IBD flares can be so hard. I know for me personally – it impacts everything. My mood, my sleep, my relationships, my ability to show up as my whole self.
If you are in an IBD flare – we are here for you. We wanted to take a moment to provide you with a few first steps you can take when you are in one because the sooner you take action and get support – the better.
And if you’d like a Flare Guide and Meal Plan – check ours out. It continues to be our top seller and the one we get the most positive feedback about.
The flare e-book has all of our best resources on where to start in a flare – for just $24 – less than a month of netflix! You’ll get flare friendly meals, and a complete guide on how to support yourself.
We put this together because when you are in a flare – you may often not have the energy or capacity to search for answers and figure it out on your own.
Of course, you might also be someone that would benefit from working with us. If that’s you – set up a call HERE.
Otherwise, keep going and check out our latest YouTube on IBD Flares below. We will discuss our top suggestions on 3 things you can do at the first sign of a flare. Below you’ll also find a cleaned up transcript of our conversation and a few takeaways!
Be sure to subscribe to our channel so that you don’t miss our next episodes!
IBD Flares
Ashley: All right, welcome back, everybody! If youโre tuning in from YouTube, Iโm Ashley.
Christa: And Iโm Christaโand weโre the Crohnโs and Colitis dietitians.
Ashley: If youโre listening on the podcast, go ahead and check out our YouTube channel too, so you can see us as well as hear us.
Christa: Today weโre talking about what to do if youโre in a flare. It can feel so overwhelming. Weโve both been there, and weโve walked plenty of patients through it. So, where do we start? What are the most important things to keep in mind?
Ashley: Letโs break it down into three.
1. Prioritize Nutrition
Christa: Okay, number one. First offโwe need to acknowledge that being in a flare is really scary. Itโs alarming. You want to fix it quickly, and thatโs totally understandable. A lot of us either stop eating or get really restrictive because weโre afraid of symptoms. But nutrition has to be a priority.
Try to keep aiming for three meals and one or two snacks a day. Stick to a regular eating pattern. And rememberโwhen youโre in a flare, your calorie needs are actually higher. Skipping meals or cutting back just makes it worse. Balanced meals with protein, fat, and carbs are super helpful.
Ashley: Yeah, I think thatโs such a good point, because the instinct when youโre in a flare is to restrict, right? Iโve been thereโwhere restricting feels like the only way to get through the day. But if youโre in that spot, there are options. Things like supplemental drinksโLiquid Hope, OWYN, Kate Farmsโthose can give you a boost of protein and calories when eating is tough.
Think of it like ducks on water. On the surface, they look calm, but underneath their legs are going like crazy. Thatโs your metabolism in a flareโeverythingโs sped up. Malnutrition becomes a real risk, and it can even affect how well your meds work. So making sure youโre meeting your baseline needs is huge.
Christa: And just to addโyour appetite is not a good measure during a flare. Even if you donโt feel hungry, keep eating consistently.
2. Stay Hydrated (with Electrolytes)
Ashley: Number two is hydration. If youโre having watery or loose stools six-plus times a day, or if youโve got fevers, you canโt just drink water. You need electrolytes too.
Christa: Right. Definitely talk with your provider or dietitian about which ones are best for you.
Ashley: There was even a study looking at coconut water and remission in people with IBD flares. The coconut water group actually showed some improvement. Maybe itโs just the electrolytes, maybe itโs something specific to coconut waterโbut either way, itโs a simple thing that might help.
Christa: Plus, it tastes better than plain water. laughs I love coconut waterโHarmless Harvest is my favorite. Have you had that one?
Ashley: Oh, yeah! The pink one. Itโs so good. A little pricey, but so worth it.
3. Identify and Manage Triggers
Christa: Okay, number three: triggers. Especially at night. Rest is so important during a flare, and if youโre getting up multiple times with symptoms, it just wears you down.
Ashley: Yep. So, things that commonly make symptoms worseโcaffeine, spicy foods, greasy or fatty meals, some dairy products, and sugar alcohols.
Christa: Sugar alcohols really surprise people. Theyโre not necessarily harmful for IBD, but they pull water into the bowel. And if youโve already got diarrhea, thatโs the last thing you need. Plus, it interrupts your sleep.
Ashley: And hereโs the other pieceโeverybody online talks about what to take out. But no one talks about what to add. Adding foods and nutrients that support recovery is just as important. Thatโs what actually helps your body heal.
Christa: Yes! Thatโs something we get so excited aboutโshowing people not just what to avoid, but what to actually bring in.
Resources and Support
Ashley: And because flares can look different for everyoneโsome people struggle with diarrhea, others with constipation, some with joint painโwe created a Flare Guide.
Christa: Itโs symptom-based. You just click on what youโre dealing with, and it takes you straight to strategies for fluids, electrolytes, meal ideasโwe even included a full meal plan and 17 flare-friendly recipes.
Ashley: The feedback has been incredible. People whoโve had IBD for 30 years have told us how refreshing it is to finally have everything in one place.
Christa: And if you go through the guide and still need more help, weโve added new support options. Itโs not just our six-month program anymoreโwe have smaller, middle-tier options too.
Ashley: So if you need support, ask for it. You deserve it.
Christa: Absolutely. Weโre here for you.
๐ Key Takeaways:
Identify triggers, especially at night, but also focus on what you can add.
Keep eatingโdonโt restrict.
Stay hydrated, and donโt forget electrolytes.
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