May 19th is World IBD Day. This year, we’re spotlighting the vital role of nutrition in managing IBD—from easing symptoms to supporting remission and improving quality of life.

Further in this month’s issue:
🥜 Healthy Snack Challenge – join us for 4 weeks of simple, nourishing recipes
🧠 DDW Nutrition Highlights – on diet, microbiota, and innovative IBD strategies
🧭 IBD Nutrition Navigator – Read the details behind the steps of our practical tool to support shared decision-making in IBD nutritional care. 

So let's dive into this information-packed newsletter!

World IBD Day - May 19, 2025
Raising the Voice of Nutrition in IBD

Since 2010, World IBD Day has united people across the globe to raise awareness and show support for those living with IBD.

This year, we’re spotlighting a vital theme: Nutrition Matters in IBD.

For patients, this means recognizing that food isn’t just fuel—it’s an important part of care. Dietary choices can help induce and support remission, ease symptoms, and promote overall well-being.

For caregivers, it may involve preparing fresh, whole foods that are both nourishing and easy to tolerate. And for friends and loved ones, it might be as simple as choosing restaurants with IBD-friendly menu options when dining out together.

No matter your role, help raise the voice that nutrition plays a pivotal role in managing IBD.

Look for us on social media, starting May 17th, as we share personal stories that highlight the power of nutrition, resilience, and connection.

IBD Snack Challenge

Introducing the Healthy Snack Challenge, brought to you by IBD Connect and Nutritional Therapy for IBD! 

From May 16th-June 12th, we’re serving up 3 nourishing snack recipes each week. Your mission? Choose just 1 snack each week, make it, and send us a quick photo of your creation! Here are more details: 

• Recipes will be released every Friday afternoon 
• Always one "flare-friendly" option
• Email your photo each week to lisafournier@ibdconnectinc.org and emilyfournier@ibdconnectinc.org

The first twenty-five participants to sign up and complete the challenge will receive a prize, but the real reward is building healthier habits that will last! 

Join the challenge here: Healthy Snack Challenge Registration

Want a sneak snack peak?  Here are a few of the delicious recipes you will find during the challenge.

Single-Ingredient Parmesan Crisps

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Smooth and Soft Nut Butter Brownies

A Refreshing Immunity Blend SmoothieT

DDW Nutrition Highlights

From 3-6 May 2025, Nutritional Therapy for IBD joined the global digestive health community at Digestive Disease Week® in San Diego, CA.

Here are some key highlights on nutrition, IBD, and the gut microbiota:

✅ While what we know about the microbiome comes from studying feces (large intestine), the small intestine microbiome is different and may play a role in:

🔸Abdominal pain

🔸IBS with diarrhea

🔸The recovery after antibiotics

✅ A flexible diet may have a space in the management of IBD alongside the standard of care:

🔸The plant-based nature of a diet seems to be more relevant than cutting out calories to relieve symptoms of depression.

🔸A plant-based calorie-restricted diet may improve symptoms and decrease C-reactive protein in mild-to-moderate Crohn’s disease.

🔸A catered low-fat, high-fiber diet may improve Crohn’s disease symptoms, inflammation, and quality of life.

🔸Time-restricted feeding may improve metabolic health in patients with Crohn’s disease and overweight.

✅ Healthy diets with adequate dietary fiber (more than 25 g/day) are well tolerated in quiescent IBD.

✅ Restrictive eating in gastrointestinal conditions could be a maladaptive coping strategy* in some patients.

*Strategy related to emotional states, fatigue/boredom, and external factors that feel good temporarily but often aren’t helpful long-term or make it worse.

✅ Gut bugs are becoming central players in IBD  👉 new potential treatments could hijack tryptophan metabolism towards anti-inflammatory metabolites.

✅ Moving from a high to low area with poor  presence of IBD 👉 allows the adoption of the host country lifestyle 👉 normalization of the high risk of IBD over one to two generations.

✅ The lack of gut microbes involved in the metabolism of food 👉may contribute to explaining why adverse reactions to foods are common in IBD (more than one food components are involved!) 

👉 Stay tuned for extensive nutritional highlights and key takeaways from DDW 2025 in the June newsletter!

The  IBD Nutrition Navigator™

An Evidence-Based Tool

The IBD Nutrition Navigator™ was developed to enhance the lives of patients with IBD. It serves as a tool that fosters conversation between healthcare providers and patients about incorporating dietary options into the treatment plan, tailored to the individual circumstances and goals of the patient. Read the full documentation behind the navigator - download the printable algorithm and visit the tool.

Support our Mission

Our resources are free so everyone can access reliable nutrition guidance for IBD. But creating and maintaining them comes with costs. If our content is helpful to you, please consider making a donation. Your support allows us to continue improving nutritional care for the IBD community.

If you know someone interested in evidence-based nutritional therapy, please forward them this email and encourage them to subscribe!

Thank you and see you next month!

The Nutritional Therapy for IBD Team

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.*