What if a few changes to the diet were enough to keep the disease at rest for longer?
A French study presented at the European Congress of Gastroenterology (UEGW 2025) sheds new light on the link between diet and the progression of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Researchers followed patients in remission and analyzed their eating habits to understand what influenced the risk of relapse. Their observation is clear: a predominantly plant-based diet seems associated with longer periods of remission.
People who regularly consumed fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts or vegetable oils had a significantly lower risk of another flare-up. These foods are naturally rich in fiber, an important point highlighted by the study: they feed the “good” intestinal bacteria, support the balance of the microbiota and help reduce local inflammation. Conversely, a diet more centered on red meats, very fatty products or ultra-processed foods was linked to a higher risk of relapse. The study mentions in particular products classified “NOVA 4”, that is to say the most processed foods: industrial snacks, fatty cold meats, prepared meals, packaged pastries, sugary drinks. Their richness in additives, fast sugars or saturated fats could maintain inflammation or weaken the intestinal barrier, which would explain this increased risk.
A key point emerges from these results: it is not a question of following a strict diet, but of a dose effect. The more the proportion of plants increases, even gradually, the more marked the protective effect seems. Add vegetables, vary the cereals, integrate legumes or replace a very meaty meal with a plant-based option: these small everyday actions can, taken together, make a real difference.
However, researchers point out that diet does not replace treatments, which are essential for controlling these chronic diseases. On the other hand, it appears as a complementary lever, accessible and inexpensive, to space out flare-ups. They also emphasize the importance of personalized nutritional support, because tolerances vary depending on the patient, the history of the disease or the interventions undergone.
For those affected, these results offer an encouraging perspective: regaining a little control through concrete, progressive choices compatible with daily life. A simple, and above all promising, path to living longer with fewer symptoms.
