If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you’ve probably had more medical appointments than you can count. But in between colonoscopies, bloodwork, and biologics, one key provider might be missing from your care team: a registered dietitian who specializes in IBD.

I am not saying this just because I am a dietitian, but I do see first hand on how nutrition can really help IBD folks feel a lot better, and unfortunately also hear from many patients of mine that their care team does not think nutrition matters. Very unfortunate and a missed opportunity because nutrition is synergistic and can only help augment your treatment plan!

At the end of the day, it is tough to manage everything yourself. And having someone who’s skilled in IBD can really help take away a lot guesswork and overwhelm.

In this post, we’ll talk about the less obvious—but incredibly important—reasons to work with an IBD dietitian. I hope this can be a helpful insight on how nutrition can improve symptoms, reduce complications, and help you feel more in control of your health.

🧠 Why Nutrition Support Is Often Overlooked in IBD Care

Many GI doctors focus on prescribing medications to reduce inflammation—and rightly so. Research on dietary therapy is present, but as a monotherapy it may not always be the most appropriate first step.

Providers often don’t have enough time or expertise to discuss both diet and medication in a session. Needing to discuss a new diagnosis and care plan with you while providing adequate support in only 15 minutes is higher power’s work (Kudos to them honestly!) This means that nutrition is usually the one taking the backseat, or nutrition advice would often stop at “just follow the Mediterranean diet” (I have a LOT of feelings about this which I go to in another post).

All that to say, we cannot do IBD alone. IBD is a multifaceted disease, which requires a team with different specialities to best support you.

Back to the main point. Nutrition in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis plays a central role in:

• Supporting intestinal healing
• Preventing malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies
• Managing symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or constipation
• Improving quality of life and food-related anxiety (see here on how stress impact your IBD symptoms)

Unfortunately, not all gastroenterologists (and even dietitians) are trained in the nuances of medical nutrition therapy for IBD. That’s where an IBD-focused dietitian like myself can step in and help support you in nourishing your body, and relationship with food along your IBD journey.

⚠️ 6 Signs It’s Time to See an IBD Dietitian

You don’t need to wait until things get “bad” to seek nutrition support. In fact, the earlier you start, the better your outcomes may be. Here are key signs that working with a dietitian can help:

1. You’re experiencing frequent flares or symptoms between flares

Even if you’re in clinical remission, lingering GI symptoms (like urgency, cramping, or bloating) can often be improved with dietary adjustments.

2. You’ve lost weight unintentionally or have low energy

Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or muscle wasting may signal nutrient malabsorption, protein-energy malnutrition, or micronutrient deficiencies like iron, B12, and vitamin D.

3. You’re confused about what to eat

If you’re stuck in a cycle of fear foods, social eating anxiety, or relying on the same 5 “safe” meals, an IBD-focused dietitian can help you expand your diet safely.

4. You’re considering elimination diets

Low FODMAP, gluten-free, dairy-free… it’s overwhelming. I often have patients say “should I eliminate another food component?” when they are currently only have a handful of foods they can tolerate or consume. An IBD dietitian can guide you through what dietary modification is appropriate (PS. often it’s dietary expansion! Shocker.) without risking malnutrition.

5. You have a surgery coming up, or recovering from surgery

There are strategies specifically to optimizing your nutrition for better surgical outcomes (fewer infections, surgical complications) when you are nourished going in to surgery. Or if you are recovering from one.

6. You have a history of strictures, fistulas, or surgeries

If you’ve had J-pouch surgery, bowel resections, ileostomy, or complications like strictures and fistulas, your nutrition needs can be more nuanced beyond what you find on the internet and deserve a tailored plan.

7. You want to feel more in control of your IBD

Nutrition therapy offers a sense of empowerment. With the right support, you can eat confidently, meet your goals, and reduce flare risk.

🌾 What I as an IBD Dietitian Do (That Google, ChatGPT and Free Resources Can’t)

• Review your full medical history, labs, and medications
• Screen for nutrient deficiencies and risk of malnutrition
• Recommend personalized diet strategies for symptom relief and remission
• Help support you with reintroducing foods safely after flares or surgeries
• Supporting you emotionally through surgery prep, recovery and food-related fears

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or decades into your IBD journey, it’s never too late to work with a dietitian trained in inflammatory bowel disease care.

📌 When Doctors and Dietitians Work Together, You Win

Your GI doctor manages your inflammation, but your dietitian manages your nourishment. I often discuss how these two plans can merge together and streamline them in my sessions. Multidisciplinary team approach and communication is a huge priority of mine and studies have shown that such approach can reduce hospitalizations, optimize your treatment outcomes, and support a better quality of life.

You deserve more than just symptom management—you deserve to thrive.

🎁 In a Flare Now? Download My Free IBD Flare Nutrition Guide

I have curated this free guide to help kickstart the process of getting you nourished! The guide includes flare-friendly foods, hydration tips, and sample meal ideas that are easy on the gut. 👉 Download it here

💬 Ready for Personalized Support? Let’s Talk.

I’m Yi Min Teo, MS, RD, CNSC, an IBD dietitian based in California, offering virtual nutrition counseling for people living with Crohn’s, UC, and other GI conditions in the United States and internationally.

➡️ Book a free 15-minute discovery call to see if nutrition counseling is right for you.

🔎 FAQ

Q: Can nutrition alone treat IBD?

A: No, IBD is a complex immune-mediated disease. But nutrition plays a powerful role in symptom relief, supporting remission, and healing the gut lining alongside medical therapy.

Q: Should I follow the same diet as someone else with IBD?

A: Not necessarily—IBD is highly individual. What works for one person may worsen symptoms for another. That’s why personalized support matters.