Mediterranean Diet for Ulcerative Colitis: Should You Try It?
Digestive HealthUlcerative Colitis

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet for Ulcerative Colitis?

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet for Ulcerative Colitis?
Getty Images
By
Published on January 7, 2026
by
Although ulcerative colitis (UC) will need to be treated with medications for long-term management, lifestyle habits can play a major role when it comes to preventing symptoms, says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

 This includes focusing on getting quality sleep, reducing stress, being physically active, and paying attention to what you eat.

While there’s no specific "ulcerative colitis diet" that's been shown to reduce the frequency of flares in UC, the eating style referred to as the Mediterranean diet has been recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

"It makes sense that this would be the diet that can help with ulcerative colitis because there's such a strong emphasis on reducing highly processed foods and focusing instead on vegetables and fruits, as well as healthy proteins and fats," Dr. Farhadi says.

 "That approach has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers in people with UC, and promotes better gut health in general."

Here's a look at what the diet consists of, along with how it may improve UC, and some easy first steps toward incorporating Mediterranean choices into your diet.

What Is the Mediterranean Diet, and Why Might It Be Beneficial for Ulcerative Colitis?

The Mediterranean diet is an umbrella term, used to describe the dietary habits of individuals living in countries along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea — including Italy, Greece, southern France, Spain, Crete, and some of the Middle East.

 The approach is primarily plant-based but includes fish, poultry, and dairy products in limited amounts a few times per week. It's also recommended that red meat be eaten rarely and in small amounts, and that treats with added sugars be limited to a few servings per week.

Although specific foods and eating habits differ among countries bordering the Mediterranean, they share some commonalities:

  • An abundance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds
  • Olive oil as the main source of fat
  • Fruit as dessert rather than sugar-sweetened options
  • Low to moderate consumption of eggs, fish, poultry, and dairy products
  • Limited intake of red meat
  • An emphasis on minimally processed foods
Eating this way has been shown to lower inflammation, which is why it's often touted as beneficial for chronic inflammatory conditions.

 That's also why it’s been trialed for UC, a condition characterized by chronic inflammation.

"The plant-based foundation of the Mediterranean diet is also important for supporting gut health, another essential aspect of UC management," says James Williams, MD, a colorectal surgeon at Orlando Health’s Florida Medical Clinic in St. Petersburg. "That's because the higher fiber content in plant-based foods prompts greater diversity of beneficial gut bacteria and also strengthens the gut barrier."

The Best Vegetables to Eat for Ulcerative Colitis

Learn how to balance fiber, choose the right veggies, and prepare them in a way that's best for managing ulcerative colitis.
The Best Vegetables to Eat for Ulcerative Colitis

Next up video playing in 10 seconds

What Research Says About the Mediterranean Diet for Ulcerative Colitis

Research on the connection between UC and the Mediterranean diet is limited, but there is some evidence that it may be useful.

One small randomized controlled trial of 15 adults with UC looked at disease activity after they spent 12 weeks on the Mediterranean diet and found beneficial changes in their gut microbiome (gut bacteria) that were associated with maintaining remission. Because of the results, the researchers concluded that this way of eating is a sustainable maintenance diet for people with UC.

And one review of several studies noted that the Mediterranean diet may reduce inflammation and positively affect gut microbiota in those with IBD. Researchers wrote that following this eating style was associated with decreased inflammatory markers in the blood. It was also connected to a lowered risk of metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by a larger waist circumference, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

"We definitely need more research into the effects of the Mediterranean diet and ulcerative colitis, but what we already have provides strong evidence that this way of eating can be beneficial," says Farhadi.

Indeed, the AGA recommends the Mediterranean approach for most people with IBD. Though they note that no eating style has been proven to reduce IBD flares, the AGA says there’s evidence that eating only small amounts of red and processed meats — as on the Mediterranean diet — may lessen flares in UC.

Should You Try the Mediterranean Diet to Manage Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms?

When considering the Mediterranean diet for UC, it's helpful to remember it’s a general framework, not a highly specific diet with steps like eliminating certain foods, such as the low-FODMAP diet — another option sometimes suggested for those with gastrointestinal disorders.

That means the Mediterranean diet can be personalized to your needs, with some foods emphasized more than others, with the understanding that it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you, says Farhadi.

"There's no one-size-fits-all solution [with] this type of diet or any other when you have UC, but there's no harm in giving it a try to see if it works for you," he says.

In terms of making the shift toward this way of eating, Dr. Williams says that you can ease into it by focusing on substituting certain foods for Mediterranean-style choices, such as:

  • Use olive oil or avocado oil in place of refined vegetable oils like soybean, corn, canola, or sunflower oil.
  • Replace red meat with poultry or a fatty fish like salmon or mackerel.
  • Have fruit for dessert rather than bakery items or sugary treats.
  • Use low-fat or nonfat dairy products like milk and yogurt instead of full-fat versions.
  • Replace white bread with whole-grain bread.
  • Try whole-grain pasta.
  • Dress a salad with olive oil and vinegar instead of a store-bought dressing.
  • Consider nuts and dates instead of chips as a snack.
  • Use herbs and spices as seasoning instead of salt.

"Remember, quantity isn't the goal here, as portions with the Mediterranean diet tend to be smaller, because the food is more nutrient dense," Williams says. "Instead, you're focusing more on quality. If you need just one initial step, it would be to limit processed — and especially ultra-processed — foods."

Although this style of eating can be helpful for UC symptoms and for your health in general, it's important to pay attention to your body when a flare begins, because you'll likely need to eat in a different way when you’re symptomatic, says Farhadi. For example, reducing fiber intake may be a way to get relief from issues like bloating, pain, and diarrhea during a flare.

"Like anything having to do with UC, it's helpful to pay attention to your body and how you respond to dietary changes," Williams says. "If the high amount of fiber from the Mediterranean diet seems to be problematic during a flare, reduce your intake and go back to it once your symptoms resolve."

If you don’t know where to start and don’t already have a registered dietitian on your team, ask your doctor for a referral. A dietitian can work with you to design a Mediterranean diet plan that provides nutrition tailored to your specific needs.

The Takeaway

  • While there is no specific "ulcerative colitis diet," the Mediterranean approach to eating may be useful to manage the condition, along with medication and other beneficial lifestyle habits.
  • Research suggests the Mediterranean diet may lower inflammation throughout the body, including in the gastrointestinal system, which may benefit people with ulcerative colitis.
  • Although the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial when you're not experiencing symptoms, you may need to change how you eat during a flare, to lessen symptoms that may be worsened by high fiber consumption.

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. Ulcerative Colitis: Diagnosis & Treatment. Mayo Clinic. October 21, 2025.
  2. Stress & IBD: Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
  3. Nutrition and Ulcerative Colitis. University of Virginia Nutrition. March 2024.
  4. Hashash JG et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diet and Nutritional Therapies in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Expert Review. Gastroenterology. March 2024.
  5. What Is the Mediterranean Diet? American Heart Association. May 15, 2024.
  6. Ratajczak AE et al. Should the Mediterranean Diet Be Recommended for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients? A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Nutrition. January 9, 2023.
  7. Rishor-Olney C et al. Mediterranean Diet. StatPearls. March 27, 2023.
  8. McManus KD. A Practical Guide to the Mediterranean Diet. Harvard Health Publishing. March 22, 2023.
  9. Tsigalou C et al. Mediterranean Diet as a Tool to Combat Inflammation and Chronic Diseases: An Overview. Biomedicines. July 8, 2020.
  10. Overview of Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
  11. Merra G et al. Influence of Mediterranean on Human Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. December 18, 2020.
  12. Haskey N et al. A Mediterranean Diet Pattern Improves Intestinal Inflammation Concomitant with Reshaping of the Bacteriome in Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. October 2023.
  13. Ratajczak AE et al. Should the Mediterranean Diet Be Recommended for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients? A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Nutrition. January 9, 2023.
  14. Metabolic Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. September 13, 2023.
  15. Low FODMAP Diet. Cleveland Clinic. February 24, 2022.
  16. Broderick MG. Confused About Seed Oils? Everything You Need to Know From Health Benefits to Cooking Options. University of Colorado Health. February 7, 2025.
  17. Mediterranean Diet. Cleveland Clinic. March 7, 2024.
  18. Ulcerative Colitis Flare-Ups: 5 Tips to Manage Them. Mayo Clinic. March 25, 2025.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
ira-daniel-breite-bio

Ira Daniel Breite, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.

Dr. Breite divides his time between technical procedures, reading about new topics, and helping patients with some of their most intimate problems. He finds the deepest fulfillment in the long-term relationships he develops and is thrilled when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease improves on the regimen he worked with them to create.

Breite went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for medical school, followed by a residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and a gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Working in city hospitals helped him become resourceful and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds.

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