- In 2019, about 4.9 million people around the world were living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Previous studies show that eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods can be problematic for people with IBD.
- A new study provides more information on how eating ultra-processed foods physically impacts the gastrointestinal system, leading to IBD-related issues.
Previous studies show that eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods can be problematic for people with IBD.
Now, a new study recently published in the journal Nutrients provides more information on how eating ultra-processed foods physically impacts the gastrointestinal system, leading to IBD-related issues.
For this study, researchers analyzed findings from previously published studies from January 2010 to March 2025 in the databases
Scientists focused on data that corresponded with one of the three themes of this study:
- epidemiology or causes and risk factors
- mechanisms or how it works
- therapeutics or treatments
At the study’s conclusion, researchers found that a higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was consistently associated with a greater risk of Crohn’s disease.
“There is something in the industrial world, in developed countries, that predisposes people to Crohn’s disease,” Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA — who was not involved in this study — told Medical News Today.
“And we have observed a lot of studies in the past that showed that with the rate of progress and development in the economy of a country, the rate of Crohn’s increases. So it was tied to Western culture, Western society, and something in Western-type of living, and one of those obviously is processed foods and ultra-processed foods.”
However, scientists reported that the association between a greater intake of ultra-processed foods and the risk of ulcerative colitis was weaker or non-existent.
Researchers also reported findings on the mechanistic pathway, or how ultra-processed foods affect the body, which may contribute to the development of Crohn’s disease.
“These findings build on a growing body of evidence linking higher intake of ultra-processed foods with gut dysbiosis — that is, a less diverse and more inflammation-promoting microbiome — an imbalance — and disruptions to the gut barrier that can trigger immune activation and inflammation,” Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight — who was not involved in this study — told MNT.
“Studies show ultra-processed food consumption is associated with reduced beneficial microbes, impaired gut lining integrity, and increased signals that contribute to inflammation, all symptoms and pathways observed in IBD and Crohn’s disease,” she added.
“From a clinical perspective, I also observe those consuming diets higher in ultra-processed foods see an exacerbation in current symptoms or have increased risk of developing IBD, Crohn’s, or a variety of other gastrointestinal conditions,” Richard continued.
“Ingredients and concerns associated with ultra-processed foods include being low fiber, high in additives such as dyes, preservatives, and fillers, while being high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and high in food-like products that displace nutrient-rich meals.”
– Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN
Farhadi commented that studies like this are helping to provide more evidence on how ultra-processed foods may impact IBD risk, which can help doctors better guide their patients.
“Most patients, when they walk in, that’s their first question — what should we eat?” he explained. “If you look at the internet, it’s full of information regarding diet [but] most of them are not based on substantiative scientific data. Now it’s a little bit more coherent, and we are having a lot of studies coming in regards to [the] benefit of a plant-based food, particularly in disease, to put it into remission and reduce the flare.”
“And now with this study, less use of ultra-processed food could also be very helpful in [reducing] the rate of development of the disease, and at the same time have the disease put under control,” Farhadi added.
However, Farhadi did point out that this study is correlational and there are factors that could be easily missed or biased. For example, Farhadi said that people who eat more ultra-processed foods tend to lead a very busy work-centered life, which may lead them to have more stress and not exercise.
“So basically we are [saying] those who are eating ultra-processed food get more Crohn’s,” he explained. “But in fact, those who have a very busy and stressful life and do less exercise are the ones who get Crohn’s, [and] it happens that these people also use more ultra-processed food.”
For readers who wish to reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods in their diet, we asked Richard for her top tips.
“Every person is unique — genetics, access, culture, stress, medications, and environmental exposures all play roles that should be considered, but we can all follow some of these general recommendations to minimize ultra-processed food consumption and maximize consuming nutritious foods that will help optimize health,” she explained.
“It is also important to keep in mind the following recommendations are not for an individual currently in a state of ‘flare-up’ or at immediate risk for developing (ie.already have existing conditions that increase risk),” she continued. “More specific medical nutrition therapy may be appropriate for these individuals, such as enteral and parenteral tube-feeding or highly specific nutrition and medical interventions with your healthcare team to carefully treat and address long-term.”
Some tips Richard offered on how to cut back on ultra-processed food intake include:
- build meals around basic foods such as beans and lentils to boost fiber and feed gut bacteria
- opt for whole grains like brown rice, oats, or beneficial starches like potatoes with their skin
- shop the bulk bins section in the grocery store to try a “tasting” of a new whole grain or legume without buying a large package that may go to waste
- vegetables and fruits in a variety of colors support the production of what are called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which nurture the gut wall and lining
- invest in a slow cooker, rice cooker, or air fryer to prepare produce and lean proteins efficiently, with minimal extra effort
- a beginner’s cookbook and a small appliance, such as a toaster oven or blender, can help even novice cooks prepare meals that reduce their reliance on packaged fare
- explore local resources such as extension centers or local food programs to find free or low cost cooking classes or programs that help with access to fresh and local produce.
“It doesn’t have to be ‘all or nothing,” Richard added. “Small swaps add up — one meal, one grocery shop, one intentional choice at a time. Every step away from highly processed products and toward foods your great-grandmother grew in her garden or prepared in the kitchen, more often, helps support the gut microbiome and reduces inflammatory triggers.”