Ultra-processed foods, high-fat diets, and red meat specifically trigger inflammatory bowel disease flares by disrupting gut barrier function, promoting dysbiosis, and activating immune pathways. Conversely, fiber-rich foods, fermented products, and select dairy items enhance microbiota diversity and strengthen mucosal integrity, offering protective effects against intestinal inflammation. The research demonstrates that IBD management extends far beyond traditional pharmaceutical approaches, positioning nutrition as a primary therapeutic lever. This mechanistic understanding represents a paradigm shift from viewing diet as merely supportive to recognizing specific foods as either inflammatory triggers or protective agents. The personalized nutrition approach—incorporating elimination protocols and microbiome analysis—addresses the reality that IBD patients show highly individual responses to identical foods based on genetic factors and existing sensitivities. While novel interventions like ketogenic protocols and intermittent fasting show promise in early trials, the mixed outcomes underscore the complexity of dietary intervention in autoimmune conditions. The fragmented state of clinical guidelines reflects the challenge of translating mechanistic research into standardized care protocols, suggesting that personalized nutrition strategies may prove more effective than broad dietary recommendations for IBD management.