When ‘Healthy Eating’ Isn’t Enough: Why People With Crohn’s Disease Need More Than Diet Changes

Every March, National Nutrition Month sparks conversations about gut health, clean eating and the foods that supposedly keep our digestive systems running smoothly, but for millions of people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the reality is far more complicated. For them, symptoms like abdominal pain, sudden bowel urgency and relentless fatigue often stem from chronic inflammation in the digestive tract — not simply from what’s on their plate.

That distinction can be easy to overlook in a culture that frequently frames digestive health as a matter of discipline or diet. For people with Crohn’s disease, however, managing the condition often requires far more than avoiding certain foods. It usually means working closely with a healthcare provider to address a complex medical condition that affects millions worldwide.

Crohn’s disease is one form of inflammatory bowel disease, a group of conditions that also includes ulcerative colitis. Today, approximately 6.8 million people globally live with IBD, a number that continues to grow. The disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, though it most commonly targets the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the colon. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements, bowel urgency and fatigue — disruptions that can shape nearly every aspect of daily life.

For Jamie Harris, a teacher and mother, those disruptions began in her mid-20s. What started as stomach pain and fatigue eventually escalated into a set of symptoms that she struggled to understand — and were even harder to talk about.

“When I first went to my primary care doctor to talk about my symptoms, he said that I probably just need to add more fiber to my diet,” Harris said. “Unfortunately, nothing I tried worked and I was still having stomach pains. This went on for a year ... and every time I ate, it felt like a stabbing pain in my stomach. So I started to not eat because every time I ate, it just made things worse.”

Her symptoms included bowel urgency, fatigue, blood in her stool and severe abdominal pain. But it took roughly a year and a half to two years before she was referred to a gastroenterologist and formally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

During that period, Harris began restricting food out of fear that eating would trigger the painful episodes. At one point, her daily meals were reduced to a piece of bread, a single serving of cheese and sometimes gelatin.

The experience was especially difficult given how central food was to her upbringing. Raised in a Filipino family where meals are often a cornerstone of social connection and family gatherings, the unpredictability of Crohn’s disease reshaped her relationship with food and with everyday routines.

The condition also affected her work and family life. She lost about 20 pounds due to symptoms and dietary limitations, and fatigue made it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demands of teaching and parenting. Limited bathroom access during the school day and the unpredictability of her symptoms eventually led her to shift to part-time teaching.

Like many people living with digestive disorders, Harris initially hesitated to bring up her symptoms with a doctor.

“When I was first experiencing symptoms 16 years ago, I thought it was all inside of my head — that people wouldn’t believe me or that maybe I was overexaggerating every time I had a stomachache,” she said. “It was so isolating, and I felt that no one understood.”

Embarrassment and stigma can prevent people from seeking help, even when symptoms significantly affect their quality of life. Research suggests that many patients with inflammatory bowel disease feel uncomfortable discussing their symptoms openly with healthcare providers.

That hesitation can delay diagnosis and treatment for a disease that is progressive in nature. Crohn’s disease can lead to serious complications over time, including hospitalizations and surgery.

Nutrition can certainly play a role in managing symptoms and helping people understand which foods may trigger discomfort. But experts say dietary adjustments should not replace medical care.

“Nutrition can support overall health and symptom management, but Crohn’s disease is a serious chronic condition — not a willpower issue,” said Dr. Emanuelle Bellaguarda, a gastroenterologist. “If someone is losing weight, skipping meals, or still having urgency, abdominal pain, or fatigue, that’s a signal to reassess care, not restrict more. It’s important to have a conversation with your care provider or gastroenterologist about your symptoms and how to get the care needed.”

Today, Harris manages her condition with a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle awareness. She keeps a food journal to identify foods that work well for her — like brown rice and salmon — and prepares meals ahead of time when she can. But she knows that diet alone doesn’t control her disease.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t know what was going on and thought it would be embarrassing to talk about with a doctor,” she said. “But now I am more informed and know that if you are experiencing symptoms like bowel urgency, changes to your stool or drastically losing weight, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible.”

She has also found support through patient communities and advocacy groups, which have helped her better understand the condition and connect with others navigating similar experiences.

“Now I go to support groups, I’m involved with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and I understand my needs better by meal prepping, eating before I go out and packing snacks when I’m at work or with my family,” Harris said.

During National Nutrition Month, conversations about gut health often revolve around what people should or shouldn’t eat. For those living with Crohn’s disease, the more important message may be that persistent digestive symptoms are not something to normalize — or to try to manage alone. Talk to your doctor about challenging symptoms, which may include abdominal pain and fatigue, and learn more about Crohn’s disease and a treatment option.

This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 9:43 AM.