World IBD Day: Can Intuitive Eating and Anti-Diet Nutrition Help You Manage IBD?

jackiehptla
3 days ago
4 min read

Let’s Talk About IBD—and Why It’s More Than Just a “Stomach Issue”

Every year on May 19, World IBD Day shines a light on the 10+ million people globally living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)—a chronic, often invisible condition that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

As a Registered Dietitian specializing in intuitive eating and anti-diet nutrition, I’ve worked with many clients—especially women—who feel stuck between medical advice and diet culture. The messages are confusing: “cut out gluten,” “go low FODMAP,” “avoid fiber,” “eat more fiber,” or “just lose weight.” And yet, no one seems to address the emotional, mental, and practical burden of eating with a flaring gut.

Today, I want to unpack how an intuitive, non-restrictive, and evidence-based approach can support gut health—without adding more fear or food rules.

IBD vs IBS—Not the Same Thing

Let’s clarify this upfront:

IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is an autoimmune condition that leads to chronic inflammation in the GI tract. This includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which can cause severe diarrhea, pain, fatigue, weight loss, and nutrient malabsorption.
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a functional GI disorder without inflammation or structural damage.

IBD requires medical treatment, but nutrition and lifestyle can still play a powerful supportive role—when done without obsession or fear.

How Can Intuitive Eating Support Someone with IBD?

You might be thinking: “But intuitive eating is all about listening to your body—and my gut is all over the place!”

You're right. And that's exactly why intuitive eating, when adapted to chronic conditions, can help you build a calmer, safer relationship with food and symptoms.

1. It Shifts Focus from Elimination to Exploration

Many IBD diets start with restriction—“cut out dairy, gluten, FODMAPs”—but often forget to help people reintroduce foods or understand the context.

With intuitive eating, we ask:

How does this food feel in my body today?
Is my reaction tied to stress, hormones, a flare, or something else?

This helps you build body trust, rather than fear every bite.

2. It Acknowledges Emotional Eating Without Shame

Emotional eating isn’t the enemy—it’s human. Living with IBD is exhausting, and food often becomes a comfort or a control mechanism.

Instead of labeling yourself as “bad” for eating emotionally, intuitive eating teaches you to:

Understand what you really need in the moment (rest, food, connection?)
Add coping tools, instead of food rules

3. It Respects Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), Without Becoming Obsessed

As an RD, I’ve worked with clients to combine gentle nutrition with clinical guidelines. For IBD, this might include:

Watching trigger foods during a flare (e.g., spicy foods, insoluble fiber)
Supporting healing with adequate protein, omega-3s, vitamin D, and iron
Staying nourished during steroid treatments or fatigue spells

But the key is this: we do this with flexibility, not rigidity. We nourish, not punish.

Women, IBD, and the Silent Struggle

IBD impacts both men and women—but women often experience:

Higher rates of IBD diagnosis during hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause)
Increased body image distress when dealing with bloating, steroids, and fatigue
Under-addressed disordered eating patterns stemming from chronic gut issues

That’s why anti-diet, body-positive support is so needed in this space. You don’t have to “earn your food” by being symptom-free. You don’t have to restrict yourself to be a “good IBD patient.”

What You Can Do This World IBD Day

If you live with IBD:

Talk to a non-diet RD about a personalized plan that honors both your symptoms and your sanity
Challenge food fear with curiosity and compassion
Prioritize rest, hydration, and nourishment, not just “perfect eating”

If you support someone with IBD:

Don’t give unsolicited diet advice
Offer emotional space when flares impact their social eating
Remember: they may look “fine,” but the internal battle is real

FAQs: Intuitive Eating and IBD

Q: Can I still practice intuitive eating during a flare-up?

A: Yes—but it may look different. During flares, intuitive eating means honoring your needs with simple, easy-to-digest meals, rest, and self-compassion. You can return to more variety post-flare.

Q: What if I have food anxiety from past flares?

A: That’s common. Working with a dietitian trained in GI health and disordered eating can help you slowly rebuild food confidence—starting with safe foods and expanding over time.

Q: Do I need to follow a special “IBD diet”?

A: There’s no one-size-fits-all IBD diet. Low-residue, low-FODMAP, or anti-inflammatory plans may be useful short-term, but should be personalized and ideally phased out over time. Sustainability is key.