Eat After an IBD Flare

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a common symptom of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Your IBD can flare up unexpectedly, causing upset stomach, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It can be difficult to eat after an IBD flare, as you do not want to risk making your condition worse. Start by choosing foods that will not upset your stomach or cause another flare. You can also adjust your eating habits and speak to your doctor for guidance on recovering from an IBD flare.

Steps

Choosing the Right Foods

  1. Start with liquids and soft solid foods. Ease your stomach into food after an IBD flare by having liquids like water and diluted juices before you have any solid foods. You can also have soft solid foods like applesauce, oatmeal, cooked eggs, mashed potatoes, noodles, and rice. These foods are easy on your stomach.[1]
    • Other soft solid foods like canned fruit and plain bread are also good options.
  2. Have protein that is easy to digest. Go for plain chicken, turkey, or fish that is steamed or baked. Having protein can be a good way for your body to recover after an IBD flare.[1]
    • Avoid putting sauces or spices on the chicken, turkey, or fish, as these ingredients can irritate your stomach.
  3. Eat fruits and vegetables in moderation. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. It can be difficult for your body to digest fiber if you have IBD, especially after a flare. Avoid having fruits or vegetables raw. Instead, have a small amount of fruits and veggies steamed, baked, or roasted in a meal.[2]
    • You can try having fruits and vegetables in small amounts as your body recovers from the IBD flare. Do not have a lot of fruits or veggies at once, as this can make your symptoms worse.
  4. Have foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and can help your body recover after an IBD flare. Go for foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring.[1]
  5. Avoid dairy products. Dairy can aggravate the symptoms of IBD and make it harder for your stomach to recover from a flare. Avoid dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.[2]
    • If you do want to have dairy products, only do so after you have had liquids and soft solid foods. This way, your stomach has time to recover from the flare up and can digest the dairy properly.
  6. Do not have foods high in sugar and salt. Candy, cake, cookies, and other sweets high in sugar can make your IBD symptoms worse. Skip the sugary treats as your body recovers from the IBD flare.[1]
    • You should also avoid salty snacks like nuts, popcorn, and chips. The sodium content in these foods can irritate your stomach more.

Adjusting Your Eating Habits

  1. Have five to six small meals a day. Eating smaller portions throughout the day will make it easier for your body to digest your meals and recover after the IBD flare. Allow one to two hours between each small meal. Make a meal plan where you have five to six small meals, with snacks.[2]
    • Follow a regular eating schedule where you eat five to six meals at the same time every day. For example, you may start the day with a glass of diluted juice and applesauce. Then, you may eat cooked eggs and soft bread after one to two hours, followed by a mid day meal of cooked chicken and noodles.
  2. Drink lots of water. Dehydration is common after an IBD flare. Make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day. Have at least five to eight glasses of water per day. Carry a water bottle with you so you can sip from it.[2]
    • Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol as you recover from the IBD flare. These drinks will only dehydrate you more.
  3. Keep a food journal. Write down your meals for the day as you recover from the IBD flare. Notice if any foods trigger your symptoms or make you feel worse. Take these foods out of your diet so you can recover. Keep track of what you eat and try to follow the same diet.[3]
    • Do not eliminate entire food groups from your diet without consulting with your doctor. If you notice a food group is making you sicker based on the notes in your food journal, talk to your doctor.

Speaking to Your Doctor

  1. Ask your doctor for advice on diet after a flare. If you are unsure of what to eat after you have an IBD flare, speak to your doctor. If you have a care team that works with you to maintain your condition, speak to them about what to eat after a flare. They should be able to suggest foods you can try.[4]
    • Your doctor may also be able to work with you to create a meal plan of foods that will help you recover after an IBD flare.
  2. Discuss nutritional supplements with your doctor. If you have a hard time tolerating food after an IBD flare, ask your doctor about taking nutritional supplements. Your doctor may suggest liquid oral supplements you can take to help you maintain a healthy diet as you recover from the IBD flare.[1]
    • Common liquid supplements prescribed for IBD include Peptamen, Modulen IBD, and Lipisorb.
  3. Speak to your doctor about medication for an IBD flare. For severe flares of IBD, your doctor can prescribe medication to help with discomfort and pain. Medications like corticosteroids, cholestyramine, and 5-ASA compounds can help address the issue.[1]
    • Your doctor should outline the side effects of these medications, which include a decreased absorption of vitamins and minerals.
    • Your doctor may recommend taking nutritional supplements along with these medications.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/nutrition_tips_for_inflammatory_bowel_disease/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/in-depth/ulcerative-colitis-flare-up/art-20120410
  3. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Ulcerative-colitis/Pages/Prevention.aspx
  4. ↑ http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/flares_brochure_final.pdf
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