If you live with the gastrointestinal disease colitis, the gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain you frequently experience can wreak havoc on your professional and personal life. Luckily, following a colitis diet plan may help you experience less pain and discomfort when used with your existing medical treatment plan outlined by your doctor. Speak with your doctor about what types of foods are best for you to enjoy during the management and flare-up periods of your disease, and alter your diet as necessary when previously tolerated foods begin to initiate unpleasant symptoms.
Identification
Colitis, also called ulcerative colitis, occurs when the inner lining of your rectum and colon swells. This swelling causes ulcers to form in your colon and rectum that emit pus, cloudy mucus or blood, says Medline Plus. Therefore, a colitis diet plan is a dietary regimen that helps you to better manage the pain and discomfort in your colon and rectum when you experience colitis flare-ups.
Foods to Avoid
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should eliminate gas-producing foods such as broccoli, popcorn, legumes, carbonated beverages, raw fruit, raw fruit juices, carbonated beverages and caffeine to help alleviate your colitis symptoms. You should also eliminate cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower from your diet, adds ColitisDiet.org, and peppers, chives, onions, lentils and dried peas, since these are also gas-producing foods. You should also avoid high-fat foods such as peanut butter, fried foods, red meat, mayonnaise, butter and ice cream to keep your symptoms in check.
Recommended Eating Plan
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes foods from a wide variety of food groups such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats, suggests MedLinePlus, to ensure that you reach your suggested daily caloric intake and ingest enough essential nutrients and proteins. Foods on the colitis recommended eating plan include fruits and vegetables; proteins such as fish, chicken, soy and meat; and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, says the American Accreditation Healthcare System on NewYorkTimes.com.
Considerations
If you notice that your ulcerative colitis symptoms worsen when you eat or drink dairy products, use an over-the-counter enzyme product such as Lactaid to help your body process dairy foods, says the Mayo Clinic. You can also avoid dairy products completely, if desired, by working with a registered dietician who can suggest proper calcium supplementation to help you live healthfully without dairy. Also, if your colitis symptoms worsen when you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, bake or stew your produce to make it easier for your body to digest.
Warning
Although a colitis diet plan can be beneficial for your illness, you should never use a diet plan as your sole treatment for this disease. Instead, see a doctor to determine which prescription medications and additional lifestyle adjustments are necessary to help you better manage your colitis, and follow her treatment plan on a daily basis.
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