Anti-Inflammatory Diet for IBD Introduction
The IBD-AID was derived from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and modified to include more prebiotic and probiotic foods in order to restore a healthy microbiome balance. More specifically, it includes specific sources of carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and nut and legume flours. It includes omega-3 eggs, fish, poultry, and lean meats; limited aged cheeses made with cultures and enzymes; probiotic food sources like yogurt, kefir, and miso; and honey. Prebiotic food sources such as bananas, oats, blended chicory root, and flax meal are suggested. The diet is divided into 3 phases that correlate with symptoms and which are based on food textures. The effects of IBD-AID in adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis were first reported in 2014 with two ongoing trials in adults. See IBD-AID publications on the NTforIBD website for a listing of the research on IBD-AID.
IBD-AID Food List Overview
The food list provided is a simplistic overview of the basic requirements of the diet, offering a bird's eye view of restricted and allowed foods. It is not an all-inclusive list of the allowed and restricted foods, nor does it define all the rules of the diet. This list should NOT be used as a guide to following the diet.
The IBD-AID defines three phases based on the level of symptoms present and it is extremely important to begin the diet at the proper phase. The table represents the foods allowed in the third and final phase of the diet, intended for those in remission. The IBD-AID aims for 80% compliance or above, noting that better results may come with better compliance. Any foods added within the 20% noncompliance buffer are not included in the table.
IBD-AID Food Table
| Fish | Allowed |
| Seafood other than fish, which is listed separately | Allowed |
| Poultry | Allowed, no skin |
| Red Meat (not processed) | Allowed, leaner cuts emphasized |
| Oats | Allowed (gluten-free oats if celiac), steel cut and oat groats encouraged, longer cooking times and additional water may be required |
| Rice | Organic rice allowed in limited amounts after 6 months and if health is stabilized |
| Dried Legumes/Beans | Allowed, may need to vary texture and take digestive enzymes prior to consumption |
| Fresh Legumes/Beans | Allowed, may need to vary texture and take digestive enzymes prior to consumption |
| Vegetables other than starchy vegetables and nightshades, which are listed separately | Allowed |
| Fruits | Allowed |
| Nuts | Allowed |
| Seeds | Allowed |
| Honey | Allowed, local organic encouraged |
| Eggs | Allowed: encourage omega-3 eggs |
| Fats/Oils | Allowed: Limit oils high in omega-6 and saturated fats |
| Cocoa | Allowed |
| Coffee | Allowed |
| Wheat/Gluten | Exclude wheat. Gluten in barley is allowed if not celiac. Gluten in rye is unknown. |
| Grains other than wheat, corn, oats, and rice, which are listed separately | Barley is allowed if not celiac. |
| Starchy Vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, parsnips, etc) | Most Allowed: Exclude white potatoes |
| Nightshades (tomatoes, tomatillos, white potatoes [not sweet potatoes], eggplant, peppers, goji berries, etc) | Mostly Allowed. Exclude White Potatoes. |
| Dairy | Some allowed: Aged cheese, dry curd cottage cheese, cultured cottage cheese, plain kefir, plain yogurt |
| Alcohol | Some allowed on limited basis: dry wine, vodka, gin, rye, Scotch, bourbon, whiskey per patient tolerance |
| Emulsifiers | Exclude maltodextrin, carrageenan, polysorbate-80, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Some emulsifiers, such as guar gum, may be protective. |
| Processed Meat | Exclude |
| Corn | Exclude |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Exclude |
| Sweeteners other than honey and artificial sweeteners, which are listed separately | Exclude |
| Processed Foods/Preservatives/Artificial Additives | Exclude |
| Formula (PEN; eg, Boost®, Ensure®, Pediasure®, Modulen IBD®) | Exclude: encourage whole food smoothies and supplements |
