IBDPal blog
Content note: Reviewed for patient education accuracy against publicly available guidance from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and major IBD education sources. Last reviewed June 2026. Not individual medical advice.
Educational use only. IBDPal does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your gastroenterologist or IBD care team for personal decisions.
Practical articles for people living with inflammatory bowel disease. Every post is educational only. Work with your gastroenterologist or IBD team for personal care decisions.
Browse by topic
Clinical
IBD and Pregnancy: Planning With Your Gastroenterologist
Crohn's and colitis pregnancy questions: medication planning, flares, nutrition, and when to involve maternal-fetal medi
J-Pouch Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis: Patient-Level Basics
What a J-pouch is, who may consider colectomy, recovery themes, and questions for your colorectal surgeon, education onl
Diet
Anti-Inflammatory Diet and IBD: What Research Suggests (and What It Doesn't)
Anti-inflammatory eating with Crohn's or colitis: Mediterranean patterns, omega-3s, ultra-processed foods, and limits of
High-Protein Meal Ideas for IBD Remission: Building Plates Your Gut Tolerates
IBD meal plan inspiration: high-protein breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas for remission, gentle flare modifications, an
Family
Living With IBD as a Family: Support for Kids and Parents
Helping children with IBD feel normal, building school plans, and caring for parents’ energy, family lifestyle education
Partners and Caregivers: Supporting Someone With IBD
Communication, boundaries, and practical help without taking over medical decisions.
Flares
Health
Exercise With Crohn's or Colitis: Staying Active Without Overdoing It
Can you play sports with IBD? Exercise benefits, flare pacing, ostomy and j-pouch tips, and when to rest, general health
Iron, B12, and Vitamin D With IBD: Deficiencies Patients Ask About
Common IBD nutrient deficiencies: iron anemia, B12 malabsorption, vitamin D, and lab questions to bring to your gastroen
Lifestyle
Nutrition
Dairy and Lactose With Crohn's or Colitis: What Patients Ask
Can you eat dairy with IBD? Lactose intolerance vs inflammation, yogurt and cheese tips, and when to talk to your dietit
FODMAP Diet for Crohn's and Colitis: What Patients Search For
Low-FODMAP basics for IBD: what FODMAPs are, who may benefit, elimination phases, and working with a dietitian, not a DI
Fiber and IBD: When to Add It and When to Pull Back
Soluble vs insoluble fiber for Crohn's and colitis, flares vs remission, and how to reintroduce fiber with your dietitia
Gluten, Wheat, and IBD: Celiac Screening vs Diet Trends
Gluten-free diets and IBD: celiac disease overlap, wheat as a trigger, and when testing matters before cutting gluten, e
How IBDPal Sets Nutrition Targets (And When Your Care Team Should Adjust Them)
IBDPal uses NIH Dietary Reference Intakes for baseline calories, protein, fluids, and micronutrients by age and sex. Ext
Low-Residue Diet During an IBD Flare: A Practical Lifestyle Guide
What a low-residue pattern can look like during a flare, gentle meal ideas, and how to talk with your care team, educati
Nutrition for Teens With IBD: Growth, Protein, and School Lunches
Teen Crohn's and colitis nutrition: calories for growth, protein goals, cafeteria tips, and when poor growth needs a cli
Nutrition & IBD
Best Foods to Eat During a Crohn’s Disease Flare
Gentler food choices, hydration ideas, and common triggers during a Crohn’s disease flare, general education, not medica
Foods That May Trigger Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
How food may aggravate UC symptoms for some people, common triggers to consider, and why individualized tracking matters
Nutrition & Research
Product
Product & IBD
Teen life
College With Crohn's or Colitis: Dorms, Dining Halls, and Disability Services
Starting college with IBD: disability accommodations, dining strategies, infusions away from home, and when to use campu
Crohn's and Colitis in High School: Bathrooms, 504 Plans, and Missing Class
Managing IBD in high school: bathroom access, 504 accommodations, explaining absences, and talking to teachers, educatio
Social Life, Dating, and IBD as a Teen: Privacy, Friends, and Confidence
Teen life with Crohn's or colitis: telling friends, dating disclosure, parties, alcohol, and mental health check-ins, pe
Treatment
Immunosuppressants for IBD: Patient-Level Basics
Azathioprine, methotrexate, and other immunosuppressants in Crohn's and colitis: what they do, labs, and questions for y
Insurance and Biologics for IBD: What Patients Often Ask
Prior authorization, appeals, and questions to ask your team, educational overview, not insurance or legal advice.
Mesalamine (5-ASA) for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's: Basics
What mesalamine does, oral vs rectal forms, adherence tips, and when to call your GI about symptoms, education only.
Steroids (Prednisone) and IBD Flares: Short-Term Basics
Prednisone and budesonide for Crohn's and colitis flares: what steroids do, side effects to watch, and tapering only wit
Treatment basics
Wellness
Alcohol and Caffeine With IBD: Common Patient Questions
Beer, wine, coffee, and energy drinks with Crohn's or colitis: moderation, flares, medications, and dehydration, educati
Living With an Ostomy: Gentle Basics for IBD Patients
What an ostomy is, emotional adjustment, and peer support resources, education only.
Sleep and Rest During IBD Flares: Why Slowing Down Helps
Sleep, naps, pacing activity, and bedroom habits that support recovery during Crohn’s and colitis flares, general wellne
Stress, Mood, and IBD: Everyday Ways to Protect Your Energy
How stress and gut symptoms interact, gentle coping tools, and when to reach for professional support, lifestyle educati
The First 48 Hours of an IBD Flare: A Calm Checklist
Hydration, rest, what to log, and when to call your clinician, general education, not emergency guidance.
Workplace and School Rights When You Have IBD
High-level overview of ADA workplace accommodations and 504 school plans for Crohn's and colitis, not legal advice.
Wellness & IBD
Educational only. Not medical advice. Verify organization details before you rely on them.