Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Understanding Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through community experiences and medical research.
Community experiences, not medical advice
Understanding Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through community experiences and medical research.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) refers to two chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive tract: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both conditions involve immune system dysfunction that leads to inflammation of the digestive tract, causing various symptoms and potential complications.
Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, though it most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the colon. The inflammation often extends through multiple layers of the bowel wall and can occur in patches with healthy tissue in between.
Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon (large intestine) and rectum. It causes inflammation and ulcers in the innermost lining of the colon. The inflammation typically begins in the rectum and lower colon but may spread continuously to involve the entire colon.
Based on experiences shared in our community:
NIDDK describes Crohn’s disease as a long-term condition in which the immune system causes inflammation in the digestive tract — most often the small intestine and the start of the large intestine, though it can affect any part from mouth to anus. Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition in which the immune system causes inflammation and ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine. Both are types of inflammatory bowel disease.
View NIDDK Crohn’sLloyd-Price and colleagues (Nature 2019) followed 132 people over a year as part of the Integrative Human Microbiome Project. During IBD activity they described a characteristic increase in facultative anaerobes at the expense of obligate anaerobes, plus shifts in microbial transcription, metabolites, and host antibodies.
View on PubMedThe British Society of Gastroenterology 2019 consensus guideline (Gut; PMID 31562236) sets UK recommendations for pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and surgical management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in people over 16.
View on GutThe ACG 2018 Crohn’s guideline (Lichtenstein and colleagues) and the ACG 2019 ulcerative colitis guideline (Rubin and colleagues) set practice recommendations for adults with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Like the British Society of Gastroenterology 2019 consensus, they describe how specialists assess and manage IBD — they are not a menu of medicines to start on your own.
View ACG Crohn’s on PubMed View ACG ulcerative colitis on PubMedThe DINE-CD randomised trial (Lewis et al., 2021) compared the Specific Carbohydrate Diet with a Mediterranean diet in adults with mild-to-moderate Crohn’s disease. Symptomatic remission at week 6 was not superior with SCD (~46% versus ~44%). CRP response was uncommon in both groups. This trial does not support a claim that either diet induces remission as a treatment.
The AGA 2024 diet update (Hashash and colleagues) says a Mediterranean-style diet can support your overall health if you have IBD. No diet has consistently been shown to cut flare rates in adults.
View DINE-CD on PubMed View AGA 2024 on PubMedComprehensive resources for patients with IBD, including the latest treatment information and support resources.
Visit ResourceExpert information on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Visit ResourceInformation about living with IBD, including tips for managing symptoms, nutrition advice, and mental health support.
Visit ResourceIBD care is specialist-led. These are options people and guidelines discuss — not a medicine menu or a self-treatment plan.
Real stories shared by our community members about managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
"After trying several medications with limited success, I started Humira five years ago and it's been life-changing. I still have occasional mild flares, but they're manageable with diet adjustments. I've found that keeping a detailed food journal helps me identify and avoid trigger foods. Stress management through regular meditation has also been crucial for maintaining my remission."
"The Mediterranean diet has been the most helpful dietary approach for me. I focus on anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, fatty fish, and plenty of cooked vegetables. During flares, I switch to a low-residue diet until symptoms improve. I've also found that regular light exercise—even just walking 20 minutes daily—helps manage my symptoms and improves my mental health."
"After multiple surgeries and trying various medications, I've learned that a multidisciplinary approach works best for me. I work closely with my gastroenterologist, nutritionist, and therapist. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) has helped me maintain longer periods of remission. I also use a symptom tracking app daily, which helps me communicate more effectively with my healthcare team."