Mediterranean Diet
Also known as: Mediterranean-style diet
Matched the stricter Specific Carbohydrate Diet for symptom relief in a 194-person Crohn’s trial, and is far easier to follow long term.
Clinically studied. Tested head-to-head against the Specific Carbohydrate Diet in a 194-patient randomised trial. Both improved symptoms; there was no untreated comparison group.
What it is
A pattern of eating built around vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, fish and nuts, with little red or processed meat and few ultra-processed foods.
Why it might help
It is rich in fibre and polyphenols that feed beneficial gut bacteria, and low in the processed foods and additives research links to gut inflammation. It also carries well-established heart and general-health benefits.
Highlights
- In the DINE-CD trial, 43.5% reached symptom remission at week 6, statistically the same as the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (46.5%).
- The trial’s authors suggested it may be preferred for most people with mild-to-moderate symptoms, because it is easier to follow.
- Neither diet changed CRP much, so it is best viewed as symptom and wellbeing support alongside medical care.
What the research shows
| Study | Design & population | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis 2021 Mixed result | Randomised trial comparing two diets for 12 weeks (DINE-CD) 194 adults randomised · Crohn’s disease with mild-to-moderate symptoms | Symptom remission at week 6 was similar: 46.5% on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and 43.5% on the Mediterranean diet. Inflammation markers improved in about a third of patients in each group, and CRP response was uncommon. |
Randomised trial comparing two diets for 12 weeks (DINE-CD) · 194 adults randomised · Crohn’s disease with mild-to-moderate symptoms
Symptom remission at week 6 was similar: 46.5% on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and 43.5% on the Mediterranean diet. Inflammation markers improved in about a third of patients in each group, and CRP response was uncommon.
Practical tips
- Start by swapping ultra-processed snacks and processed meats for whole foods.
- During a flare or with a stricture, cooked, peeled and blended vegetables are often better tolerated than raw ones.
Cautions
- High-fibre foods may need adjusting during flares or if you have a stricture. See the low-residue page.
Sources
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Lewis JD, Sandler RS, Brotherton C, et al. · Gastroenterology · 2021
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Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation · Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Phase 2 — in development
Where traditional research stops, our community begins
Natural compounds can’t be patented, so they rarely get the multi-million-dollar trials that drugs receive. That leaves people with Crohn’s without answers to the questions that matter most: what actually helps, at what dose, and for whom? Our Community Symptom Tracker will crowdsource those answers from real people living with Crohn’s, and our upcoming wellness store will make it easy to find quality, third-party-tested products.
- Log your symptoms, supplements and doses in a private daily tracker
- See what’s working for people with the same disease location and medications
- Contribute to the largest real-world dataset on natural Crohn’s support
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