Mediterranean Diet for Crohn’s Disease: Should You Try It?
Digestive HealthCrohn's Disease

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet for Crohn’s Disease?

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet for Crohn’s Disease?
Luc Teboul/Getty Images
By
Published on January 5, 2026
by
Though there’s no specific diet proven to reduce the incidence of flares in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease, some dietary approaches may be helpful in managing the condition. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has recommended the Mediterranean diet for most people with IBD.

“The Mediterranean diet can offer hope for some symptom prevention and relief for those living with Crohn’s,” says Alexander Ford, DO, RD, a family medicine physician and registered dietitian at Community Care Physicians in Rotterdam, New York. “While it’s not a cure-all and doesn’t replace [medical] treatment, a growing body of research suggests that its anti-inflammatory and gut-friendly properties can be helpful, potentially reducing the frequency of disease flare-ups and improving quality of life.”

Here’s a look at what this dietary approach includes, how it may improve Crohn’s, along with some tips on incorporating Mediterranean choices into your diet.

What Is the Mediterranean Diet, and Why Might It Be Beneficial for Crohn’s Disease?

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based foods and healthy unsaturated fats, with a low to moderate amount of fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, and eggs. It’s recommended that red meat and foods with added sugars be limited to just one serving per week.

The diet is based on how people in countries on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea ate in the mid-20th century; those eating patterns have been linked to better cardiovascular health.

Although foods and eating styles differ among the countries classified as Mediterranean, some common features include:

  • An emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds
  • Olive oil as the predominant source of fat
  • Fruit as dessert instead of options with added sugars
  • Low to moderate intake of eggs, fish, poultry, and dairy products
  • Limited consumption of red meat
  • A focus on foods that are minimally processed
The diet has been shown to lower inflammation in some chronic diseases — which is why it may also be beneficial for Crohn’s, which is a chronic inflammatory condition.

 One possible reason for the diet’s anti-inflammatory effects are plant compounds called polyphenols, which shield the body from inflammation.

Higher consumption of plant-based foods is also a booster for gut health, because the fiber content supports beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, says James Williams, MD, a colorectal surgeon at Orlando Health’s Florida Medical Clinic in St. Petersburg. Not only is this another way to regulate inflammation, but it also strengthens the gut barrier and improves digestion, Dr. Williams says.

What Research Says About the Mediterranean Diet for Crohn’s Disease

Research suggests the Mediterranean diet may offer Crohn’s disease symptom relief.

One study on people with Crohn’s disease compared this way of eating to another approach called the specific carbohydrate diet, a restrictive diet that limits most sugars and starches (like potatoes and grains) but also emphasizes plant-based foods and unprocessed meats. After six weeks, about 45 percent of the participants on each diet reported feeling better, with resolution of symptoms, including diarrhea and stomach pain. Overall, both plant-based diets led to less pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

Another study looking at those who were newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease found that participants who adhered to a Mediterranean diet for the roughly two-year duration of the study experienced symptom improvement, decreased inflammatory markers, and a reduction in the imbalance of gut bacteria (dysbiosis). The diet was also linked to a lack of complications in Crohn’s in the year following the study.

“Although studies on the Mediterranean diet with Crohn’s are limited, it’s helpful to know that the diet has enough evidence behind it to be supported by the American Gastroenterological Association,” says Williams.

“Also, it’s a healthy diet that is easy to follow.”

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet to Help Manage Crohn’s Symptoms?

Before embarking on any dietary change, it’s crucial to understand that each person with Crohn’s has their own unique triggers, says Dr. Ford.

“The Mediterranean diet should be viewed as a modifiable framework, personalized to the individual, allowing them to make choices that best suit their body and lifestyle,” he says. “To improve adherence, I advise gradual change with simple food substitutions. Also keep in mind that small changes go a long way toward improving health over time.”

Compared with cleaning out your fridge and pantry and trying to stock it with entirely new-to-you food items, swapping Mediterranean-style choices for what you may be already eating makes the shift easier. Ford says that these substitutions can include:

  • Reaching for olive oil or avocado oil instead of refined vegetable oils like soybean, corn, canola, or sunflower oil
  • Swapping red meat with poultry or a fatty fish like salmon or mackerel
  • Serving fruit for dessert rather than baked goods or other foods with added sugars
  • Consuming low-fat or nonfat dairy products like milk and yogurt instead of full-fat versions
  • Trading white bread for whole-grain bread
  • Opting for whole-grain pasta
  • Topping a salad with olive oil and vinegar instead of a store-bought dressing
  • Snacking on nuts and dried fruit instead of chips
  • Choosing herbs and spices as seasoning rather than salt
“Once you have these types of changes in place, you can then start to focus on adding more plant-based options into your snacks and meals,” Ford says. For example, that might look like:

  • Adding beans and sliced vegetables into soups and stews
  • Putting dark leafy greens on sandwiches or into an egg bake
  • Trying new fish recipes, with options like trout, sardines, or halibut
  • Cooking different types of whole grains, such as quinoa or farro
While this style of eating can be helpful not just for Crohn’s but for your overall health, it’s important to pay attention to your body when a flare begins because you may need to make a pivot, says Ford.

“During a Crohn’s flare, individuals may have to temporarily limit fiber intake to help with symptom relief,” he says. “That means you may not be able to have the high fiber [intake] seen with the Mediterranean diet. However, you can often resume that way of eating once symptoms are in remission.” In fact, the AGA also recommends this plan of action in IBD when dealing with flares and increasing gastrointestinal symptoms.

A registered dietitian can help you find ways to optimize your diet while practicing self-compassion. If you aren’t already working with someone, ask your healthcare team or support group for a referral, and check whether you have insurance coverage.

The Takeaway

  • The Mediterranean diet, which is recommended for Crohn’s disease, may be helpful for reducing symptoms and improving the gut bacteria imbalance related to the condition.
  • This way of eating has been shown to lower inflammation throughout the body, including in the gastrointestinal system, which can also ease Crohn’s symptoms.
  • Starting with simple substitutions, such as replacing refined vegetable oil with olive oil for cooking, can be a good way to start incorporating Mediterranean-style choices into your everyday diet.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Hashash JG et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diet and Nutritional Therapies in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Expert Review. Gastroenterology. March 2024.
  2. Godny L et al. Is the Mediterranean Diet in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Ready for Prime Time? Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. February 2024.
  3. Mediterranean Diet. Cleveland Clinic. March 7, 2024.
  4. What Is the Mediterranean Diet? American Heart Association. May 15, 2024.
  5. Tsigalou C et al. Mediterranean Diet as a Tool to Combat Inflammation and Chronic Diseases. An Overview. Biomedicines. July 2020.
  6. Crohn’s Disease. Mayo Clinic. December 4, 2025.
  7. Anti Inflammatory Diet. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  8. Merra G et al. Influence of Mediterranean on Human Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. January 2021.
  9. Lewis JD et al. Comparing Two Diets to Decrease Symptoms From Crohn’s Disease — The DINE-CD Study. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. 2021.
  10. Godny L et al. Mechanistic Implications of the Mediterranean Diet in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Crohn’s Disease: Multiomic Results From a Prospective Cohort. Gastroenterology. May 2025.
  11. Broderick MG. Confused About Seed Oils? Everything You Need to Know From Health Benefits to Cooking Options. UCHealth. February 7, 2025.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

See full bio
elizabeth-millard-bio

Elizabeth Millard

Author

Elizabeth Millard is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer. Her work has appeared in national outlets and medical institutions including Time, Women‘s Health, Self, Runner‘s World, Prevention, and more. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, and is trained in obesity management.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network