The Role of Diet in Ulcerative Colitis Management

Salmon and tuna contain omega 3 fatty acids, which are helpful in reducing inflammation. This will also give you relief. Mackerel, herring, sardines, flaxseed oil, whole flaxseed and walnuts are also good sources of omega 3 acids.

When the pain of swelling in the intestines increases, at that time the protein gets depleted, in such a situation if protein is consumed then the lost nutrients get back. Let us tell you that meat and chicken have a very high amount of protein.

Eggs are also an excellent source of protein. When pain increases due to inflammation in the intestines, its consumption provides relief. Some eggs also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can prove helpful in reducing inflammation.

If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you can consume soya protein instead of animal protein. Vegetarian and vegan proteins also include legumes and whole grains.

There is nothing better than curd for probiotics. This helps in digestion. You should choose such curd for yourself, which does not contain any amount of sugar. This is because consumption of sugar can increase the symptoms of inflammation in the intestines.

Avocados also contain a lot of protein and healthy fats. These also contain a lot of calories but since they contain 70% water, they are easy to digest. Some people may get relief from juices and smoothies when the pain of intestinal inflammation increases. It also provides nutrients. Carrot juice contains vitamin A and antioxidants, which can help some people with pain caused by intestinal inflammation.

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Juices and smoothies can be valuable additions to the diet of individuals with Ulcerative Colitis, providing essential nutrients while being gentle on the digestive system. Incorporating nutrient-packed juices and soothing smoothies can help manage symptoms, promote healing, and support overall gut health. Blending fruits, vegetables, and other gut-friendly ingredients into delicious concoctions offers a convenient and enjoyable way to increase nutrient intake, maintain hydration, and ease digestive discomfort. However, it's essential to choose ingredients carefully.

Alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages Alcohol can irritate the intestines, triggering diarrhea. Additionally, the caffeine present in coffee, tea and energy drinks is also a stimulant and can speed up transit time in the large intestine (colon), causing frequent bowel movements. Many carbonated beverages, including soda and beer, contain carbonation that can irritate the digestive system, and cause gas. Apart from this, there are many beverages which contain sugar, caffeine or artificial sweetener and all these things can cause ulcerative colitis and trigger the disease.

Foods that contain a lot of fiber are difficult for people with ulcerative colitis to digest. Flour made from whole grains has higher fiber content because the seeds or bran have not been removed. You should avoid eating any food made from whole grain flour, such as: bread, cereals, pasta, noodles, macaroni, etc.

Dry fruits, nuts in food items or their flour, none of these things should be in your diet list. The fiber present in nuts can be difficult to digest. Therefore, you should not consume nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, pistachios etc. at all. Like dried fruits, there are some seeds that can worsen the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. The seeds contain insoluble fiber which can cause side effects like flatulence, diarrhea, gas in the stomach etc. Therefore, you should not consume sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc.

Although fruits and vegetables are very beneficial for our health, most fruits and vegetables have high fiber content. Therefore, you should not consume raw fruits and vegetables. Apart from this, you should also not eat fruits whose seeds cannot be removed such as berries. You can also consume fruit juice without pulp. Eat vegetables only after removing their peel and seeds and cooking them thoroughly. If you want, you can consume vegetables by making puree or soup because by doing so it becomes easier to digest them.

Popcorn is another high-fiber heavy food that is not completely digested in the small intestine and can trigger diarrhea and urgency to defecate. Chocolate contains caffeine and sugar, both of which can irritate the digestive system and cause cramping and frequent bowel movements.

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