What’s ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative Colitis, simply called UC, is a chronic condition that will led to the inflammation on the large intestine (colon), the rectum and the sores on the inner lining of the large intestine. It is also thought to be an autoimmune disease, which means the basic disorder lies in the immune system. And those disorders are mostly triggered by unhealthy diet and mental stress.
Generally people with colitis may get fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, appetite loss, weight loss, rectal bleeding or anemia. The symptoms may differ from different individual, but no matter what specific symptoms one gets, he/ she should consult doctors fist.
Traditional treatments begin with medicine, especially in the first step. There are some common medicines such as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulators. They are helpful but if we combine them with a soft diet, things will get better and better.
Things to eat:
There is not a single diet that is suitable for everyone with ulcerative colitis. An individual should try and choose the right food from he’s own reaction to the food. Generally some types of food could be recommended:
- A high-calorie diet
Enough supplement of calories could help people with ulcerative colitis avoid problems of weight lost and malnutrition.
- A lactose-free diet
This is suitable for people that both have colitis and lactose intolerance.
- A low-fat diet
Fat may be hard for digestive systems with colitis to absorb and may trigger symptoms. So people with colitis should control the amount of fat in their diet.
- A low-fiber diet
This could reduce the frequency of bowel movements and abdominal cramps.
- A low-salt diet
The patients on corticosteroid therapy may need this diet to reduce water retention.
- A low FODMAP diet
FODMAP stands for fermentable oligo-di-monosaccha-rides and Polyols, which are types of sugars found in certain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols. The diet is used in people who have intolerance to FODMAPS.
- A gluten-free diet
Most people with colitis would be sensitive to gluten.
- A nutritional diet
As many people with colitis have symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration, nutrition loss is very common in those patients. So paying attention to the nutrition could be fundamental for a people with ulcerative colitis.
If you are still hesitated and can’t be sure whether some certain food would be beneficial for your colons, you can ask a professional doctor. Generally people with ulcerative colitis find it easiest to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than a few large ones. This is also helpful for nutrition absorption.
Posted on May 5, 2023