Before discussing diet for Ulcerative Colitis let’s look at the disease itself and what type of symptoms that you may display.

Firstly, ulcerative colitis is an unpleasant type of disease that causes inflammation and sores, which are called ulcers, and they are found in the lining of the rectum and colon. The ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon, they then can bleed and produce pus. Inflammation in the colon also causes diarrhoea.

When the rectum shows signs of inflammation in the lower part of the colon it is called ulcerative proctitis. If the entire colon is affected it is called pan colitis.  Where as if only the left side of the colon is affected it is called limited or distal colitis.

The most common name for Ulcerative colitis is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the small intestine and colon. It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms that present are similar to other intestinal disorders and to another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease.

Unfortunately, Ulcerative colitis can occur in people of any age, but it usually can start around the age of between 15-30, with less frequently being reported at the ages of between 50-70 years of age. The disease doesn’t favour one sex over the other and it seems to appear equally in both men and women.  What studies have revealed is that the disease seems to run in families, with recent studies stating up statistics up to 20% of people with ulcerative colitis having at least 1 other family member or relative with the same ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

The chances are if you have had ulcerative colitis for any period of time you are probably heard differences of opinion when it comes to the role diet plays with this particular disease.  There are a lot of varying opinions, truths and half truths in what to eat and not eat in order to keep the disease under control.

One of the myths that you may have heard is that at all costs you should avoid dairy products and also you should stay clear of eating popcorn or peanuts at times during a flare up. How do you sort fact from fiction?

First thing first though diet did not cause you to get ulcerative colitis. Currently there is no medical evidence to support that diet cause’s ulcerative colitis. Although having said that after and once you have been medically diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, looking more closely at the foods you do eat may help you to better manage the symptoms and keep the disease at bay.

Let’s look at Tips for better Managing Your Diet:

• Keep a diary for approximately one month to the foods that affect your ulcerative colitis, along with any symptoms that you may have experienced at the time.
• Together with your health care professional and registered dietitian discuss your food intolerances.
• Closely monitor dairy products, high fibre foods, and foods that might cause an obstruction such as either nuts or seeds.
• The key to healthy eating is to always eat a variety of foods that are nutrient dense like whole grain breads and cereals, lean meats, low fat dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat smaller but frequent smaller meals.
• Speak with your doctor before making dietary changes, and especially if you have any concerns.

Take it from me there are no typical diets for ulcerative colitis as diet tolerances will differ from one person to the other. The selection of your food choices will depend upon on how severe your disease is and whether it is active or inactive, the medications you’re taking, your individual nutrient needs, and your food tolerances and intolerances.

In a healthy diet and meeting your nutritional needs is an important part of helping you to manage ulcerative colitis. This sometimes can be a challenging, especially during times when the disease flares. Eat a variety of foods that are nutritionally dense. Nutrient dense foods supply a large amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates that your body requires.

Currently there is no medical evidence to support that dairy products or high fibre foods aggravate ulcerative colitis symptoms at all in patients. It is a common recommendation that people with ulcerative colitis should follow a low fibre diet and limit dairy intake. However, new research indicates that this traditional approach may unnecessarily restrict your food choices. Again if you are not sure write any question that you may have down and remember to take your questions to the next visit to your doctor.

One of the myths around suggests that if you reduce your fluid intake this will stop diarrhoea. By reducing fluid intake can leave you weak and exhausted because you’re already losing water through diarrhoea. Make sure you drink ample fluids to make up for the water you lose through diarrhoea. Water is the best option overall avoid if possible fizzy drinks and sugary type fruit juices. When you eat smaller type meals throughout the day you may find that this limits the symptoms of your ulcerative colitis.

Although the causes of ulcerative colitis are not entirely understood, there is little doubt that the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis, pancolitis & distal colitis are both painful & debilitating. A definitive ulcerative colitis cure has not yet been discovered but many people have been able to manage their IBD flare ups by following an ulcerative colitis dietary plan. A raw food diet has been effective in many cases & often people find that natural remedies for ulcerative colitis help to relieve their inflammatory bowel disease.

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