What to drink when your intestines are inflamed?

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, adequate hydration is crucial during an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare-up due to significant fluid loss from diarrhea. Knowing what to drink when your intestines are inflamed can be a key part of managing your symptoms and promoting gut healing.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines gut-friendly beverages to help soothe an inflamed digestive tract and provides a list of fluids to avoid during a flare-up. Practical advice for staying hydrated and making informed drink choices is also included.

Key Points

Prioritize Hydration: Plain water is essential, but during flare-ups with diarrhea, oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks can replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
Choose Soothing Teas: Decaf herbal teas like chamomile, ginger, and slippery elm offer anti-inflammatory and calming properties to relax the gut and ease cramping.
Blend for Easy Digestion: Smoothies are an excellent way to consume fruits and vegetables, as blending breaks down tough fibers, making nutrients easier to absorb without irritating the intestines.
Opt for Anti-inflammatory Juices: Select 100% fruit or vegetable juices low in fiber and without added sugars, such as tart cherry or purple carrot, which contain beneficial antioxidants.
Avoid Irritating Beverages: Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and high-sugar options, which can worsen inflammation, bloating, and diarrhea during a flare.
Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how different drinks affect your symptoms, and consult with a healthcare provider for a personalized dietary plan.

Hydration is a Top Priority

During a flare-up of intestinal inflammation, whether from IBD or other conditions, dehydration is a significant risk. Frequent diarrhea and poor nutrient absorption can quickly deplete the body of essential fluids and electrolytes. Plain water is the simplest and most fundamental choice for hydration. However, for those with more severe symptoms, replenishing lost electrolytes is also critical. Sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) can be beneficial for this purpose, but it is important to choose options with less sugar to avoid exacerbating symptoms. You can also consider adding a pinch of salt to water to aid in electrolyte balance.

Soothing Herbal Teas

Herbal teas are often recommended for their gentle, calming properties that can help soothe an upset digestive system. They provide warmth and hydration without the caffeine that can irritate the gut. It's essential to opt for decaffeinated varieties.

Beneficial Herbal Tea Options

Chamomile Tea: Known for its mild anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile can help relax the smooth muscles of the intestines, easing cramps and gas.
Ginger Tea: Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is well-known for its ability to reduce nausea. It can help with general gastrointestinal discomfort.
Fennel Tea: Often used to aid digestion and reduce bloating and gas, fennel has soothing properties that can benefit an inflamed gut.
Slippery Elm Tea: Made from the inner bark of the slippery elm tree, this tea forms a protective, soothing layer over the digestive tract.

Nutrient-Dense Smoothies and Juices

For many with intestinal inflammation, consuming whole fruits and vegetables can be difficult due to their high fiber content. Smoothies and certain juices offer a solution by providing concentrated nutrients in an easy-to-digest liquid form.

Smart Choices for Smoothies and Juices

Smoothies: Blending fruits and vegetables breaks down fibrous material, making nutrients more accessible and reducing irritation to the intestinal lining. A gut-friendly smoothie might include a low-fiber fruit like a ripe banana, lactose-free or plant-based milk (almond or oat milk), and a scoop of protein powder if tolerated.
Juices: Some fruit and vegetable juices are high in anti-inflammatory antioxidants, but it's important to choose 100% juice without added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Diluting the juice can also make it gentler on the system. Examples include tart cherry juice, which has shown promise in reducing inflammation in studies on ulcerative colitis, and certain vegetable juices like purple carrot or celery.

Beverages to Avoid During a Flare-Up

Just as important as knowing what to drink is knowing what to avoid. Several common beverages can aggravate inflammation and trigger symptoms.


Beverage Category	Reason for Avoidance	Healthy Alternative
Alcohol	Exacerbates inflammation and can disrupt the gut barrier; can also interfere with medications.	Herbal tea, water with a squeeze of lemon (if tolerated)
Caffeinated Drinks	Stimulates gut motility, which can worsen diarrhea and cramping.	Decaffeinated herbal tea
Carbonated Beverages	Increases gas and bloating, causing discomfort.	Still water, homemade fruit-infused water
High-Sugar Drinks	Can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms and trigger inflammation.	Diluted, 100% fruit juice or electrolyte solution
Dairy-Based Beverages	Many people with intestinal inflammation are lactose intolerant, and dairy can cause digestive issues.	Lactose-free milk, almond milk, oat milk

Listen to Your Body

Finding the right drinks for your condition is a personalized process. What works well for one person with intestinal inflammation might not work for another. During remission, you may be able to tolerate a wider variety of beverages, but during a flare-up, a simpler, gentler approach is best. It is always best to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian to create a personalized plan, especially if you have a chronic condition like IBD. Maintaining a food and drink diary can help you identify your personal triggers and discover which liquids are most soothing for your digestive system.

Conclusion

For individuals with intestinal inflammation, prioritizing hydration with gentle, soothing, and anti-inflammatory beverages is paramount. Options like water, broths, and decaf herbal teas can provide relief and support the healing process. Simultaneously, avoiding irritating drinks like alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar or carbonated options is crucial for symptom management. By focusing on simple, nutrient-dense fluids and paying close attention to your body's individual responses, you can make smarter choices to calm your intestines and improve your overall digestive health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people with intestinal inflammation are lactose intolerant, so opting for lactose-free milk or non-dairy alternatives like almond milk or oat milk is often recommended. Soy milk and pea milk might cause gas and bloating in some individuals, so proceed with caution.

Yes, ORS like sports drinks can be useful for replacing lost electrolytes, especially during diarrhea-induced dehydration. However, it's best to choose options lower in sugar to avoid worsening symptoms.

Caffeine can stimulate the digestive system and increase gut motility, which may exacerbate symptoms like diarrhea and cramping during a flare-up.

Yes, smoothies can be a good option because blending fruits and vegetables breaks down fiber, making them easier to digest. Stick to low-fiber ingredients like bananas and spinach, and avoid high-fiber additions or those with thick skins and seeds during a flare.

It is generally recommended to avoid alcohol during a flare-up, as it can worsen inflammation, disrupt the gut barrier, and interfere with medications. Some may tolerate minimal red wine during remission, but avoidance is safest.

Yes, clear, fat-free broth is often a good choice. It provides hydration and some nutrients in an easily digestible form, especially during periods of a flare-up.

Many fruit juices are high in sugar, which can trigger symptoms. It is best to choose 100% fruit or vegetable juices without added sugars and dilute them with water to make them gentler on the digestive tract.