5 High-Fiber Recipes for a Healthy Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease Diet

What should you eat if you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? It’s a common question among those in the community. Historically, patients with an IBD like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis were told to limit their fiber intake as much as possible to reduce the risk of flares. But, recent research in Biomedicines shows that fiber plays a crucial role in disease management by decreasing symptoms with regular consumption. The UMass Chan Medical School goes one step further by recommending an anti-inflammatory diet rich in prebiotic fibers (those that feed the good gut bacteria in the microbiome).

Eating more bacteria-feeding fiber is one way to improve the health of your gut, and limiting processed foods can also go a long way to a healthier microbiome.

The type of fiber you eat matters too. In general, fibers are classified into two main groups — soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. Eating foods with this type of fiber will help to form more solid stools, slow gut motility, and decrease inflammation, notes UMass Chan Medical School.

If you have IBD, eating foods that contain more soluble fiber (like oatmeal, pears, and apples) can help decrease symptoms. As Mayo Clinic describes, insoluble fiber increases the bulk of the stool and promotes its movement through the body. Both types of fiber are helpful for general health and gut health, alike; however, soluble fiber is the clear winner if you have IBD.