Yoga and Anti-Inflammatory Diets to Support New Ulcerative Colitis Meds
Digestive HealthUlcerative Colitis

Yoga and Anti-Inflammatory Diets to Support New Ulcerative Colitis Meds

Yoga and Anti-Inflammatory Diets to Support New Ulcerative Colitis Meds
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Published on March 16, 2026
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Medications are the foundation of treatment for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC), with advanced therapies like JAK inhibitors, immunosuppressants, and biologics often playing a key role in UC management.

 To boost the effectiveness of that medical approach, lifestyle behaviors can also be crucial, according to Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

"There's ample evidence supporting how strategies like stress reduction, sleep, an ‘anti-inflammatory’ diet, and physical activity can complement ulcerative colitis treatment," he says. "Along with medications, lifestyle factors can be essential for achieving and maintaining remission."

Here's a look at why healthy lifestyle habits should be part of any UC management plan.

Stress and the Gut-Brain Axis

The link between the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system is called the gut-brain axis, or the enteric nervous system. Like a highway, it runs in both directions: The brain sends messages to the gut about factors like emotional changes and hormone regulation, and the digestive tract reports on digestion issues, nutrient absorption, and gut bacteria activity.

Stress can significantly disrupt this process, says Dr. Farhadi. That can happen for anyone, but it’s a bigger problem if you have UC or another form of inflammatory bowel disease.

Stress can worsen UC in several ways:

  • Increases inflammation in the gut
  • Changes the balance of good and bad bacteria
  • Releases hormones that can lead to more frequent and severe symptoms
  • Makes intestines more sensitive, which may change how different signals such as pain are processed in the GI tract
Research has found a strong connection between chronic psychological stress and relapse for those with inflammatory bowel disease, including UC, because of how the gut-brain axis is affected.

For that reason, strategies that reduce stress are crucial for UC management, Farhadi explains. Along with getting quality sleep, two of the most helpful lifestyle interventions are gentle movement and dietary choices, he says.

Yoga and Other Mindful Movement

Regular low-impact physical activity, in general, can be beneficial for UC. Not only does it reduce stress, but it also bolsters the immune system, lowers inflammation, and boosts mood, according to Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

"Higher-impact exercise shouldn't be ruled out, but it does temporarily increase inflammation and stress on the body, and that might be uncomfortable even if it's short-lived," he says. "Low-impact, gentle movement tends to be preferred, especially when done consistently."

Yoga is a top example here. A research review looking at yoga with patients who have inflammatory bowel disease noted that yoga is the most frequently used mind-body practice in the world, and several studies have found that yoga can improve symptoms and quality of life.

 Unlike simple stretching exercises, yoga focuses on deep breathing, mindfulness, and key poses that can be valuable when used in combination, says Dr. Bedford.
Another meta-analysis found that yoga-based practices significantly lowered anxiety, depression, and perceived stress for those with inflammatory bowel disease, and even improved patients' inflammatory markers. In that research, doing about an hour of yoga three to five times per week provided measurable benefits.

The Mediterranean Diet for Anti-Inflammatory Eating

What you eat also plays an important role in supporting medical management of UC. Although there's no single "UC diet," a Mediterranean approach seems to be beneficial, says Farhadi.

"This type of diet can be helpful with ulcerative colitis because it's adaptable to your preferences and has been shown to improve gastrointestinal function," he explains. Although specific foods and eating styles differ among the 16 countries classified as Mediterranean, these common factors make this type of diet so helpful.

  • Ample fruits and vegetables
  • Emphasis on whole grains instead of refined grains
  • Plenty of beans, nuts, and seeds
  • Healthy fats, particularly olive oil
  • Fish and poultry with minimal red meat
  • Fruit as a dessert rather than highly processed sweets
Eating this way has been shown to lower inflammation, which is why it's so important for UC, a condition characterized by high inflammation levels. A research review found that the Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammation and positively affect gut microbiota in those with UC and other diseases with chronic inflammation.

The strong focus on plant-based whole-food options in the Mediterranean diet also supports greater diversity of beneficial gut bacteria and strengthens the gut barrier, says James Williams, MD, a colorectal surgeon at Orlando Health’s Florida Medical Clinic in St. Petersburg.

"The other advantage with this diet is that it tends to lower the consumption of highly processed foods, because you're replacing those with healthier choices," he explains. "This type of diet does not replace use of medication for ulcerative colitis, but it can be an important complement to that medication and make treatment more effective."

You’ll probably still need to modify your food choices if you’re having a flare, however. The fiber-rich foods included in a Mediterranean eating style can be hard to digest and make UC symptoms worse.

Talk to Your Doctor

As with any aspect of UC, it's important to check in with your gastroenterologist or care team when you’re considering lifestyle changes, says Bedford. There may be resources available to you within your health system, he says, such as hospital-based yoga classes, or a dietitian who can help with Mediterranean-style meal planning.

"Taking steps to support your health with solid lifestyle habits as an adjunct to your ulcerative colitis medication is an important part of managing your condition," he says. "You don't have to go it alone, though. Ask for help and resources as needed."

The Takeaway

  • While medications are the foundation for treatment of ulcerative colitis, lifestyle habits also go a long way toward maintaining remission.
  • Stress reduction and gentle movement like yoga have both been found to ease ulcerative colitis symptoms, and may play a role in reducing the frequency of flares.
  • An anti-inflammatory diet, such as the Mediterranean style of eating, can help support a healthy gut and provide a complement to ulcerative colitis medications.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Understanding IBD Medications and Side Effects. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
  2. The Brain-Gut Connection. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  3. Stress and IBD: Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
  4. Ge L et al. Psychological Stress in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Psychoneuroimmunological Insights into Bidirectional Gut-Brain Communications. Frontiers in Immunology. October 6, 2022.
  5. Kaur S et al. Yoga in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review. Crohn’s & Colitis 360. April 14, 2022.
  6. Pan L et al. Meta-Analysis of Yoga-based Mind-Body Interventions in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. December 2025.
  7. What is the Mediterranean Diet? American Heart Association. May 2024.
  8. Ratajczak AE et al. Should the Mediterranean Diet Be Recommended for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients? A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Nutrition. January 10, 2023.
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Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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Elizabeth Millard

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Elizabeth Millard is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer. Her work has appeared in national outlets and medical institutions including Time, Women‘s Health, Self, Runner‘s World, Prevention, and more. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, and is trained in obesity management.

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