The main points of the diet

• Eat a residue-free diet
• Keep well hydrated
• Know your individual tolerance for certain offending foods
• Reduce your sugar intake
• Limit your fat intake

The benefits of the diet

• Reduce symptoms
• Promote optimal nutritional status
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Limit worsening of digestive inflammation
• Facilitate digestion

What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

The term inflammatory bowel disease refers to a number of different conditions: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc.

These are diseases that progress in fits and starts, alternating between acute phases and periods of remission.

They cause many symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhoea to dehydration, bloating, bleeding, loss of appetite, etc.

In Crohn's disease, the inflammation mainly affects the lower part of the small intestine and colon, preventing the proper absorption of nutrients.

In ulcerative colitis, the inflammation is mainly in the colon, rectum and anus.

As one of the main functions of the colon is to reabsorb water from food to harden the stool, this condition leads to malabsorption of water and associated diarrhoea.

Who is the diet for?

The following dietary recommendations apply during an acute flare.

During remission, there is no reason to avoid certain foods more than others.

On the other hand, if certain foods are poorly tolerated, it will be necessary to limit their consumption, regardless of the stage of the disease.

This may be the case with foods rich in insoluble fibre, oilseeds or even raw vegetables.

It is therefore necessary to act according to your own tolerance.

This leaflet is not intended to replace the personalised advice that a dietician can give you after an individual consultation.