while vegetables should be peeled, pureed, and cooked.
- Limit or minimise your consumption of gas-producing foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, beans and legumes, and cauliflower.
- Limit or eliminate raw or dried fruit, as well as fruits with skins and seeds.
- Select soft or processed fruits such as melon, ripe bananas, and applesauce.
- Instead of whole wheat, choose processed grains such as white bread, white rice, ordinary pastas, and cereals.
- Select lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, nut butters, and tofu.
- If lactose sensitivity develops, switch to lactose-free or non-dairy milk.
- Avoid eating nuts and seeds. Instead, use nut or seed butters.
- Avoid eating popcorn and corn.
- Reduce your intake of sweets such as juice, candy, and soda.
- Avoid fried and greasy meals.
- Chew your meal thoroughly to aid digestion.
- Consume smaller and more frequent meals.
- During a flare, it may be easier to drink than eat, so try a nutritious supplement like Boost or Ensure or homemade smoothies.
Eating following a flare-up
Reintroduce food gradually, every 1-2 days, and continue to avoid foods that trigger symptoms.
Increase fibre consumption as tolerated. Begin with canned or cooked vegetables, canned or cooked fruits, cooked cereals, and cooked pastas. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole-grain pastas, cereals, and breads, as tolerated.
Weight loss
Because of IBD, your child or adolescent is at risk for weight loss or poor development. Weight loss can occur as a result of diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, and exhaustion. Inability to absorb nutrients required by the body can also lead to weight loss and growth failure. Nutritional labs, weight gain, and growth must all be closely monitored. Your child's growth and development will be regularly monitored by Dr. Kiran Peddi’s IBD team.
Children and adolescents with IBD have distinct nutritional requirements. Some people may be able to tolerate one cuisine better than another. Others may have more problems with growth or absorption. It is critical to work with your child's IBD team and Dr. Kiran Peddi to develop an ideal nutrition regimen that minimises gastrointestinal discomfort while also encouraging healthy eating and growth.
Nutrition can be an important part of an IBD treatment regimen. With careful monitoring and consideration of unexpected outcomes, nutrition as a major IBD treatment is possible for certain children and teens.
There are several special diets available on the internet that may be beneficial or promising. If you find a diet that appeals to you, please contact your IBD team and Dr. Kiran Peddi.
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