Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Symptoms of this disorder may include moderate to severe abdominal pain and diarrhea in many patients. Because there is no cure, ulcerative colitis can be a very disabling and life-threatening disease. However, along with medications and vitamins, many symptoms can be controlled by knowing the best and worst food for ulcerative colitis. Certain foods, such as dairy, high-fiber foods, and fatty foods, can trigger ulcerative colitis in some patients, and special precautions should be taken to avoid them.
Some of the worst foods for ulcerative colitis can be dairy products, especially if the patient is lactose intolerant. Limiting or eliminating dairy products, such as milk and cheese, can help reduce abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea. However, dairy products are a main source of calcium. Other foods that are rich in calcium are certain types of fish and some ready-to-eat cereals. If these foods also make symptoms worse, you may need to take a calcium supplement to get the right amount of calcium needed for strong bones and teeth.
High-fiber foods, such as raw vegetables and whole grains, can also be trigger foods for patients with ulcerative colitis. These foods can make symptoms worse because they are harder to digest. Some experts recommend eating a high-fiber diet when ulcerative colitis is under control and limiting fiber intake during flare-ups. Some patients find that cooking vegetables before eating reduces fiber-associated symptoms.
People with ulcerative colitis may find that fatty, greasy or fried foods may not be the best food for ulcerative colitis. These can exacerbate the symptoms of this disease. Not being able to eat fatty foods, however, can lead to malabsorption. To avoid this, cutting out high-fat foods and eating easily absorbed fats can reduce symptoms. Certain types of fish are rich in omega-3 fats, which are more easily absorbed into the body than other types of fat.
In addition to paying attention to what they eat, ulcerative colitis patients should also pay attention to what they drink. Caffeine and alcohol can stimulate the digestive tract and, in turn, make diarrhea worse. Other drinks, such as fruit juices and carbonated drinks, can also make some symptoms worse. The consumption of these drinks should be reduced or even completely eliminated. However, staying hydrated is important, so drinking plenty of water is recommended.
Instead of eating three large meals per day, many patients find that it is better to eat five or six smaller meals throughout the day. Additionally, many patients can benefit from maintaining a diet of foods and symptoms. Everything that is eaten and drunk during the day can be written down, along with the symptoms that follow, if any. This way, patients can see, on paper, the best and worst foods for ulcerative colitis and how they affect them.