Each month we analyze all the latest studies and resources relevant to nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Then we summarize them and bring you everything you need to know about using nutritional therapy to help manage Crohn’s and colitis.
This month, we’ll cover:
Highlights from our CCC attendance in San Francisco
Monthly Research Highlights
Upcoming ECCO Attendance & Poster Presentation
Easy Gut-Friendly Recipes for Ramadan
Reading Food-Labels
First reviews on the IBD Nutrition Navigator
Patient Testimonial
Highlights from CCC
It was an honor to attend the annual Crohn's and Colitis Congress in San Francisco earlier this month. Being surrounded by many of the world's most prominent IBD healthcare providers, patient advocates, and industry leaders was inspiring! Thank you to all who stopped by our booth to learn more about our comprehensive resources and test out the recently released IBD Nutrition Navigator™. We received overwhelmingly positive responses and support for the tool!
Here are some of our key takeaways from the nutrition presentations:
Nutrition discussions should take place from the very first visit with a GI healthcare provider
Oriana Damas, MD, presented evidence on the efficacy of exclusive enteral nutrition in Crohn’s disease and room for improvement when implementing diet as part of medical IBD care:
Despite many recently approved biologic treatments, most patients don’t experience durable remission
8 weeks of EEN nutrition therapy in patients with mild to moderate Crohn's disease resulted in:
79% clinical remission vs. 68% with steroid treatment
74% mucosal healing vs. 33% with steroid treatment
The need for prior authorization can lead to a delay of 21 days in biologic initiation 👉 starting a dietary option immediately can improve patient outcomes, but the reality is that nutrition care is underutilized.
Kelly Issokson, RD, presented a checklist on nutrition care before and after surgery:
👉 Post-operative care starts before surgery
👉 Consider the exclusive use of a liquid diet for 4-6 weeks before surgery in patients with Crohn’s disease
👉 Discuss diet at all phases of IBD but especially after surgery, as avoidant habits/restricted diets seen in patients undergoing surgery are hard to break
👉 Oral nutrition supplements after surgery are associated with ⬇ length of hospital stay, ⬇ complications, and ⬆ quality of life
💡Stay tuned for a new practical website resource on best practices on nutrition care before and after IBD-related surgeries in the March newsletter
Practical tips to transition towards a Mediterranean diet:
✅ Diet in IBD shouldn’t be approached from the perspective of restriction
✅ Adjust specific foods based on whether the patient is in remission or a flare
✅ Add legumes gradually
✅ It's a myth that dairy products are pro-inflammatory, so patients with IBD can include them, preferably as fermented dairy
✅ Choose white meats (poultry without skin), enjoy eggs daily, and don’t forget to include omega-3-rich fish such as tuna, sardines, and salmon, either fresh or canned
This week, we will be at the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization Conference in Berlin
👉 Visit our Booth #1 in Hall 2.2 and get a live introduction to the IBD Nutrition Navigator™and our other resources from our team
👉 Come see our poster P0605 during the guided poster presentation on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the poster exhibition hall 2.2, from 12:40 to 13:40. Here are the main takeaways from our poster available in the ECCO’25 abstract book:
✅ From 2023 to 2024, there were 453,103 visits and 151,588 active users to our website from 10 countries, highlighting internet users are interested in evidence-based information about dietary interventions for IBD
✅ The most valuable resources of Nutritional Therapy for IBD were:
🔸 Research summaries (80.0%)
🔸 Resources for implementing nutritional therapies in daily life (73.8%)
🔸 Detailed information on specific nutritional therapies (68.8%)
✅ Scientific rigor combined with accessible language are distinctive features of Nutritional Therapy for IBD, developed to help healthcare professionals and patients integrate nutrition as part of medical and surgical IBD care
👉 Can’t make it to attend ECCO’24 in person? Look for our ECCO nutrition highlights in March and April.
Easy Gut-Friendly Recipes for Ramadan
With Ramadan is approaching, we like to help you find some IBD-friendly dishes that are gentle on the digestive system, provide sustained energy, and are appropriate for pre-dawn (suhoor) and post-fast (iftar) meals. People with IBD should pay close attention to hydration, fiber intake, and meal composition to minimize digestive discomfort during this month. Eating balanced meals can help sustain energy levels while reducing the risk of symptoms like bloating or cramping. Additionally, it's helpful to break the fast gradually with small portions before consuming larger meals.
Here are some recipes from the site that may be appropriate:
Paleo Walnut Date Energy Balls: Consuming these energy balls during suhoor can provide a quick source of energy due to the natural sugars in dates and the healthy fats in walnuts and coconut.
Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk): This warm, soothing beverage combines turmeric with milk and spices, offering anti-inflammatory benefits. It's a comforting choice for suhoor or iftar.
Nourishing Tomato Oat Soup: A wholesome and hearty option for iftar that helps replenish fluids after a day of fasting. This soup combines roasted tomatoes, onions, garlic, and celery, blended with vegetable broth and steel-cut oats, then simmered until the oats are tender.
Lemon Paprika Chicken: This zesty dish features boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic, and fresh thyme. It's flavorful and provides a good source of protein, making it suitable for iftar when the body needs to rebuild and recover.
Eggplant Delight: The combination of sautéed vegetables and aromatic spices in this dish provides a comforting and nutritious option to replenish energy levels.
Butternut Squash Avocado Brownie Bites: These healthy brownie bites are made with butternut squash and avocado, offering a grain- and refined sugar-free dessert option. They can be a delightful treat after iftar, providing a source of fiber and nutrients without overloading the digestive system.
During Ramadan, staying hydrated during non-fasting hours is essential, especially for those with IBD who may already be prone to dehydration. Sipping water consistently after iftar and choosing water-rich foods, like cucumbers and soups, can help.
As always, individuals should consult with their healthcare provider or dietitian if they have concerns about fasting with IBD or need personalized advice on managing their diet during Ramadan.
Wishing you a healthy and peaceful Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!
Reading Nutrition Labels
A New Resource and COGI Instagram Live Event
The first question IBD patients often ask is “What do I eat?” But how do you really know what you’re eating?
Nutritional Therapy for IBD and Colors of Gastrointestinal Illness (COGI) are going LIVE to explore packaged food nutrition labels and how to read them. We will help answer questions like:
What should I look for or avoid when reading a product’s ingredient list?
Is “sugar” disguised using different names on package labels?
What do phrases like “natural flavors” and “grass-fed” really mean?
And more!
Take a look at our newest Lifestyle article Decoding the Mystery: Making Sense of Food Labels. Then join the discussion as we unpack the confusion about packaged food! Keep an eye on our events page and social media for the exact date and time.
First reviews on The IBD Nutrition Navigator™
Last month we launched our long awaited tool: The IBD Nutrition Navigator™! This web-based tool encourages clinician/patient conversations at every stage, from early diagnosis to long-term care, to explore tailored dietary modifications in combination with medication. We have received an overwhelming positive response. Here are some of the first reactions.
“As a clinical dietitian specializing in IBD, the IBD Nutrition Navigator has become a prominent resource in my daily nutrition consulting. Its focus on personalizing IBD nutrition care with specialized recommendations makes it an excellent catalyst to providing patient-centered care. It's a game changer!"
Carly Alba, MS, RDN, CD
Outpatient Clinical Dietitian
Intermountain Medical Center
“This tool is a great first step in provider and patient discussions around dietary therapies that have been researched to provide relief to those living with IBD. The tool is so powerful because it provides specific recommendations demystifying the options while taking into account the disease state and other factors that are known to impact adherence to dietary interventions like resources."
We are collecting testimonials from patients who are using nutritional therapies to help manage their IBD. Today we share with you Dustyn’s story and how the low FODMAP diet has helped him with his IBS symptoms that are part of his Crohn’s disease.
At Nutritional Therapy for IBD, we are grateful for the collaboration and support of our Corporate Partners!
*Please note that Nutritional Therapy for IBD does not provide medical advice. The content provided here is for informational purposes only. Patients should always talk with their healthcare providers before changing their diet.*
Nutritional Therapy for IBD, 1050 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, PO Box #1666, Mount Pleasant, SC 29465
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