Colitis is a condition, that with Crohn's disease, is known as inflammatory bowel disease. It is a lifelong condition and there is no cure, only treatment. Colitis causes an inflammation of your digestive tract, namely the innermost lining of your large intestine and rectum. This results in severe, sometimes debilitating, pain. Making changes to your diet can help relieve symptoms when flare-ups arise.
Significance of Diet
No clinical or scientific data supports that colitis is caused by your diet, nor is there data to show dietary choices can cure the disease, explains the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Diet can, however, affect the symptoms this condition spurs. You must fit your diet to your personal needs, as colitis does not affect every patient the same way. When your intestines become inflamed during a flare-up, they are unable to absorb all the nutrients your body requires; your focus must be on maintaining a healthy nutritional balance.
Keeping a Food Diary
Keeping a food diary allows you to differentiate between the foods that aggravate your condition and those that help relieve it. If you are working with a registered dietitian, she can review your food diary to make sure you are receiving the right amount of nutrients, or recommended daily allowances -- RDA. She can make suggestions based on the information in your log to prevent health complications, such as malnutrition.
Importance of Fluids
One symptom of colitis is chronic diarrhea, which can result in dehydration. Increasing your fluid intake can prevent this. Water is the best choice, while you should avoid beverages with caffeine. This stimulant can increase diarrhea. Carbonated drinks tend to produce gas, which can make your abdominal pain worse. The amount of water you should drink daily may depend on the severity of your symptoms. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America suggests drinking half your weight in ounces of water. If you weigh 100 lbs., drink 50 oz. of water daily. Sip it through the day; gulping can result in abdominal discomfort.
A Balanced Diet
You must follow a balanced diet to ensure you get the nutrients your body requires. Eating food from each food group helps accomplish this. If you cannot tolerate a certain food, such as chicken, replace it with another lean meat source to meet your protein requirements. If raw vegetables are troublesome, steam or bake them, suggests MayoClinic.com. Foods high in fiber may be difficult, as your small intestine does not digest them completely -- this can cause diarrhea. In general, your doctor or dietitian may recommend a low-fiber diet.
The Lactose Factor
If you have an intolerance to lactose, the natural sugar in milk, you may need to eliminate dairy products from your diet. Consuming these products can increase your diarrhea and abdominal pain. Taking an over-the-counter product that helps break down lactose may help; if it doesn't you may need to take a calcium supplement to receive the benefits of this nutrient.
