Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease involving your colon, causes sores and persistent inflammation. Patients with ulcerative colitis often face frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding and severe pain from these sores in their colons. They often lose weight and experience significant fatigue as a result. Despite the fact that ulcerative colitis occurs in your digestive system, diet doesn't cause it and diet can't cure it. Some people with the condition find that eliminating certain foods helps control their symptoms, but you should only do that with the advice and consent of your doctor.
Basics
There's a long list of foods that seem to increase symptoms in some ulcerative colitis patients. Sufferers often blame dairy products for symptoms of lactose intolerance. In addition, products containing wheat and gluten seem to cause flare-ups in some people. Vegetables in the cruciferous family, which includes broccoli, kale and cabbage, make the list, as do acidic fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, oranges and juices. Eggs and even tap water seem to cause symptoms in some people with ulcerative colitis, although it's not clear why.
Reaction
If you perceive a reaction to a food, it's natural to restrict that food from your diet, especially if you suffer terrible bouts of ulcerative colitis. However, you shouldn't restrict your diet when you have that condition, in part because there's no evidence yet of what specific diet might help with ulcerative colitis. When you do eliminate specific foods -- especially if you eliminate many foods at once -- you risk weight loss and shortages of nutrients you need to heal your large intestines and fight further inflammation.
Steps to Take
However, if you can identify a few specific foods that seem to exacerbate your symptoms, you can try eliminating them under your doctor's supervision. For example, if you limit dairy products, you may find your diarrhea slacking off. Skip the broccoli if it bothers you; instead, try a less-fibrous vegetable such as spinach, and cook it well to break down the fibers before you eat it. Eat brightly colored vegetables and fruits because they're high in antioxidants, but cook them first if they seem to aggravate your ulcerative colitis.
Considerations
You may need to revert to a very bland diet with few fruits and vegetables and no dairy during an acute flare of ulcerative colitis. However, you should add foods back into your diet as quickly as possible to avoid getting malnourished. If you find you can't consume many foods without your symptoms getting worse, you should ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian experienced in helping ulcerative colitis patients cope with their conditions. Your dietitian can help you make certain you get the calories and nutrition you need from your diet.
