5 Foods That Trigger Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the bowel by causing inflammation and sores along the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum.
Colitis symptoms may develop over time and get worse each time they flare up. Some of the most common symptoms include rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, fatigue, extreme abdominal cramping, and pain. While there is no cure for colitis, doctors aim to help patients manage the disease via lifestyle changes, medication, and diet. Diet plays a crucial role in managing ulcerative colitis, and patients are recommended to review their intake of foods that trigger UC and avoid those foods, which may include:
1. Foods high in fiber
Wholemeal products tend to require a longer time to digest, which is not suitable for those with ulcerative colitis. You can avoid foods made from whole grain flour; these may include bread, cereals, kinds of pasta, noodles, and macaroni. Instead eat foods with lower fiber, such as puffed rice and corn flakes. Raw vegetables have high fiber; whereas they are a good source of nutrition, they may be hard to break down and release a lot of gas in your system, especially when uncooked. Steaming is the better option.
2. Brown rice and whole grain starches
Whole grains contain germ and bran, which may cause difficulties to people with Ulcerative Colitis during a flare-up. Experts recommend that people with UC avoid foods that contain germ and bran. In addition to this, soya can also trigger UC. Check your tolerance levels with most of the foods and if they cause you active flares, be sure to replace them.
3. Nuts
Nuts are rich in fats, but also they are hard to digest. The nuts you should avoid include walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews nuts, macadamia nuts, and almonds. Nuts cause a flare, and you should exempt them from your diet and pick on foods that will be easy to digest.
4. Seeds
Seeds contain fibers and can often trigger bloating and gas, which do not trigger ulcerative colitis. Some of the seeds in this category include sesame, flaxseeds, millet, and pumpkin seeds.
5. Dried peas and beans
The dried beans, peace, and lentils have high fiber, and due to the sugars or present in the beans, they are known to cause gas in the stomach. The method is preservation makes the dried cereals have sulfur or sulfate that triggers gas production. Corn and mushrooms are some of the foods that undergo slow digestion, and this may cause your intestines to be irritated and result in diarrhea.
Ulcerative colitis is a condition that may be managed by performing surgery or using doctor-prescribed medications such as Stelara for ulcerative colitis. The medicine for UC is meant to help manage the symptoms like reducing inflammation in the colon. In addition, it’s vital to know and avoid foods with high fiber that are difficult to digest. Other risky foods and drinks for UC patients may include coffee or caffeine, alcohol, all carbonated beverages, and tea. These drinks are stimulants, and they can be fast triggers for UC symptoms. Dairy products, like milk, butter or margarine contain lactose, which can increase your bowel movements, causing abdominal cramps and gas in UC patients.