Other studies have concluded that switching to an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet can considerably reduce the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can slow or even halt the progression to more serious stages. The research highlights the benefits of diets centered around nutrient-dense plant-based foods. A superlative case in point is the Mediterranean diet, loaded with whole grains, fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes, and plant-based protein sources. Many researchers found that people who adhered strongly to these dietary patterns were at much lower risk of developing IBD. Conversely, people who eat unhealthy plant foods are at an increased risk.
The Mediterranean diet is a shinning example of the highly touted healthy plant-based diet. This diet is a stark deviation from ones inundated with unhealthy plant-based options. Consider cookies, white bread, and soda. People who stuck with the Mediterranean diet long-term experienced greater health benefits. In contrast, those who indulged in cookies for the full six years experienced worse outcomes. This dietary pattern includes tea and coffee, contributing even more impressive health benefits.
"It is very encouraging to see that it [a healthy plant-based diet] not only helps prevent the disease, but slows it down or halts progression to severe cases. That’s a very interesting finding," said Ashkan Farhadi, MD.
Studies indicate that vegan and vegetarian diets are predominantly based on plant-based foods. We’d expect a vegan diet to have even more protective benefits since it would lead to less inflammatory markers. The vegetarian diet should offer no such benefits, the study points out. Plant-based diets have protective effects against developing IBD. Researchers speculate these benefits are attributable to more than just dietary fiber alone and likely from other phenomena.
“This implies that the protective effects of a healthy plant-based diet against IBD might not only come from fiber but potentially other factors as well. But, it doesn’t necessarily mean one diet is better than the other; both may offer benefits through different mechanisms,” stated Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN.
The study examined the effect on gut health of negatively-touted unhealthy plant-based foods. Highly processed plant-based foods can change gut flora by nourishing specific microbes. This change is associated with greater risk of IBD in people eating diets high in processed plant foods.
“More research is needed to fully understand the impact of different diets on IBD risk and disease course, but we can say without doubt that a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense, plant-based foods is essential,” added Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN.
Despite offering important knowledge on IBD outcomes such as surgery, comorbidity, and mortality, the study recognized various limitations. Central considerations including disease activity, relapse rates, and overall quality of life were hardly addressed. This gap highlights important themes for future research.
"The study explored important IBD outcomes like surgery, comorbidities, and death. But, it overlooked key aspects like disease activity, relapse rates, and quality of life — these are critical factors that future research should address," emphasized Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN.
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