Eating red meat can worsen symptoms of irritable bowel disease

READ MORE: The 10 deadly signs of skin cancer that are NOT molesSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ZOE HARDY, HEALTH REPORTER Published: 20:00 BST, 24 June 2026 | Updated: 20:05 BST, 24 June 2026

Eating red meat may increase the likelihood of developing irritable bowel disease, while pea protein may have a protective effect, new research suggests. Irritable bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe conditions that cause severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The main types include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is long-term, causing blood or mucus in the stool, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. There are now more than half a million people in the UK living with IBD, with another 25,000 diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis every year. It is not known exactly what causes the disease, but studies have suggested that oversensitive nerves in the gut, stress and genetics can play a role.It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy bowel cells, causing inflammation in the intestines and life-long disease. Previous research has also linked lifestyle factors including diets high in hard-to-digest fibres and a lack of exercise with more severe symptoms.Now researchers from The American Gastroenterological Association say that red meat may worsen IBD, while other protein sources could help protect the gut. Crohn's disease is characterized by persistent diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain and fatigue. These are often accompanied by weight loss, diminished appetite, fever and rectal bleedingThe study - published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology - set out to better understand the linked between different protein sources and the risk of developing IBD, or relapsing. The researchers found that mice fed a beef-based diet developed the most severe intestinal inflammation. Those who were fed peas as their main source of protein showed only mild symptoms. The researchers concluded that plant-based alternatives to red meat could help protect the gut - with eggs and soy proteins faring better than beef across multiple IBD models.But in each case, pea protein remained the most effective against IBD flare-ups, suggesting it could play a key role in shaping gut health. The researchers suggested that the differences in inflammation could be driven by how gut microbes interact with the gut lining and acids in the gut - processes that can either promote or reduce inflammation. The gut is home to trillions of bacteria, some of which are beneficial and help protect against disease. Others are more harmful and can trigger immune responses. The gut barrier is supposed to keep harmful substances out of the bloodstream while letting beneficial nutrients enter the gut.