What Is the Best Thing to Eat When Your Intestines Are Inflamed? A Diet Guide

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, while diet doesn't cause or cure inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), modifying what you eat can significantly manage symptoms and discomfort during a flare-up. Here’s a detailed guide on what is the best thing to eat when your intestines are inflamed, covering both active flare-ups and long-term management.

Quick Summary

Guidance on dietary choices when intestinal inflammation occurs. It covers food selection during an active flare-up and remission, detailing beneficial nutrients like omega-3s and probiotics, while identifying common trigger foods to avoid.

Key Points

Start Bland During Flares: When symptoms are active, focus on easy-to-digest, low-fiber foods like white rice, bananas, and lean poultry to give your intestines a rest.
Increase Fiber in Remission: As symptoms subside, slowly reintroduce soluble fiber, whole grains, and a wider variety of cooked and raw fruits and vegetables.
Embrace Anti-Inflammatory Fats: Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids from sources like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, and use healthy oils like olive oil.
Promote Gut Health with Probiotics: During remission, fermented foods like yogurt and kefir can help restore beneficial gut bacteria, but avoid them if lactose is a trigger.
Identify and Avoid Personal Triggers: Common triggers include insoluble fiber, spicy foods, high-fat meals, and alcohol, but keeping a food diary helps pinpoint what affects you most.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Smaller Meals: Drinking plenty of fluids and consuming smaller, more frequent meals can ease digestion and prevent dehydration, especially during flare-ups.

Navigating an Intestinal Flare-Up: Focus on Bland and Low-Fiber Foods

During an intestinal flare-up, symptoms like diarrhea, cramping, and pain are common. The primary dietary goal is to give the digestive system a rest by consuming foods that are easy to digest and low in fiber. A "low-residue" diet, which produces less undigested waste in the stool, is often recommended for short-term relief.

The Easiest Foods to Digest During a Flare

Refined Grains: Opt for white bread, white rice, plain pasta, and plain crackers, which are low in fiber and won't irritate the gut.
Well-Cooked Vegetables: Cooked vegetables are softer and easier to process. Good choices include peeled carrots, green beans, and squash (such as zucchini or butternut), cooked until fork-tender.
Soft and Canned Fruits: Bananas, applesauce (without skin), and cantaloupe are gentle on the system. Avoid tough skins and seeds that can be harsh on an inflamed gut.
Lean, Tender Protein: Skinless poultry, fish, eggs, and tofu are excellent sources of protein, which is needed for tissue repair during inflammation. Cooking methods like boiling, poaching, or steaming are best.
Plenty of Fluids: Dehydration can occur with diarrhea. Drinking plenty of water, broth, or oral rehydration solutions is critical.

The Remission Diet: Embracing Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Once a flare-up subsides, it is important to slowly reintroduce a wider variety of nutrient-rich foods to help reduce chronic inflammation and prevent future flares. This is when a focus on a more anti-inflammatory diet, similar to the Mediterranean diet, can be beneficial.

Incorporating Omega-3s and Probiotics

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Plant-based sources include walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
Probiotics and Prebiotics: Probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) from foods like plain yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables can help balance the gut microbiome. Prebiotic foods, such as bananas, onions, and garlic, feed this good bacteria (note: use caution with high-FODMAP prebiotics during sensitive periods).
High-Fiber Foods (As Tolerated): Slowly increasing fiber from sources like cooked vegetables, whole grains, and legumes is important for long-term gut health during remission.

Foods to Avoid During Intestinal Inflammation

Certain foods can trigger or worsen symptoms. While individual tolerance varies, these are common culprits to limit or avoid, especially during a flare-up:

Insoluble Fiber: Raw vegetables, whole nuts, seeds, popcorn, and fruits with skins can be difficult to digest and irritate the intestines.
High-Fat and Fried Foods: Saturated fats, fried foods, and greasy meals can trigger symptoms and increase inflammation.
Lactose: Many people with IBD are lactose intolerant, and dairy can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea, particularly during a flare.
Refined Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners: Sugary foods and drinks can alter the gut microbiome and promote inflammation. Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol and xylitol are poorly absorbed and can cause digestive issues.
Spicy Foods, Caffeine, and Alcohol: These can all irritate the digestive tract.

A Quick Comparison: Flare-Up vs. Remission Diet


Feature	During a Flare-Up	During Remission
Fiber	Low-residue, less than 10g/day	Gradually increase high-fiber foods
Grains	Refined (white bread, white rice, pasta)	Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat)
Vegetables	Cooked and peeled (carrots, squash)	Expanded variety, including raw as tolerated
Fruits	Soft, cooked, or canned (bananas, applesauce)	Wide variety, including berries, citrus, and dried fruits as tolerated
Protein	Lean, well-cooked (poultry, fish, eggs)	Expanded sources, including legumes, nuts, seeds
Fats	Limited to oils (olive, canola)	Healthy fats (avocado, nuts, omega-3s)
Dairy	Often restricted or lactose-free	May be tolerated in low-lactose or cultured forms (yogurt)
Goal	Symptom management and gut rest	Anti-inflammatory diet and gut healing

Beyond Food: Essential Habits for Intestinal Health

Diet is only one part of managing intestinal inflammation. Lifestyle choices also play a significant role:

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals: This can reduce the burden on your digestive system.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially if experiencing diarrhea.
Reduce Stress: Chronic stress can exacerbate inflammation. Practices like yoga, meditation, and exercise can help.
Keep a Food Diary: Tracking your intake and symptoms can help you identify specific triggers unique to you.

The Importance of Professional Guidance

It is crucial to work with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian specializing in IBD to create a personalized nutrition plan. A restrictive diet without proper guidance can lead to nutritional deficiencies. A dietitian can help ensure you meet your nutritional needs while managing your condition effectively. For more resources, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation provides comprehensive patient information.

Conclusion: Eating Your Way to Better Gut Health

Dietary management is a cornerstone of living with intestinal inflammation. By adapting your eating habits to your disease state—opting for a bland, low-fiber diet during flare-ups and transitioning to a varied, anti-inflammatory diet during remission—you can significantly improve your quality of life. The key is mindful eating, identifying personal triggers, and seeking professional support to ensure a balanced, nutrient-rich approach that promotes intestinal healing and long-term well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

During a flare-up, easy-to-digest foods include refined grains like white rice and bread, soft fruits such as bananas and applesauce, well-cooked and peeled vegetables, and tender lean proteins like chicken, fish, and eggs.

During a flare, the diet is restrictive, focusing on bland, low-fiber foods to reduce symptoms. During remission, the diet expands to include more fiber, omega-3s, and probiotics to support gut health and reduce overall inflammation.

During an active flare-up, it is often recommended to follow a low-fiber or low-residue diet to minimize symptoms. However, fiber is essential for gut health in remission, so it should be slowly reintroduced as tolerated.

Probiotics found in fermented foods like yogurt and kefir can introduce beneficial bacteria to the gut and may help reduce inflammation and improve digestion, especially during periods of remission.

Keeping a detailed food diary can help. Track what you eat and note any symptoms that follow. This can help you identify specific foods or food groups that cause you discomfort, which can then be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Staying hydrated is crucial, particularly during diarrhea-heavy flare-ups, as it helps prevent dehydration. Good choices include water, broth, and electrolyte beverages.

A low-FODMAP diet can help manage gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating and cramping, but research suggests it may not directly reduce inflammation in IBD. It is best used under professional supervision.