As winter approaches and the days grow colder and shorter, it’s common for our routines—and our health habits—to change. Comfort foods become more tempting, outdoor activities may decline, and our immune system works harder to fend off seasonal illnesses.

What many people don’t realize is that all of these factors can also impact gut health, a crucial component of overall well-being.

Whether you’re looking to maintain digestive wellness during winter or you’re living with a chronic gastrointestinal condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, now is the perfect time to take proactive steps toward better health.

One increasingly important avenue in this space is clinical research. Local clinical trials are helping advance new treatments, therapies, and interventions focused on improving gut health and managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

In this article, we’ll explore how winter affects your gut, how to support your digestive system this season, and how participating in a clinical trial can help you—and others—live better with IBD.

❄️ How Winter Can Affect Gut Health

1. Seasonal Diet Changes

During colder months, many people switch from lighter meals like salads and smoothies to heavier, richer comfort foods that may be lower in fiber and higher in sugar and fat.

While delicious, these foods can disrupt the balance of your gut microbiota—the diverse community of microorganisms living in your digestive tract. A disrupted microbiome may contribute to bloating, constipation, or even flare-ups in individuals with IBD.

2. Less Sunlight, Lower Vitamin D

Sunlight exposure helps your body produce vitamin D, which plays a vital role in immune regulation and inflammation control. During winter, reduced daylight and time spent indoors can lead to vitamin D deficiency, a factor known to affect gut health and exacerbate symptoms in people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

3. Increased Stress and Indoor Living

Holiday stress, shorter days, and being cooped up indoors can all affect your mental health—and your gut. The gut-brain axis, a two-way communication system between the digestive system and the brain, means that stress can significantly impact digestion and inflammation. For IBD patients, stress is a common trigger for flare-ups.

🥦 Winter Wellness Tips for a Healthier Gut

Here are some practical ways to support your digestive health this winter:

✅ 1. Focus on Gut-Friendly Foods

• High-Fiber Veggies: Incorporate winter-friendly, fiber-rich vegetables like carrots, beets, turnips, and squash.
• Probiotics: Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi promote a healthy gut microbiome.
• Warm, Cooked Meals: Soups and stews are easier on the digestive system, especially during flare-ups.
• Limit Trigger Foods: Avoid processed foods, excess sugar, spicy dishes, and alcohol if they aggravate your symptoms. 

✅ 2. Stay Hydrated

Even when it’s cold, hydration matters. Water helps with nutrient absorption and regular bowel movements. Herbal teas like ginger, peppermint, and chamomile can be soothing for the gut while also encouraging hydration.

✅ 3. Support Immunity

Since 70% of your immune system is located in your gut, supporting digestive health also strengthens your immune defense.

• Consider vitamin D supplements (with medical guidance).
• Add omega-3 fatty acids from sources like salmon, flaxseed, or chia to reduce inflammation.

✅ 4. Keep Moving

Physical activity stimulates digestion and helps manage stress. Even simple indoor activities like yoga, stretching, or walking in place can benefit your gut health.

✅ 5. Manage Stress

Chronic stress is a known trigger for IBD symptoms. Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, journaling, or gentle movement into your daily routine.

🔬 How Clinical Trials Play a Role in Digestive Health and IBD

While lifestyle changes can go a long way in supporting gut health, people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis often need more than diet and exercise to manage their symptoms.

This is where clinical trials become not just important, but life-changing.

Clinical trials are research studies involving people that are designed to test the effectiveness, safety, and side effects of new medications, therapies, or interventions.

These studies help medical researchers determine whether a new treatment is more effective than existing options—or offers new hope for patients who haven’t responded to standard therapies.

🌟 Benefits of Participating in a Clinical Trial for IBD

🧪 1. Access to New Treatments

One of the biggest benefits of joining a clinical trial is early access to innovative treatments—such as new biologics, small-molecule drugs, or microbiome-based therapies—that are not yet available to the general public.

For patients with refractory IBD (conditions that do not respond well to standard medications), clinical trials offer access to potential breakthrough therapies.

👨‍⚕️ 2. Personalized and Specialist Care

Clinical trial participants are often cared for by a dedicated team of medical professionals, including gastroenterologists and research coordinators. You’ll receive regular checkups, lab tests, and close monitoring that may not be part of standard care.

💰 3. Cost Savings

In many cases, clinical trial sponsors cover the cost of the investigational treatment, as well as lab work, exams, and monitoring. This can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for participants.

💡 4. Help Advance Medical Science

When you join a clinical trial, you’re not only helping yourself—you’re contributing to a body of research that can help thousands (or millions) of others. Every participant helps researchers better understand IBD and develop safer, more effective treatments.

👥 Who Can Join a Clinical Trial?

Each clinical trial has its own eligibility criteria, but you may qualify if you:

• Have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Are experiencing active symptoms or flares
• Have not responded to current treatments
• Are between certain age groups (depending on the study)

You don’t have to be in a severe stage of the disease to participate. Some studies focus on early intervention, lifestyle changes, or preventative care.

📍 How to Find Local Clinical Trials Near You

If you’re interested in exploring clinical trials in your area, here are some steps to get started:

🔎 1. Talk to Your Doctor

Ask your gastroenterologist or primary care provider if they’re aware of any active trials that may be right for you. Many research organizations work directly with physicians to recruit eligible patients.

🌐 2. Search Online

You can search for local or national clinical trials at:

• gov
• CenterWatch
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
• Local research centers or hospital websites 

📞 3. Contact a Clinical Research Company

Research companies (like Spoke Research or others in your area) often run multiple IBD trials throughout the year. You can inquire directly and be added to their database for future opportunities.

📋 What to Expect When You Join a Clinical Trial

The process typically follows these steps:

1. Informed Consent – You’ll receive detailed information about the study, including potential risks and benefits 
2. Screening – Medical history and eligibility check with Tests and exams to establish your starting health 
3. Treatment Phase – You’ll receive the investigational therapy or placebo (depending on the study design) 
4. Monitoring & Follow-Up – Regular visits and assessments throughout the study
   
   

🧠 Common Concerns About Clinical Trials—Addressed

❓ Is it safe?

Clinical trials are conducted under strict ethical and safety guidelines. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews all studies to ensure participant safety.

❓ What if I get a placebo? 

Many IBD trials include active treatment arms, and in some cases, standard care is continued alongside the study drug. Your health will always be closely monitored.

❓ Can I drop out if I change my mind?

 Yes. Participation is always voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

✅ Conclusion: A Healthier Season Starts with Action

Winter is the perfect time to prioritize your health—and your gut.

Whether you’re looking to better manage symptoms of Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, or you’re curious about cutting-edge treatments, joining a clinical trial could be a powerful step toward a healthier future.

By combining seasonal gut health strategies with the potential of clinical research, you can take control of your well-being and contribute to something greater than yourself: a future with better, more effective treatments for IBD.

📞 Interested in Participating in a Clinical Trial?

Dr. Gosia George and Dr. Eduan Deetlefs lead local IBD clinical trials at Spoke Research Inc.
Since 2017, they’ve helped countless patients access innovative treatments and expert care.

👉 Apply for a Crohn’s Disease Trial
👉 Apply for an Ulcerative Colitis Trial

Visit www.spokeresearch.co.za  or call 021 531 6402 to learn more and take the first step toward better gut health this winter.