After last night’s Halloween festivities, my family and I are swimming in candy—despite my best efforts to cut down how much my kids (and husband) bring home.
And I know I’m not alone!
Many of my patients have already started venting about the influx of sugar that comes with the holiday season.
With this in mind, now seems like the perfect time to share some practical tips to help your patients eat less sugar—not just during the holidays, but all year long.
Overview of Current Guidelines and Research on Sugar Intake in IBD
Most dietary guidelines for IBD offer little to no clear advice on added sugar.
For example:
- British Dietetic Association (BDA): Recommends limiting “high fat, high sugar, and high salt foods.”
- American Gastroenterological Association (AGA): Suggests following a Mediterranean-style diet that emphasizes fresh produce, healthy fats, complex carbs, and lean proteins while minimizing ultra-processed foods, added sugar, and salt.
While some patients like these broad recommendations, most seek more specific, actionable advice.
The lack of better guidelines stems largely from a shortage of high-quality research.
Much of the current data comes from animal studies, and nutrition research is notoriously challenging. For example, people who eat more sugar often consume less fiber and more animal fat, making it hard to isolate sugar’s effects.
Nevertheless, the evidence we have is concerning…
Research shows that diets high in added sugar can:
- Weaken the intestinal barrier
- Disrupt the gut microbiome
- Increase the risk of developing IBD
- Trigger IBD symptoms
- Worsen inflammation in IBD
- Shorten the time between IBD-related hosptial visits
Beyond research, my clinical experience confirms that eating less sugar makes a real difference.
While we wait for more definitive research, it’s clear that lowering sugar intake is a simple, effective step that can improve the quality of life for many people with IBD.
Practical Tips to Help Your Patients Eat Less Sugar
Here’s the most popular advice I give my patients regarding added sugar:
👉 Aim for 25 grams of added sugar per day or less—about 6 teaspoons (1 teaspoon = 4 grams).
👉 Check labels on packaged foods, as added sugar can be sneaky. We’re not trying to make it a science experiment, but having a general sense of sugar content helps.
👉 Do not replace added sugar with artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame, or with ‘natural’ alternatives such as monk fruit and stevia.
👉 For those consuming well over 25 grams daily, estimate daily intake over a few days and cut it in half.
For example, I once worked with a patient consuming over 200 grams of added sugar per day, primarily from sugary beverages. We set an initial goal of 100 grams per day and gradually reduced it from there.
It’s worth it, I promise. Many patients tell me, “The best thing I did for my IBD was to cut back on sugar.” 🙌
