If you’re like many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you may have noticed that what you eat can directly affect how you feel.
Because IBD affects the gastrointestinal (GI) system, your diet plays an important role in keeping symptoms at bay. A healthy diet also provides beneficial nutrients that can help prevent complications such as malnutrition and weight loss, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
“It may be helpful to limit processed foods, red meats, and added sugars while following a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, fish, nuts and seeds, and avocados,” says Stacy Cavagnaro, a registered dietitian. Focus on IBD at Cleveland Clinic.
As important as watching your diet is, keeping track of your food intake can sometimes be tiring. The technology can be an effective tool in helping patients with IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. D., a gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition physician at Cleveland Clinic. Taha Qazi recommends prioritizing functionality and usability when choosing an app.
Arlene Stein, a registered dietitian at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at NYU Langone Health in New York City, adds that apps can make people accountable. For example, if you are tracking what you eat and drink on a food app, this will help you make connections between food and drinks and symptoms.
Dr. “I think there is a possibility that in the future, doctors will have the ability to monitor and treat IBD patients through app-based technologies that stream directly into electronic medical records,” says Qazi. “The future is bright in many ways when it comes to wearable technologies and applications.”
Here are some of the best nutritional practices for people with IBD.
1. MyFitnessPal: Calorie Counter
MyFitnessPal is one of the most comprehensive food recording apps available. It has a large database of over 14 million foods, as well as a huge community that allows you to connect with others with similar goals and nutritional issues (in this case, Crohn’s and colitis).
If you’re following a specific diet to manage your symptoms, such as the Crohn’s disease exclusion diet, you can track your food intake with the app to learn about food triggers. The app can also track calories and macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat); This ensures you get adequate nutrition and maintain a healthy weight.
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Get it from: App Store, Google Play
2. Monash University FODMAP Diet
“Monash University’s low FODMAP app has been incredibly beneficial for my patients,” says Cavagnaro. This elimination diet, which cuts out high-FODMAP foods to determine which ones trigger a GI flare-up and then slowly reintroduces them, is considered the gold standard for those already suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), he adds.
Although the benefits of the low-FODMAP diet for people with IBD are still not fully understood, preliminary research published in the journal Gastroenterology It found that the diet may help temporarily relieve IBD symptoms.
The Monash University FODMAP Diet app takes the guesswork out of navigating the diet by recommending which foods to eat and which to avoid. It is particularly beneficial for those with both IBD and IBS.
Price: $7.99, $9.00
Get it from: App Store, Google Play
3. mySymptoms Food Diary
Tracking a chronic disease can be time-consuming, so apps designed specifically to track chronic conditions are useful tools. Cavagnaro recommends using mySymptoms, which was developed specifically for people with chronic diseases such as IBD, celiac disease, eczema, and migraines. Flexible food diary and diary allow you to track meals and symptoms and detect patterns that may trigger flare-ups.
Price: $4.99
Get it from: App Store, Google Play
In addition to diet and nutrition, lifestyle factors such as stress levels and sleep habits can also affect a person’s IBD. The following apps may help.
4. Calm
Calm is a sleep and meditation app that features sleep stories, meditations, and music to help anyone get a restful night’s sleep.
“There appears to be a two-way relationship between sleep and IBD activity,” says Qazi. “Numerous studies have suggested that IBD patients, regardless of disease activity, have poorer sleep patterns compared to healthy controls.”
Meditation may help reduce stress in this population, according to a meta-analysis that found that people with IBD benefit from mindfulness meditation interventions that include yoga. The study also found that the intervention had positive long-term effects on depression and quality of life.
But Qazi notes that if sleep is a chronic problem, it’s best to see a doctor to review possible causes.
Price: $69.99/year or $14.99/month
Get it from: App Store, Google Play
5. We Can’t Wait App
For some patients with IBD, not knowing where to find a restroom in an emergency can be stressful, Stein says. That’s why the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s We Can’t Wait app was developed; to help people quickly find a bathroom when they need it. This app identifies businesses with public bathrooms across the country and includes 50,000 restrooms across the United States.
Additionally, some states have passed the Restroom Access Act, a law intended to allow people with certain medical conditions, including IBD, to use employee-only restrooms when public restrooms are not available.
Price: Free
Get it from: App Store, Google Play