In 2019, co-founders Andrew Kornfeld and Alex Yao created something that didn’t exist: a comprehensive coaching system that integrated every aspect of an IBD patient’s journey. This IBD coaching approach addressed the biological mechanisms underlying inflammatory bowel disease while encompassing diet and nutrition, supplements and herbs, healthcare navigation, family dynamics, work and school challenges, socio-economic barriers, and insurance complexities. Today, this system has evolved into the most advanced IBD Coaching program in the world that takes the foundational principles of IBDCoach and applies our systems-based health coaching framework to create a strategic and comprehensive Crohn’s disease coaching and ulcerative colitis coaching program: Systema IBD.
We conducted a scientific survey on member outcomes in Systema IBD, and the results were remarkable: the program had a significant, positive impact on members’ experience of disease activity and mental and emotional wellbeing.
Learn more at about Systema IBD or book a complimentary IBD admissions call to speak to our team directly and find out if one of our programs is right for you.
For members that reported results from fecal calprotectin tests, the gold standard measurement of inflammation in IBD, our members saw an average decrease from 1,589 μg/g to 198 μg/g (250 μg/g is typically considered the benchmark for “in remission”).
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When I found Systema IBD, I was losing weight drastically. I was 40 pounds under my normal weight. My calprotectin was incredibly high–over 2000. I remember celebrating how my calprotectin was down to 700… down to 400… and now my calprotectin is down to just 43! What changed for me most is that I have hope now.
MARGARET
IBD coaching represents the original form of chronic condition-specific coaching, pioneered in 2019 to address every aspect of living with inflammatory bowel disease. While gastroenterologists manage medications and procedures in 15-minute appointments, an IBD coach provides comprehensive support for everything else: diet optimization, supplement protocols, healthcare navigation, family and work dynamics, insurance battles, and the emotional challenges of chronic illness.
The most effective IBD coaching – the approach we originated – operates by seamlessly blending mainstream medical interventions with integrative and holistic approaches. This is truly holistic in the authentic sense: we address everything. Professional Crohn’s disease coaching and ulcerative colitis coaching aren’t about choosing between Western medicine or alternative approaches – it’s about understanding how prednisone and curcumin, biologics and prebiotics, colonoscopies and meditation all work together in your unique healing journey.
Systema IBD and Andrew have been instrumental in my battle with severe Crohn's Disease. Before joining, I faced hospitalizations and overwhelming symptoms, all while being diagnosed during the 2020 pandemic. This program offered not only vital education that is science-based, but also a supportive and engaging community. With their guidance, I gained control over my health and now live a fulfilling life in remission. In essence, Systema IBD saved my life, and I'm deeply thankful for their support.
I joined Systema during one of my most difficult times- I was 6 months pregnant and just diagnosed with UC. I felt completely overwhelmed and was looking for anything that offered me a “cure” or way out of this diagnosis. After speaking with Andrew, I learned that while there is no “way out” of this diagnosis, there is education and empowerment. With Andrew and the Systema community, I found an incredible amount of support, care, and connection with others navigating the same waters as I. I am so grateful for them during times of flare and times of remission and feel that no matter where I am on my healing journey, Systema is there alongside me and cheering me on.
By the time I joined Systema, I had been living with Crohn’s disease for 18 years and had acquired many more diagnoses along the way. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and living with constant pain and debilitating symptoms. My life was miserable, despite major changes in diet, medication, and lifestyle. I had to put all of my dreams aside and resign myself to a life of suffering. Saying yes to Systema changed everything. Through Systema’s principles, science-backed curriculum, and supportive, compassionate community, I achieved Crohn’s remission. The chronic pain and fatigue disappeared, my skin is healing, and I am building a life aligned with my dreams. I’m thriving with more energy, strength and hope than ever before.
As I think about 2 years ago when I was experiencing my last flare, I was so sick and full of fear. Desperate to find answers and find a solution. Everything I read was contradictory. I was scared. Then I found you and I had hope for the first time. Your compassion, extensive knowledge, remission program ideas, and the ability to simplify it for someone like me took my fear away. I could breathe again and get my life back. I learned so much about myself and this disease. What you do made a huge difference in my life. I am truly grateful for you and all you do. I am no longer afraid of ulcerative colitis and am so thrilled to be in remission and that I have a place to, (for accurate information and experiences) when I have any questions or concerns. This is truly invaluable. Thank you isn’t big enough.
I have been lucky enough to know Andrew Kornfeld for many years, and I love being a member of Systema IBD. I will admit at first that it was a leap of faith, but over time, I have found Systema IBD to be one of the most excellent tools I have in managing my Crohn's and other health areas in my life. I already have an excellent medical support team of doctors, but Systema IBD is still critical for my day-to-day health management. Every time I complete a group meeting with Systema IBD, I walk away more informed and clear-minded about my health situation and the steps I must take to live my best life, even when I have to cope with the challenging aspect of dealing with this disease.
I joined Systema IBD during one of the hardest times of my life. I was experiencing a severe UC flare, and my daily life was spent in pain and chained to the toilet. I felt overwhelmed trying to navigate this disease. Then I found Systema and Andrew! Andrew’s kindness and encouragement, along with his vast knowledge, were game changers for me. I dove into the curriculum and started implementing what I was learning. It took a lot of trial and error, along with many workshop calls. However, I can now look back at that time and say it was what kept me going! The weekly workshop calls provided a space for me to feel heard and understood. What I learned empowered me to take steps toward managing this condition. I owe so much to the amazing people behind this groundbreaking, innovative, and inspiring program!
I am a GI nurse in an endoscopy department, and I have Crohn's colitis. I was having up to 30 bowel movements a day that were waking me up throughout the night, joint pain, night sweats, incredible crushing fatigue. I was recommended for a total colectomy, but since joining Systema, my Crohn's has completely turned around. I am living my life again. I have normal bowel movements. I can eat. I have an appetite and I am keeping my weight on. I can work and come home and still make dinner for my family.
My calprotectin went from so high (over 8000, 99th percentile) it exceeded the lab's range, down to almost undetectable at 43, which is incredible.
I was diagnosed with UC in 2008. For 11 years I had never achieved symptomatic or clinical remission, and I was having 15-20 bloody, very urgent bowel movements a day with a calprotectin over 1000. Within 6 months of joining Systema, I was symptom-free for the first time in the 12 years I’ve had UC. I was able to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy and delivery of a beautiful baby boy! This would not have been possible without me going through Systema’s process.
Systema IBD and Andrew have been instrumental in my battle with severe Crohn's Disease. Before joining, I faced hospitalizations and overwhelming symptoms, all while being diagnosed during the 2020 pandemic. This program offered not only vital education that is science-based, but also a supportive and engaging community. With their guidance, I gained control over my health and now live a fulfilling life in remission. In essence, Systema IBD saved my life, and I'm deeply thankful for their support.
I joined Systema during one of my most difficult times- I was 6 months pregnant and just diagnosed with UC. I felt completely overwhelmed and was looking for anything that offered me a “cure” or way out of this diagnosis. After speaking with Andrew, I learned that while there is no “way out” of this diagnosis, there is education and empowerment. With Andrew and the Systema community, I found an incredible amount of support, care, and connection with others navigating the same waters as I. I am so grateful for them during times of flare and times of remission and feel that no matter where I am on my healing journey, Systema is there alongside me and cheering me on.
By the time I joined Systema, I had been living with Crohn’s disease for 18 years and had acquired many more diagnoses along the way. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and living with constant pain and debilitating symptoms. My life was miserable, despite major changes in diet, medication, and lifestyle. I had to put all of my dreams aside and resign myself to a life of suffering. Saying yes to Systema changed everything. Through Systema’s principles, science-backed curriculum, and supportive, compassionate community, I achieved Crohn’s remission. The chronic pain and fatigue disappeared, my skin is healing, and I am building a life aligned with my dreams. I’m thriving with more energy, strength and hope than ever before.
As I think about 2 years ago when I was experiencing my last flare, I was so sick and full of fear. Desperate to find answers and find a solution. Everything I read was contradictory. I was scared. Then I found you and I had hope for the first time. Your compassion, extensive knowledge, remission program ideas, and the ability to simplify it for someone like me took my fear away. I could breathe again and get my life back. I learned so much about myself and this disease. What you do made a huge difference in my life. I am truly grateful for you and all you do. I am no longer afraid of ulcerative colitis and am so thrilled to be in remission and that I have a place to, (for accurate information and experiences) when I have any questions or concerns. This is truly invaluable. Thank you isn’t big enough.
I have been lucky enough to know Andrew Kornfeld for many years, and I love being a member of Systema IBD. I will admit at first that it was a leap of faith, but over time, I have found Systema IBD to be one of the most excellent tools I have in managing my Crohn's and other health areas in my life. I already have an excellent medical support team of doctors, but Systema IBD is still critical for my day-to-day health management. Every time I complete a group meeting with Systema IBD, I walk away more informed and clear-minded about my health situation and the steps I must take to live my best life, even when I have to cope with the challenging aspect of dealing with this disease.
I joined Systema IBD during one of the hardest times of my life. I was experiencing a severe UC flare, and my daily life was spent in pain and chained to the toilet. I felt overwhelmed trying to navigate this disease. Then I found Systema and Andrew! Andrew’s kindness and encouragement, along with his vast knowledge, were game changers for me. I dove into the curriculum and started implementing what I was learning. It took a lot of trial and error, along with many workshop calls. However, I can now look back at that time and say it was what kept me going! The weekly workshop calls provided a space for me to feel heard and understood. What I learned empowered me to take steps toward managing this condition. I owe so much to the amazing people behind this groundbreaking, innovative, and inspiring program!
I am a GI nurse in an endoscopy department, and I have Crohn's colitis. I was having up to 30 bowel movements a day that were waking me up throughout the night, joint pain, night sweats, incredible crushing fatigue. I was recommended for a total colectomy, but since joining Systema, my Crohn's has completely turned around. I am living my life again. I have normal bowel movements. I can eat. I have an appetite and I am keeping my weight on. I can work and come home and still make dinner for my family.
My calprotectin went from so high (over 8000, 99th percentile) it exceeded the lab's range, down to almost undetectable at 43, which is incredible.
I was diagnosed with UC in 2008. For 11 years I had never achieved symptomatic or clinical remission, and I was having 15-20 bloody, very urgent bowel movements a day with a calprotectin over 1000. Within 6 months of joining Systema, I was symptom-free for the first time in the 12 years I’ve had UC. I was able to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy and delivery of a beautiful baby boy! This would not have been possible without me going through Systema’s process.
IBD is foremost an immune response to bacterial organisms and food particulates leaking across the epithelial membrane of the gut into the lamina propria (the “inside” of the body). Multiple cytokines like TNF and white blood cells like macrophages and neutrophils rush to battle with these “invaders”. Stopping the inflammatory cycle is Step 1 to achieving remission.
Specific gut microbiome profiles have been correlated with IBD, with even distinctions observed between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Frontline medical interventions for IBD do not address the emerging evidence of the role of the microbiome. We can take action to nourish a healthy gut ecosystem.
The lining of the gut must selectively absorb important nutrients from food and keep everything else out. Reducing inflammation prevents damage to this protective tissue while microbiome-focused interventions can promote beneficial microbes that feed the enterocytes and fuel a strong intestinal barrier. Gut permeability is the mechanism least understood and addressed by current frontline IBD interventions.
All IBD coaching follows our proven three-step process: (1) Stop and control inflammation, (2) Modulate and nourish the microbiome, and (3) Repair and maintain the barrier. However, each type of inflammatory bowel disease presents unique biological patterns, medication responses, and dietary requirements that demand specialized coaching approaches.
Crohn’s disease involves transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the digestive tract, creating skip lesions and potential complications like strictures and fistulas. This patchy, deep inflammation pattern requires coaching that addresses both small bowel and colonic involvement with distinct nutritional strategies for each location.
Ulcerative colitis presents as continuous superficial inflammation limited to the colon’s mucosal layer, starting from the rectum and extending proximally. UC coaching focuses on the unique patterns of bloody diarrhea, urgency, and the specific relationship between stress and flare patterns in colonic disease.
Microscopic colitis causes chronic watery diarrhea through lymphocytic or collagenous infiltration visible only under microscopy, not endoscopy, and is often not taken seriously enough by healthcare providers despite its significant impact on quality of life. This distinct inflammatory pattern requires different coaching approaches since many standard IBD treatments are ineffective for MC’s unique pathology.
Indeterminate colitis occurs when pathology shows features of both Crohn’s and UC, making definitive diagnosis impossible. IC coaching must remain flexible as the disease pattern may clarify over time, requiring adaptive protocols that work regardless of final classification.
Crohn’s colitis combines transmural inflammation characteristic of Crohn’s but limited to the colon like UC, creating unique surgical considerations. This hybrid presentation requires coaching that addresses both the depth of Crohn’s inflammation and the colonic-specific symptoms typically associated with UC.
Ulcerative proctitis is inflammation limited to the rectum (the last 6 inches of the colon), representing the mildest form of UC but often causing disproportionate urgency, tenesmus, and quality of life impacts. Proctitis coaching emphasizes the unique role of topical therapies and the paradox of constipation with rectal inflammation, requiring specialized approaches distinct from more extensive colitis.
Learn about the science behind IBD, stay up to date on the latest breakthroughs in treatment strategies, discover IBD-friendly recipes, and more.
<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 26</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>IBD is a lifetime condition but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Living with a chronic gastrointestinal condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis affects far more than just your gut health.
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<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 26</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>What is the cure for inflammatory bowel disease? A well-rounded treatment plan for IBD may include IBD medications, IBD diets, supplements, lifestyle changes, mindset, surgical interventions and more.
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<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 25</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>If you only read one post about IBD, this should be it. Let's dive into the biology of IBD and gain a deeper understanding of what drives this mysterious, immune-mediated condition.
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<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 26</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>IBD is a lifetime condition but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Living with a chronic gastrointestinal condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis affects far more than just your gut health.
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<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 26</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>What is the cure for inflammatory bowel disease? A well-rounded treatment plan for IBD may include IBD medications, IBD diets, supplements, lifestyle changes, mindset, surgical interventions and more.
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<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"></span> <span class="rt-time"> 25</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">min read</span></span>If you only read one post about IBD, this should be it. Let's dive into the biology of IBD and gain a deeper understanding of what drives this mysterious, immune-mediated condition.
Read MoreMeet with an Admissions Advisor Today
©2026 Systema NOTICE: The information contained or presented on this website and program is for educational purposes only. The information is NOT intended to serve as a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or advice from a qualified, licensed medical professional, preferably your gastrointestinal specialist. Our program is not medical advice, and the facts presented are offered as information only in order to empower you, and in no way should anyone infer that members of the Systema team or anyone appearing in any content on this website is practicing medicine. Any diet, health, or lifestyle program you undertake should be discussed in depth with and then approved by your physician or another licensed medical professional. Seek the advice of a medical professional for the proper application of any material in this guide or our program to your specific situation. Never stop or change your medications without consulting your physician. If you are having an emergency, contact your emergency services–in the US, that’s 911.
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Uncover the impact of lifestyle changes and mindset shifts in managing symptoms & improving quality of life.
7 min readThe health systems in the US and around the world have major problems – and while many of these problems require continued advocacy and changes in legislation – a lot can be done right now.
11 min readThis post is just scratching the surface of exploring the gut through understanding the similarities and differences between IBS and IBD. The fact remains that both conditions can be extremely debilitating. While IBD is objectively (in most cases) a more severe diagnosis, the diagnosis itself is more defined, while by contrast, IBS is increasingly more broad and even more enigmatic.
18 min readPsychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) may promote change and plasticity in the brain, immune system, and microbiome to yield untapped therapeutic potential for complex inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Navigate your treatment options with insights into medications and professional healthcare approaches.
26 min readIBD is a lifetime condition but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Living with a chronic gastrointestinal condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis affects far more than just your gut health.
18 min readPsychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) may promote change and plasticity in the brain, immune system, and microbiome to yield untapped therapeutic potential for complex inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
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Learn of evidence-based supplements & herbal remedies that can complement your comprehensive care.
18 min readPsychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) may promote change and plasticity in the brain, immune system, and microbiome to yield untapped therapeutic potential for complex inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
26 min readWhat is the cure for inflammatory bowel disease? A well-rounded treatment plan for IBD may include IBD medications, IBD diets, supplements, lifestyle changes, mindset, surgical interventions and more.
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Explore personalized dietary and longevity strategies to support health and wellness.
26 min readFasting and intermittent fasting have gained popularity around the world for numerous health benefits—but can fasting be a new treatment for symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?
5 min readPolyphenols & flavonoids are bioactive compounds found in plants that are known to have numerous health benefits–especially for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
8 min readHave you ever been told that “diet doesn’t matter for inflammatory bowel disease?” We have, but this view is outdated: diet and nutrition play a central role in the development, pathogenesis, and treatment of IBD.
Discover the underlying biological pathways and triggers of your health and longevity to better understand your condition.
7 min readThe health systems in the US and around the world have major problems – and while many of these problems require continued advocacy and changes in legislation – a lot can be done right now.
11 min readThis post is just scratching the surface of exploring the gut through understanding the similarities and differences between IBS and IBD. The fact remains that both conditions can be extremely debilitating. While IBD is objectively (in most cases) a more severe diagnosis, the diagnosis itself is more defined, while by contrast, IBS is increasingly more broad and even more enigmatic.
11 min readThrough its interactions with the microbiome and gut-brain axis, the endocannabinoid system may offer a novel pathway for managing symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
