13 Foods Suggested by Patients to Reduce Crohn’s/Colitis Symptoms

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnose, or treat medical diseases. It is strictly for informational purposes. Prior to undertaking any change in treatment or diet seek the advice of your physician. This blog post does not replace individualized medical nutrition therapy or medical advice. 

13 Foods Suggested to Reduce Symptoms

How many foods are on your safe foods lists? A recent study asked 233 patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis from New Zealand which foods they felt reduced their symptoms. The most commonly reported foods that patients thought reduced their symptoms were:

1. Bananas
2. Rice
3. Chicken
4. Oily fish
5. Non-oily fish
6. Eggs
7. Pumpkin
8. Yogurt
9. Sweet potatoes
10. Gluten free bread
11. Oats
12. Avocado
13. Carrots

Keep in mind that this list is patient-reported and these foods may not be well tolerated by everyone. Trigger foods are very individualized and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. 

How to Use This Food List

We do NOT recommend just eating these 15 foods. Instead, if there’s any food on this list that you’re not currently consuming that you would like to add back into your diet, we recommend trying it out. 

What to Keep in Mind

There aren’t many research studies that look at specific foods that alleviate symptoms. This information was based on one study, so more research needs to be conducted before drawing any conclusions. Ultimately, you know your body best. If something doesn’t feel good in your body, trust that. ❤️

Get Professional Support

If you think you'd benefit from professional support reintroducing foods back into your diet, we'd love to see if we can help. Our registered dietitians are IBD specialists and can help you safely and sustainably expand your diet to include the foods you love without restricting your diet. Reach out to learn if our IBD nutrition program is right for you.