1. Nestlé Health Science
  2. health management
  3. gastro intestinal
  4. What is Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
IBD is not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of diseases where the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are chronically inflamed. People with IBD can suffer from episodic or persistent symptoms that make it hard to carry out everyday activities.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) symptoms.

Symptoms can include recurring bowel trouble, including diarrhoea, pain and abdominal cramping, reduced appetite, weight loss, fever and fatigue.
Source: Global Content

The most common forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease are Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.

Around 2.2 million people have IBD in Europe. The causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease are not known but genetics, the immune system and the environment all play a role. Inflammatory Bowel Disease symptoms can be affected by diet, stress, medication or even smoking, so lifestyle and nutritional changes might be able to help.

Source: Global Content

Patients can sometimes have undesired weight loss, especially when Inflammatory Bowel Disease symptoms flare up, so it is important that they meet their nutritional needs and their daily fluid intake.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is not to be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Despite some overlapping symptoms, IBD and IBS are two different conditions. IBS is often episodic, that is, the symptoms wax and wane, but it is a not associated with any identifiable disease in the GI tract.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is the inflammation of some part of the GI tract and can be a more serious condition. In either case, consuming an inflammatory bowel disease diet may play a role in alleviating symptoms.

Read more
Close

IBS & IBD are two different medical conditions

Around 2.2 million people have Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Europe

Inflammatory Bowel Disease symptoms can be affected by diet, stress, medication or even smoking

healthy-tips-default

KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU EAT

Different foods can effect patients suffering with Inflammatory Bowel Disease differently. To know which foods to avoid, it is helpful to keep a food diary log of what you eat, along with descriptions of symptoms. This will help to link problem foods with symptoms so they can be avoided in the future. If in doubt contact your healthcare professional.

healthy-tips-default

WHAT TO EAT DURING OR AFTER A COLITIS FLARE UP

Food may not cause IBD in the first place, but it may make Inflammatory Bowel Disease symptoms worse.
Dairy, raw vegetables, fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, and even too much fibre, can be problematic for some.
Generally, bland foods with low residues such as oatmeal, chicken, turkey or fish, cooked eggs, mashed potato, rice and sourdough bread may be well tolerated. Balanced nutritional supplements may be beneficial to help meet the nutritional requirements of patients.