Nutrition Must Go Beyond Avoidance

Lately, I have been reading several food restriction lists and watching videos floating around, mostly on social media, shared as “must avoid” rules for people with gut issues.

The intent might be to help, but without context or individualisation, these lists can do more harm than good.

If someone has a chronic inflammation of the gut, like IBD or even just a period of digestive symptoms, understandably, certain foods may not be well tolerated.

During a flare or when symptoms are severe, reducing things like fibre, dairy, or certain plant foods might be helpful in the short term. But we need to be careful not to treat these temporary measures as lifelong rules.

When the first response to gut symptoms is to cut foods out and then keep them out indefinitely, it can backfire. Long-term avoidance of key food groups can lead to nutrient deficiencies, changes in gut microbiota, and even food-related anxiety.

I have seen people end up with osteopenia after long-term dairy exclusion or poor gut motility from fibre avoidance. Not to mention the social impact of being scared to eat out or share a meal.

And here is the thing: symptoms do not always mean inflammation, and food-related reactions certainly do not always mean damage. Gut symptoms are complex. Sometimes it is the gut-brain axis, sometimes it is habit, and sometimes it is learned fear from past experiences. That is why reintroducing food can feel so scary, but it is such a crucial part of healing.

This is where Accredited Practising Dietitians come in. We help bridge the gap between symptom relief and long-term gut health. Reintroduction is not one-size-fits-all. It has to be gradual, strategic, and personalised. Everyone’s gut structure and function are different, and so are their triggers and tolerances. A food that causes issues for one person may be perfectly fine for someone else.

Just like medications need to be managed by the right specialist, nutrition deserves the same level of professional care. When dietitians are included in the team, people get a more complete plan, one that focuses not just on what to avoid, but what to bring back in to support gut function, energy, immunity, and quality of life.

Food is not the enemy. But poor advice can make it feel that way. Let us help people move from restriction to restoration with clarity, compassion, and the right support.

By Dietitian Joanna