A Plant-Based Diet for IBD and IBS

Gastroenterologist Diane Bai presents epidemiological studies that show a reduction in the risk of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, with a vegetarian diet. The physiological basis for this includes the intestinal microbiome. The fiber contained in a plant-based diet favors butyrate producing bacteria. Butyrate has an anti inflammatory effect in the intestine. Dr. Bai presents interventional studies which show the efficacy of the plant- based diet in inducing and maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease patients. This presentation relies on evidence-based medicine. Dr. Bai then presents her own clinical experience successfully treating various forms of irritable bowel syndrome by increasing the amount and variety of plant foods in the patient’s diet.