Low-FODMAP Diet for Ulcerative Colitis: Does It Help?
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Should You Start a Low-FODMAP Diet if You Have Ulcerative Colitis?

Should You Start a Low-FODMAP Diet if You Have Ulcerative Colitis?
Everyday Health
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Updated on June 13, 2025
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If certain foods trigger uncomfortable ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms for you, you’re in good company. That’s why some people with UC choose to adopt a low-FODMAP diet — an eating plan that limits foods that contain FODMAPs, specific types of short-chain carbohydrates.

The diet was originally developed for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A meta-analysis found that, among people with IBS, a low-FODMAP diet was more helpful in alleviating abdominal pain and bloating than other diets.

 Some researchers believe that a low-FODMAP diet may also help ease some digestive symptoms for people who have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like UC.

It’s important to mention that the low-FODMAP diet is only recommended for short-term use, with the elimination phase lasting 6 to 12 weeks.

 What’s more, people living with an IBD like UC might experience symptom relief — similar to someone with IBS — but the low-FODMAP diet alone is not known to improve intestinal inflammation, a hallmark symptom of IBD.

Thinking of giving the diet a try? Here’s what you should know before you get started.

Low-FODMAP Diet, Explained

FODMAP is an acronym of the scientific names of a class of carbohydrates (namely, certain sugars and fiber) that are difficult for the human gut to absorb. Specifically, FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.”

“So far, there has been no evidence that any diet can cause or prevent inflammation of the bowel,” says Bo Shen, MD, a gastroenterologist and the medical director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Columbia University NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. “But, a low-FODMAP diet, which is essentially a low-carb and low-fiber diet, has been the most scientifically studied diet to date.”

What’s more, he says, a low-FODMAP diet can help control some of the symptoms of IBDs like UC or Crohn’s disease, which affect between 2.4 to 3.1 million people in the United States.

The exact causes of IBD are unknown, but genetics have been shown to play a role. Researchers are also starting to study the gut microbiome — the unique composition of microorganisms, such as bacteria, in the human gut — in hopes of learning how it’s related to chronic inflammatory diseases.

What we eat can have a large impact on those bacteria, says Dr. Shen. For example, fiber and simple carbohydrates, such as sugar — like FODMAPs — are the primary food sources of bacteria, so eating a diet heavy in those nutrients can often exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, gas, and lower abdominal pain, particularly in people with IBD. “Excess fiber in the diet can make those symptoms worse,” he says.

How a Low-FODMAP Diet May Help Ease IBD Symptoms

In one small study, scientists tracked 52 people with IBD, measuring their persistent gut symptoms, markers of inflammation, and their fecal microbiome. At the end of the four-week study, 52 percent of people who followed the low-FODMAP diet reported relief of gut symptoms after the trial, compared with just 16 percent of people who followed a control diet. Plus, those who stuck to the low-FODMAP diet scored higher on quality-of-life assessments.

While the researchers concluded that a low-FODMAP diet is safe and can help manage symptoms of Crohn’s and UC, one of the difficulties of studying the microbiome is that everyone’s gut bacteria is distinct, says Shen.

“Each of us has at least 5,000 different kinds of bacteria in our gut,” he says. That makes drawing valid conclusions from comparisons among people difficult. Some researchers are beginning to study the impact of a low-FODMAP diet on the gut microbiome in people with conditions like UC, but more research is needed before it can be widely recommended for managing UC.

What to Eat — and Avoid — on a Low-FODMAP Diet

Until more research emerges, current evidence suggests that following a low-FODMAP diet and limiting certain high-fiber, high-carb foods may help some people with IBDs like UC feel better.

On a typical low-FODMAP diet, some foods to limit or avoid include:

But, there is also a long list of low-FODMAP foods that are acceptable on the diet, such as:

  • Almond milk (plain, unsweetened)
  • Red and yellow bell peppers
  • Carrots
  • Certain cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan, brie, feta, mozzarella, American, and queso fresco
  • Citrus fruits (except grapefruit)
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Grapes
  • Green beans
  • Potatoes
  • Tomatoes

“This diet is not very restrictive, since there is a wide spectrum of foods to choose from, and is fairly easy to follow,” says Shen, who likes to tell people, “It’s not no FODMAP, just low-FODMAP.” For example, certain foods, such as apples, can be made diet friendly by peeling them.

There’s also little risk in trying the diet in the short-term, though it’s a good idea to work with a registered dietitian to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need in your diet and carrying out all phases of the diet, including elimination (temporarily removing certain foods from your diet) and reintroduction (reintroducing those foods into your diet after the elimination phase), correctly. You are still able to get all the nutrients your body needs, including fiber. “Even a low-FODMAP diet still has some fiber,” Shen says.

Overall, following a low-FODMAP diet can be an effective way to learn more about what triggers your UC flares, relieve uncomfortable symptoms, and improve the gut microbiome.

The Takeaway

  • Following a temporary low-FODMAP diet can help relieve symptoms of UC, though it won’t necessarily improve inflammation.
  • The diet is not extremely restrictive when done correctly, and you may be surprised by the foods that are considered low-FODMAP.
  • Work with a registered dietitian to ensure you’re still getting the nutrients you need and that you’re following all phases of the diet, including elimination and reintroduction, correctly.

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. Black C et al. Efficacy of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Gut. June 2022.
  2. Lamb B. Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis: The Effect of the Low-FODMAP Diet on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. October 2021.
  3. Types of Diets in IBD. Crohn’s Colitis Canada.
  4. Cox S et al. Effects of Low FODMAP Diet on Symptoms, Fecal Microbiome, and Markers of Inflammation in Patients With Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Randomized Trial. Gastroenterology. January 2020.
  5. Low-FODMAP Diet. Cleveland Clinic. February 24, 2022.
  6. IBD Facts and Stats. Centers for Disease Control.
  7. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Causes of Crohn’s Disease.
  8. Vandeputte D et al. Effects of Low and High FODMAP Diets on Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota Composition in Adults with Intestinal Diseases: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms. October 23, 2020.
  9. Low FODMAP Diet: What Can I Eat? University of Virginia Health System.
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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

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Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

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