President John F. Kennedy suffered from digestive problems, including persistent diarrhea. He took antispasmodics to ease his stomach cramping.

Not much was known about his condition at the time, but now some doctors suggest he suffered from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IBD is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It affects around 3 million Americans.

There are two types of IBD: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Common symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or bloody stools, weight loss, and fatigue. IBD is also linked to cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

And it's costly. According to some research, annual out-of-pocket medical costs for people with the condition are more than twice what those without IBD spend ($2,213 versus $979).

The physical, emotional, and financial hardships caused by IBD are the reasons it's so important to manage symptoms with healthy lifestyle choices, especially dietary ones.

A recent study published in the journal PlosOne exposed the harmful food choices that are associated with IBD: french fries, sodas and energy drinks, cheese, and cookies — in short, what the researchers from Georgia State University called "junk foods."

If you want to make smart food choices that can help control your IBD symptoms, here's what to do:

• Choose veggies that are lower in fiber, such as carrots, asparagus tips, green beans, peeled cucumbers, and bell peppers. Eat them steamed, not raw.

• Eat for fruits such as applesauce, melons, papaya, and bananas.

• Skip red meat and enjoy salmon, white-meat chicken, and tofu.

• Drink plenty of water.