IBD Science for Patients

Can eating in a way that helps the Earth also help your stomach? New research suggests the answer is a big “Yes!”

A major study published today in the journal npj Science of Food looked at how a specific way of eating, called the “Planetary Health Diet,” affects people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

What is the Planetary Health Diet?

The Planetary Health Diet is a plan designed by scientists to be good for both people and the planet. To keep the Earth healthy, the diet focuses on foods that don’t require too much water or land to grow. This means:

• Lots of plants: It is packed with vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans.
• Very little red meat: It suggests eating much less beef and pork than most people do today.

Interestingly, other recent news from this week also shows that red meat might make IBD inflammation worse, while other protein sources (like beans or fish) can help protect the gut.

A Global Study

Scientists didn’t just look at one group of people; they studied patients from all over the world, including both Western countries (like the UK and USA) and Eastern countries (like China and Japan).

They found that no matter where a person lived, those who followed this Earth-friendly diet more closely often had a much better “prognosis.”

What is a “Prognosis”?

“Prognosis” is a fancy medical word that basically means “the future outlook for your health.” If you have a good prognosis, it means your doctors expect you to feel better, have fewer “flares” (where the gut gets sore), and stay out of the hospital.

The Big Picture

For kids and adults with IBD, this is great news. It shows that by making choices that are kind to the trees, the oceans, and the climate, you might also be doing exactly what your body needs to keep your IBD calm and your gut happy.