Ulcerative colitis is a condition of the colon that can lead to signficant health problems. One of the worst symptoms is nearly uncontrollable diarrhea along with bleeding from the rectum. There's no documented evidence that what you eat causes bowel diseases, but certain foods can aggravated the condition. The Mayo Clinic recommends keeping a food diary and making note of any symptoms that occur after eating. Food diaries help people with the disease keep track of foods that cause problems.
Milk Products
Some individuals who have ulcerative colitis are lactose intolerant. That means that they cannot digest---or have a difficult time digesting---milk products. Your doctor may ask you to avoid milk, cheese, cream and butter for a week to see if that affects your condition.
Nut Products
Nuts and nut products should be avoided by people with ulcerative colitis. This includes peanuts, cashews and almonds, among other nuts. It is very difficult for the body to digest the nuts and the undigested part of the food irritates the colon and can send it into spasm.
Raw Fruits and Vegetables
Although fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy foods, they can set off stomach spasms and diarrhea for people with ulcerative colitis. Apples, celery and tomatoes have been associated with digestive problems for those with ulcerative colitis.
High-fat Foods
High-fat foods like red meats and fried chicken can cause significant ulcerative colitis symptoms. Your physician may ask you to stay away from steak, hamburgers and other ground beef products, replacing them with milder foods like boiled chicken.
Coffee
According to the Mayo Clinic, coffee may stimulate stomach and digestive problems. For people with ulcerative colitis, drinking coffee can result in diarrhea and severe gas.
