What Should I Drink With IBD?
If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you’ve probably wondered whether there are certain drinks you should or shouldn’t be having.
“Is coffee good for you?”
“Is alcohol inflammatory?”
“Does peppermint tea actually help with bloating?”
“Is juice or a smoothie better?”
“What about coconut water?”
The short answer is: The best drink is ultimately one that you enjoy, fits your nutritional needs and doesn't cause troublesome symptoms.
Let’s break it down further..
Coffee, black tea, green tea and matcha:
Coffee, black tea, green tea and matcha all contain beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant properties. They also contain caffeine, which can trigger gut symptoms or affect sleep for some people. But this doesn’t mean they’re causing inflammation or worsening your IBD.
If you notice that coffee or tea sends you running to the bathroom, it may be worth experimenting with the amount or timing. You may find that having caffeinated drinks earlier in the day works better for you, particularly if caffeine affects your sleep.
And if you love the taste of coffee but not the caffeine? Decaf is absolutely an option. Decaffeinated coffee still contains many of the beneficial plant compounds found in coffee, with very little caffeine.
Peppermint tea:
Feeling bloated or experiencing abdominal discomfort?
Peppermint tea may help ease digestive symptoms, making it a simple caffeine-free option to experiment with.
One thing to keep in mind: If you experience reflux, peppermint may make your symptoms worse.
Ginger tea:
Feeling nauseous?
Ginger has been studied for its anti-nausea effects and ginger tea can be a soothing option when you’re feeling a little unsettled.
It’s naturally caffeine-free, making it a great option at any time of day.
Chamomile tea:
Chamomile is also naturally caffeine-free tea, making it another great option at any time of day.
There’s no specific IBD-related reason you need to drink chamomile tea though. If you enjoy it, great. If you don't, you're not missing out on some essential IBD drink!
Juice and smoothies:
Both can be included as part of a balanced diet, even if you’re in a flare. This is because blending or juicing fruit and vegetables can make them easier to tolerate.
They’re a great way to include fruit, vegetables, yoghurt, milk and other nutritious ingredients in your diet. However, juice contains much less fibre than smoothies.
Coconut water:
And then there’s coconut water, which has some particularly interesting research in IBD.
A 2024 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial looked at coconut water as an add-on to standard medical therapy in people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.
After eight weeks, 53.1% of people receiving coconut water achieved clinical remission, compared with 28.3% in the placebo group. The study also found changes in the gut microbiome and improvements in some inflammatory markers.
But before you go stocking your fridge with coconut water, this was a relatively small study so we need larger studies to confirm these findings and understand whether they apply more broadly. Most importantly, coconut water is not a cure for ulcerative colitis and should not replace your prescribed IBD treatment.
Instead, I think it’s a really interesting example of how researchers are continuing to investigate the relationship between diet, the gut microbiome and IBD.
Coconut water can also provide fluid and potassium, so it may be a useful option around exercise or when you need some additional hydration. But you don't need coconut water to stay hydrated.
We can’t forget about water!
For everyday hydration, water should be your go-to, but if you’re losing a lot of fluid through diarrhoea or vomiting, you may also need to replace electrolytes.
As a general rule of thumb, around 30-35 mL of fluid per kg of body weight per day is a reasonable starting point for many adults. For example, if you weigh 70 kg, this works out to be 2.1-2.45 L of fluid per day.
Please note: Individual requirements vary. Your needs may be lower or higher depending on other medical conditions and factors such as activity levels, climate, diet and fluid losses.
What about alcohol and sugary drinks?
Regularly consuming alcohol and drinks high in added sugars, such as soft drinks and energy drinks isn’t ideal for overall health and may have negative effects on the gut and inflammation.
This doesn't mean you can never enjoy them, but they’re best kept as occasional choices rather than being your main source of fluids.
If you’re unsure whether something you’re drinking is actually contributing to your symptoms, we can work through it together without unnecessarily restricting your diet.
This is exactly what I help my clients with: Making sense of your symptoms, finding what works for your body and building an approach to food that feels sustainable.
If you’d like personalised support, you can book an appointment or get in touch to learn more about working together.
This blog is for general information and is not a substitute for individualised medical or nutrition advice. If you have IBD and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, please speak with your gastroenterologist or healthcare team.
