Prevention of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Because no one knows exactly what causes IBD, it is hard to try to prevent. But, if you have IBD, you can make changes in your diet and lifestyle to control your symptoms. You might need to limit dairy products, try low-fat foods, experiment with how much protein and fiber you eat, avoid problem "gassy" foods, and eat smaller and more frequent meals. It also is important to get enough rest and avoid stress since being tired or overly upset can make your symptoms worse. Your health care provider can tell you the things to try to make you feel better.