Facts and Fiction: Fiber with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis

Facts and Fiction: Fiber with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis

Facts about Fiber for IBD

The topic of dietary fiber has been on my mind to write about for a while now as I’ve continued to notice a number of people I talk to with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that are scared to include fiber in their diet. 

This fear isn’t unfounded either, sometimes living with IBD can make all sorts of traditionally healthy foods feel painful. 

However, as I’ve described in previous blogs breaking down the different types of remission, just because something triggers symptoms does not mean it’s triggering inflammation. 

The opposite could also be true!

Just because something isn’t painful, doesn’t mean it isn’t contributing to inflammation in the long term. 

Confusing right?

The internet doesn’t help either, given that it is spreading fear around food choices for IBD that are misleading and often lacking scientific basis.

Some examples include:

• “All IBD patients should be on a low residue diet”….
• “Fiber causes stricturing and blockages in IBD”….
• “IBD patients shouldn’t eat (popcorn, berries with seeds etc) ever again”…
• “All IBD patients shouldn’t have leafy greens”…

The last two statements especially make me so sad!

I can’t and don’t want to imagine a life without berries and greens! 

And I’m guessing you probably wouldn’t either, yet these messages are so widespread that even practitioners and doctors are repeating them to patients.

As an IBD specialist and Dietitian, I aim to always stay open to new ideas that challenge my own since I know the science in this space is continually evolving.

So what did I do? 

A little evidence search to see if anything has changed that I didn’t know about… and guess what?!

None of the above statements are true or have any scientific basis.

In fact, with most of them the research supports the opposite!

So now it’s time to set the record straight on fiber by going through the most misunderstood things about it as it relates to IBD. 

Fiber with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis

This blog post will describe all things fact and fiction about fiber! From different types of fiber, fiber supplements, low residue diets for IBD, nuts and seeds for IBD, and so much more! Keep reading to learn more.

Fact – There are Different Types of Fiber

All fiber is not the same, there are many different types of fibers and they vary a lot in terms of how they support our bodies.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber is a type of fiber that absorbs water forming a gel in the digestive tract. This gelling action helps soak up excess moisture making it great for those suffering with diarrhea. 

Soluble fibers are also excellent prebiotics that help feed our butyrate producing gut bacteria. 

Butyrate aids in reducing inflammation in our digestive tracts and repairing any damage present.

Psyllium seed (not to be confused with the husk) is a good example of a soluble fiber. 

SunFiber as found in our GutLove is also a great example!

Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber doesn’t absorb water but is important for removing things we don’t need hanging around in the digestive tract. 

Insoluble fiber can increase transit time or movement through the digestive tract. Insoluble fibers are still consumed by bacteria further down in our digestive tract. 

Psyllium Husk (not to be confused with the seed mentioned above) is a great example of an insoluble fiber. 

The peels on fruits and vegetables are also examples of insoluble fibers.

Bottom line:  I only named two types of fibers here. But there are several different types of fibers and they operate differently. There are even supplements one can include which we will talk about next.

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Fiber Supplements

One of my favorite products is GutLove which contains SunFiber- one of the best tolerated prebiotics that’s really easy to incorporate into smoothies, tea, or water.

It’s also my favorite product because I’ve had the best success with helping to regulate bowel movements of those with Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis as it helps with constipation diarrhea, and reduces symptoms like gas and bloating (1).

Another bonus to using SunFiber is that it is also helpful in improving absorption of minerals like calcium, iron, zing, and magnesium.

Another supplement to consider is psyllium seed (not to be confused with psyllium husk). This is a gelling prebiotic similar to SunFiber that helps with supporting the growth of our helpful gut bacteria (2).

A study of 105 people with UC was conducted. Psyllium seed powder was given for 12 months and they saw some pretty cool results! After 12 months, of those taking mesalamine and psyllium seed powder, 70% were in remission. Those taking psyllium seed powder alone compared with just mesalamine – 60% stayed in remission compared to 65% in the mesalamine group (3).

Fiction – You should Eat A Low Residue/Fiber Diet

You might be surprised to learn that no reputable organizations in the world of IBD say to eat low fiber to support inflammation reduction! In fact, most say the opposite.

In fact, Crohn’s Disease patients who reported that they did not avoid high fiber foods were 40% less likely to have a disease flare up than those who avoided high fiber foods (4). 

Not to mention, low fiber intake is actually a risk factor for both the development of Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis (5).

Low fiber intake is also a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer (6). 

So why then is a low residue diet or bland diet so commonly recommended to IBD patients?

While there are some scenarios where you might need to switch up the types of fiber in the diet to minimize blockage risk, improve tolerance, or to manage strictures (read more about that here), not including fiber at all can put you at risk for a flare up.

Fiber is an important fuel source for our most helpful gut bacteria present in the gut. And consumption of it helps our gut bacteria to produce more butyrate.

Increasing butyrate in the digestive tract can help with reducing inflammation locally in the digestive tract and systemically throughout the body (4). 

Increasing butyrate is also helpful for improving and even helping to repair damage to the digestive tract lining (4).

The USDA currently recommends 25 grams per day of fiber for women and 38 grams per day for men under 50.

Bottom line: A low fiber or low residue diet isn’t ideal for the long term. If you aren’t handling fiber well, start by adding in soluble gelling fibers like sunfiber, or psyllium seed powder (not the husk). Root vegetables like zucchini and other squashes can also be a great starting place. Smoothies are also a great way to bring in easier to tolerate fibers. For a video on the research- check out our latest and click here.

Fact – Reducing High Fructose Containing Foods May Help in Some Crohn’s Patients

So I know you are thinking… What about the low FODMAP diet?

Believe it or not, there are relatively few studies on the low FODMAP diet for IBD. 

There was one study where Crohn’s patients were asked to follow a low FODMAP diet. Overall, abdominal pain, bloating and gas did decrease with the diet in 56% of participants. Nausea, fatigue and reflux didn’t change (5). 

At first glance, the data suggests that some Crohn’s patients who suffer from digestive symptoms (while in remission) can benefit from a low FODMAP diet.

If you looked at this study alone, you might try out a low FODMAP diet too. 

However, we also know that over half of those with Crohn’s struggle with fructose malabsorption. 

Knowing this, if 61% of people with Crohn’s struggle with fructose, they will also see improvements with this type of diet, but could just be related to fructose rather than all high FODMAP foods (6).

Therefore, instead of limiting all fermentable fibers, a Crohn’s patient could try out simply reducing high fructose items in the diet. 

Some examples of high fructose foods would be honey, agave syrup, some juices, high fructose corn syrup and apples. Working with a dietitian on a lower fructose diet can be helpful in clarifying what the biggest triggers are.

Bottom line: While the low FODMAP diet might decrease symptoms in some people, this doesn’t necessarily correlate with lowered inflammation which is why I don’t recommend it to IBD patients. Also, based on the research, I suggest it’s the fructose rather than all fodmaps triggering symptoms. 

Fiction – You Will Benefit From Avoiding Most Fiber-Containing Foods

Maybe you’ve tried a low residue diet before and seen reduced symptoms. And now you might be wondering what’s that all about?

Low residue diets typically are referred to as “bland” diets or those with very little fiber. 

While you may potentially notice some decrease in symptoms, this doesn’t correlate with decreased inflammation or disease activity.

In fact you can be in clinical remission with no inflammation or signs of disease and still have bloating, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

You can also have limited symptoms and still have ongoing inflammation. This is why relying on symptoms alone isn’t reliable. If you’d like to learn more about the different types of remissions- check out my blog here.

Bottom line: Including some fibers in the diet can actually help provide an anti-inflammatory affect through reducing inflammation and disease activity- this is why it’s so important to keep them in the diet. As mentioned previously, change the way you consume the fiber before taking it out completely!

Fact – You CAN Eat Nuts/Seeds 

This might also surprise you, but there is no evidence supporting Crohn’s and UC patients can’t have nuts or seeds! 

However, I hear on a weekly basis the many fears about nuts and seeds through things people have read online.

What we do know about nuts and seeds is that sometimes it’s the particle size of the food that can cause irritation, not the food itself.

What does this mean?

Simply changing the format of a food can help build tolerance.

For example:

• Instead of raw nuts and seeds, try nut or seed butter
• Instead of raw spinach, try spinach in a smoothie

Bottom line: If you find you struggle with fruits, vegetables, nuts or seeds- try consuming them a different way! Reducing the particle size of the food can make digesting them way easier.

A Final Note On Fiber During Flares & Remission

I know it can feel so confusing when navigating nutrition for Crohn’s and UC.

You might be in a flare and not sure what’s truly triggering (maybe it’s common gut triggers like caffeine, dietary fats, spicy foods, or sugar alcohols) or is it IBD…

You might also be in a place of unsure how to add fiber back in after years of being on a low fiber diet…

You might even be curious about if there are supplements that can help…

Just know that you don’t have to do it alone!

I’ve worked with hundreds of IBD patients in both my group program and in private practice and many report that they were pleasantly surprised that they were able to tolerate way more foods than they thought through finally getting clear guidance.

Recently group program participant Vanessa mentioned:

“I’ve finally been able to start running again (something I always loved) without my IBD getting in the way and I’ve been surprised at how many foods I thought were triggers are actually not at all!”

Also, my past private client and group program participant Mary said:

“I just wanted to tell you how well things have been going this pregnancy. I have maintained my level of stability and digestive health from before the pregnancy, if not improved it! I am so thankful not to be struggling with digestion and not knowing what to eat to make things better. I am only 15 weeks in, but I think by this time in previous pregnancies I was already experiencing issues, so I’m really hopeful for continued good health this time around. And I’m thoroughly enjoying eating such a diverse diet compared to what I was stuck on for the year before I came to you.”

My hope for all Crohn’s and Colitis patients is for you to have more peace with food through getting quality evidence based nutrition guidance. To read more evidence-based IBD-related blogs, we have a new one on the Top 10 IBD Myths!

If you need help getting there- I’ve got you covered! Set up a call here to learn how you can start.