Lymphocytic colitis is a chronic disorder that affects your colon, causing symptoms such as watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, unintentional weight loss and an inability to control your bowel movements. While medications to manage lymphocytic colitis are available, dietary changes, such as eating small meals throughout the day, staying hydrated and avoiding problematic foods, are often sufficient, according to the Mayo Clinic. If your symptoms are severe or long-lasting, seek guidance from your doctor.
Red Meat
Red meat, though rich in protein and nutrients, such as iron, contains saturated fat--unhealthy fats linked with high cholesterol, obesity and heart disease. A high-fat diet can also trigger or exacerbate diarrhea and other symptoms of lymphocytic colitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. For best results, limit or avoid particularly high-fat red meat, such as organ meats, porterhouse steak, bacon, sausage and deli meats. Avoid meats with visible fat and those prepared with high-fat ingredients, such as butter, cream or cheese, as well.
Fried Foods and Snack Foods
Fried foods, whether animal- or plant-derived, often contain rich amounts of saturated fat and trans-fats--fats that may increase your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, and reduce your high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, the "good" cholesterol. The greasy texture and fat content of fried foods can trigger or worsen diarrhea symptoms. To minimize your trans-fat intake, the American Heart Association recommends checking packaging on commercially-prepared snack foods and avoiding those that contain "partially hydrogenated" oil. Common sources of trans-fats include margarine, shortening, fried foods, such as french fries, onion rings and doughnuts, and baked products, such as cookies, crackers, pie crust and biscuits.
Gluten
Gluten is a storage protein found in wheat, barley and rye. While some people with lymphocytic colitis can tolerate gluten without suffering adverse consequences, many respond negatively to the protein. A study published in the "Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology" in March 2001 showed a correlation between celiac disease--a disorder that causes severe reactions and, in some cases, bodily damage, in response to gluten--and lymphocytic colitis. Researchers conducted bowel biopsies on 113 patients with colitis, 27 of whom had lymphocytic colitis. Every person who tested positive for celiac disease also had lymphocytic colitis. If you sense that gluten-containing foods, such as most commercially-prepared breads, cereals, pasta, crackers and baked goods, are affecting you, try limiting them in your diet. If you suspect celiac disease rather than a mere sensitivity or intolerance, seek guidance from your doctor. Many celiac disease tests require some amount of gluten in your system for accurate results.
Added Sugars
Added sugars, such as cane sugar, honey, corn syrup and brown rice syrup, add calories and sweetness, but they add few nutrients to foods and beverages. The Mayo Clinic suggests avoiding items rich in added sugars, such as regular soft drinks, which can worsen your symptoms. Foods rich in added sugars include candy, milk chocolate, frozen desserts, pancake syrup, jelly, frosting and commercially-prepared brownies, cakes, pies and cookies and cold cereals that list added sugars within the top few ingredients.
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