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U.S. Adults Are More Likely To Have IBD Today (Unless They Do This)

Author:

Morgan Chamberlain

April 08, 2023

Former mbg Supplement Editor

By Morgan Chamberlain

Former mbg Supplement Editor

Morgan Chamberlain is mindbodygreen's former supplement editor. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition.

Image by Jimena Roquero / Stocksy

April 08, 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory GI condition that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Though much is still unknown about this curious chronic illness, cases of IBD are rapidly increasing in the U.S.

According to a 2020 observational study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, adult prevalence of IBD increased 123% from 2007 to 2016; pediatric prevalence increased 133%. So, what the heck is going on with gut health in this country?

Why are IBD cases on the rise?

Per a 2015 review published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, IBD pathology is influenced by both genetic and environmental risk factors 1. These include the western diet, stress, lack of exposure to germs as a child, appendectomy, smoking, microorganisms, and even certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs, antibiotics, and oral contraceptives).

How to reduce your IBD risk

This laundry list of risk factors may seem daunting, but there’s one simple and effective thing you can do to reduce the likelihood of developing IBD: Eat more fiber.

Yup, increasing your daily intake of this gut-healthy carb can help protect against GI issues—including inflammatory bowel disease. In fact, in a prospective study published by Gastroenterology, participants with the highest intake of dietary fiber had a 40% reduced risk 2 of Crohn’s disease compared to participants with the lowest intake.

According to a 2022 Nutrients review, increasing daily fiber intake 3 is a viable strategy for preventing IBD thanks to dietary fiber’s ability to:

Reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines
Modulate intestinal microbiota
Reduce GI side effects

To increase your daily intake of fiber, be sure you’re adding fiber-rich foods (such as whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables) to every meal.

If you’re still struggling to reach the recommended daily fiber intake—and 95% of Americans 4 are—you may want to consider adding a fiber powder supplement to your daily routine as well. (Don’t worry, we’ve put together a list of our favorite fiber supplements for you to kickstart your search. Thank us later!)

The takeaway

IBD cases in the United States are on the rise for adults and children alike. Luckily, you can reduce your risk of developing IBD and other gut health problems with small changes to your nutrition and lifestyle habits—like adding more dietary fiber to your diet.