Nutrition & IBD Dariella Gonitzke, MS, RD, CDE, CLEC

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Nutritional Goals for

IBD

1. Choose flare friendly fibers

2. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet

3. Be aware of bone health

4. Avoid fried, processed and cured foods

5. Replace losses with the proper supplements

6. Feed your gut microbes!

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Soluble Fiber: Flare

Friendly

Absorbs water in the GI tract, forming a gel-like consistency

Absorption of water helps slow things down

Nutrients can then be absorbed better and diarrhea decreases

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Insoluble Fiber: Not so

Friendly

It draws water into the GI tract to add bulk to our stool

Makes food move more quickly through our system

Worsens diarrhea and irritation

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Flare-Friendly Fruits & Veggies

Fruit with Soluble Fiber

Apples, peeled or cooked

Avocado

Bananas

Melons

Mango

Papaya

Pineapple

Peaches & Nectarines

Veggies with Soluble Fiber

Asparagus

Squashes

Potatoes (no skin)

Cooked carrots

Sweet potatoes & yams (no skin)

Mushrooms

Cooked greens

Broccoli & Cauliflower (well cooked)

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Avoiding Fruits &

Vegetables?

Fruits and vegetables provide the body:

Antioxidants & phytochemicals

Vitamins A and C needed for healing

Electrolytes such as potassium

Choosing the right ones can: Help you avoid unnecessary pain and

diarrhea

Provide incredible nourishment and essential nutrition that is easy to digest

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Are You Eating an Anti-inflammatory

Diet?

A healthy diet is not automatically an anti-inflammatory diet!

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Types of Fat

Monounsaturated fats Neutral to the body, can reduce

inflammation

Olive oil, avocado, almond butter (plant fats)

Saturated fats Usually pro-inflammatory

Animal fats and palm oil – limit

Coconut oil – ok!

Polyunsaturated fats Omega 3 & 6

Can be pro- or anti-inflammatory

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Find the Balance

Omega 3 Omega 6

Causes inflammation

Processed food: Corn oil

Safflower oil

Soybean oil

Cottonseed oil

Anti-inflammatory

Whole food: Fatty fish

Walnuts

Flaxseeds

Canola Oil

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The Omega

Dilemma

We are eating too many Omega 6 fatty acids! Most packaged and processed foods

contain omega 6 rich oils Potato chips

Corn chips

Cookies

Crackers

Pita chips

Granola bars

French fries

Fried food

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Inflammation Lowering Nutrients

Anti-inflammatory Enzymes Bromelain is an enzyme isolated from fresh

pineapples

Not found in canned or cooked pineapple

Can be taken in supplement form

Anti-inflammatory Spices Turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, garlic

Widely used in herbal medicine as natural treatments for inflammatory conditions

Can be taken in supplement form

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Do I need a supplement?

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Inflammation Reducing Supplements

Nutrient/Herb Dosage Recommended to

Reduce Inflammation

Fish oil (DHA + EPA) 2000-3000 mg/day

Curcumin (turmeric) 1000-2000 mg/day

Boswellia 1000-1200 mg/day

Bromelain 1500-2000 mg/ day

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Bone Health

IBD patients are at greater risk than normal for osteoporosis due to:

chronic malabsorption

poor intake of dairy products

medications that deplete calcium from bones

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Vitamin D

Malabsorption associated with Prednisone use

Functions Calcium absorption & bone

mineralization

Immunity

Anti-Inflammatory

Best sources for IBD: Sunshine! Between 10am-3pm

Fortified milk (lactose free, soy, etc.)

Egg yolks

Supplement: 2000 IU daily

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Supplement Tips

Avoid hard tablets – buy capsule or liquid form

No gummy bear vitamins!

Read labels: Avoid if >100% Daily Value

Avoid excessive vitamin C or Magnesium

Various brands that provide liquid or capsule form:

Country Life, Lifetime, Solaray, Twinlab, Solgar

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What About Probiotics?

The parts of the gut with highest bacterial counts are the sites most affected by IBD – ileum & colon!

Feeding the gut healthy bacteria can improve gut function

Probiotic foods and supplements have shown promising effects

Diversity is key! The more types of friendly gut bacteria

the better the gut will function

Prebiotics and Fermented Foods

Prebiotics Needed to feed the friendly bacteria in our gut

Fibers (plant foods) are prebiotics

Potent Prebiotic Foods:

Almonds, asparagus, bananas, cooked greens, artichoke, mushrooms, oats

Fermented Foods Vegetables: kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, Greek

olives

Soy: miso, tempeh, natto

Dairy/Non-dairy: buttermilk, yogurt, kefir

Beverages: kefir, kombucha

Condiments: raw apple cider vinegar

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Summary

Choose flare friendly fibers when needed

Eat your fruits and veggies

Eat less processed & packaged foods high in omega 6

Choose healthy fats such as olive oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, almond butter, avocados and oily fish

Take care of your bones & get some sunshine!

Feed your gut microbes!