Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that causes uncomfortable digestive symptoms and may limit the foods you can eat. While medications are often prescribed, some people turn to alternative ways to manage their ulcerative colitis. Coconut oil may be more easily digested than other types of oils, though you should talk to your doctor about other potential risks before making the switch.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a digestive disorder that falls under the heading of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. While the exact cause of ulcerative colitis is not known, immune system abnormalities may play a role. Ulcerative colitis causes symptoms that range from mild to severe and may affect many different bodily systems. According to the National Digestive Disorders Information Clearinghouse, NDDIC, the most common symptoms include abdominal discomfort and loose, bloody stools. People with ulcerative colitis may be more prone to other chronic illnesses, such as arthritis and osteoporosis, according to the NDDIC. Treatment involves medications and dietary changes, though severe ulcerative colitis may require surgical intervention.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil comes from the coconut palm. It has a variety of uses, and may be used in cooking as well as cosmetic production and as a biofuel. Despite its high saturated fat content, coconut oil has many health benefits over animal fats, according to the Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine, FAIM. Coconut oil does have health benefits, which you may not expect from a product that the FAIM reports to contain more than 91 percent saturated fat. Its high triglyceride content may contribute to a higher overall cholesterol score; however, it tends to raise your HDL levels, which is your good cholesterol, as opposed to your bad cholesterol or LDL. In addition, coconut oil may be more easily digested for some.
Coconut Oil Absorption
Unlike most oils and fats, coconut oil is broken down in the stomach instead of the intestines. In other words, it is digested before it reaches the sensitive area for those with ulcerative colitis, the colon. FAIM recommends people with digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease choose coconut oil over other animal oils to reduce their symptoms. However, eating for gut healing is a new area of research when it comes to these related digestive disorders. People with ulcerative colitis may also have difficulty absorbing all of the nutrients in their food. According to FAIM, coconut oil may improve the rate at which some vitamins and minerals are absorbed, though they report much of the evidence is based on its effects in the infant population.
Guidelines
Nutrition is important for those with ulcerative colitis, and while there are no universal triggers for the condition some people with the disorder are sensitive to certain foods. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America recommends eating foods from a variety of food groups and avoiding elimination diets unless advised to do so by your doctor. Switching your cooking oil to coconut oil may or may not help. Talk to your doctor about the potential risks versus the benefits, especially if you have cholesterol problems or other risk factors for heart disease.
