What to eat and what to avoid in ulcerative colitis

Caring for your diet during a crisis of ulcerative colitis is of great importance, especially to control symptoms such as decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, changes in taste and fatigue. In addition, an adequate diet also reduces the risk of malnutrition.

Since there is no specific diet for cases of ulcerative colitis, which can be recommended for all people with the disease, the ideal is that whoever suffers from this disorder should consult a nutritionist to adapt the diet to their specific case, which varies according to the severity, activity level of the disease and symptoms presented.

However, there are some general recommendations that can be followed in order to avoid a case of malnutrition, favoring the absorption of nutrients and a good nutritional status.

How to know what's wrong

The diet to control colitis attacks varies for each person, being necessary to observe which foods tend to worsen digestion, cause pain, diarrhea, constipation or increase intestinal gas.

For this, the best way to identify which foods to consume or avoid is to keep a food diary, which notes all the foods consumed and the symptoms experienced after meals. This diary can be written on a specific agenda or on the cell phone, and after a few weeks it will be possible to identify the best diet individually.

In addition, it is important to remember that colitis can vary over time, changing the foods that most irritate the intestine for the same person. Thus, when noticing new crises, it is important to go back to making the food diary to readjust the diet. Find out how treatment for colitis is done.

What not to eat for ulcerative colitis

In a diet for ulcerative colitis, foods that increase inflammation in the body and irritate the intestine should be avoided, such as:

• Foods rich in fat and fried foods, it is important to avoid highly processed fats such as margarine, soy oil and corn oil; Caffeine: coffee, green tea, black tea, mate tea, cola soft drinks, chocolate. These foods should be avoided during bouts of diarrhea; Pepper and spicy sauces; Foods very rich in fiber, such as oat and wheat bran, seeds, popcorn and leafy vegetables, as they can cause diarrhea; Milk and dairy products, for people who have lactose intolerance. Excess sugar and sweets in general, as they increase inflammation in the intestine and worsen the intestinal flora; Processed meats such as sausage, sausage, ham, bologna, turkey breast, salami and bacon; Industrialized products rich in salt and preservatives, such as packaged snacks, industrialized cookies and frozen ready-made food, such as lasagna and pizza; Powdered ready seasonings, such as chicken and beef broths, and ready-made sauces; Alcoholic beverages.

With the help of the food diary, it becomes easier to identify which foods worsen the symptoms, but the foods mentioned above usually worsen the symptoms or trigger the crises.

People with ulcerative colitis can also often suffer from lactose intolerance, and in these cases, avoid consumption of dairy products. Other people may suffer from intolerance to gluten, fructooligosaccharides or have some other food allergy. In these cases, the ideal is to consult a nutritionist to avoid that the diet is too restrictive, but at the same time to avoid what causes allergy.

What you can eat

To help deflate the intestine, improve the intestinal flora and prevent new attacks, it is advisable to eat several times throughout the day, in small portions, chew the food very well, eat in a calm place and cook the food in a simple way (without many condiments) to steam, avoiding frying and sauces.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest a single diet to prevent or cure colitis, however, some recommendations that can be followed include:

1. Lean meats and fish

Eating protein is very important for those who suffer from this disease, since it is common for the person to lose some muscle mass due to the malabsorption of nutrients. Thus, during a colitis attack, it is important to increase the amount of protein ingested, and it is recommended to ingest 1.2 to 1.5 g for each kilogram of weight.

The proteins to be consumed must be low in fat and, therefore, the ideal is to bet on fish, eggs, chicken and turkey without skin. In the case of red meats, leaner cuts should be preferred, which do not contain visible fat, but should only be eaten 1 to 2 times a week.

2. Milk and dairy products

Milk and its derivatives, such as yogurt or cheese, can be consumed by those who have ulcerative colitis, however, as some people may also suffer from lactose intolerance, it is important to be aware of symptoms that may indicate this intolerance, such as increased abdominal pain, swelling of the belly or diarrhea after consumption, for example. If this happens, one should try to remove these foods from the diet and try to identify if there is an improvement in the symptoms. Another option is to opt for lactose-free foods.

If it is necessary to remove milk from the diet, it is important to ingest calcium from other sources such as almonds or flax seeds, for example. Check out a more complete list of calcium-rich foods.

For people who do not have a problem with the consumption of milk and dairy products, the ideal is to consume in small portions and giving preference to those products with a lower concentration of fat. Yogurt or kefir are excellent options, for example, as they also contain large amounts of probiotics that improve intestinal flora.

3. Fruits and vegetables

Although they are healthy, fruits and vegetables should be eaten without peel, without bagasse and without seeds, especially during attacks of colitis. In addition, they must also be cooked, to facilitate their absorption at the intestinal level and to avoid excessive intestinal stimuli. This is because, because it contains large amounts of fiber, fruits and vegetables can greatly stimulate bowel movements, which can end up worsening the pain and other symptoms that arise with crises.

Some vegetables that should be avoided in any way include broccoli and cauliflower, as they increase the production of intestinal gases, contributing to discomfort. See other examples of foods that produce many gases and that should be avoided.

4. Natural spices

To give flavor to the food, preference should be given to dehydrated aromatic herbs, such as parsley, rosemary, coriander or basil, for example, as well as onions and garlic, thus avoiding the use of cubes of seasoning, salt or pepper.

5. Good fats

The consumption of good fats in small amounts can also have benefits for people with ulcerative colitis, as the increase in essential fatty acids and omega 3 acts as a natural anti-inflammatory in the body. These fats are mainly extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, salmon, trout, sardines and flaxseed oil. Check out other anti-inflammatory foods.

6. Water

Ulcerative colitis can cause diarrhea and, in some cases, constipation. In both cases it is very important to increase the amount of water ingested, to maintain adequate hydration. However, other options such as strained natural juices or teas, for example, can also be used.

7. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy and, therefore, it is recommended to consume foods rich in this nutrient, such as white rice, white bread or potatoes, avoiding the consumption of their whole forms, since they contain a lot of concentration of fibers that can end up worsening the symptoms of colitis.

How should fiber consumption be

Fiber can cause problems in some people with active ulcerative colitis, causing abdominal pain and can make diarrhea worse. Fibers are present in vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains, and there are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. In the case of ulcerative colitis, soluble fibers should be preferred, as they can help to improve gastrointestinal symptoms.

Soluble fiber is one that dissolves in water and forms a kind of gel in the intestine, helping to reduce intestinal transit and, consequently, diarrhea. Some foods that contain this type of fiber include pear, carrot, apple, guava, green banana, avocado and turnip.

Most foods contain both soluble and insoluble fibers, so cooking them, removing the hull and removing the seeds helps to reduce the amount of insoluble fibers. It is important to remember that when the person is in crisis, with active ulcerative colitis, no type of fiber should be ingested in large quantities, as it can worsen the symptoms.

Supplements that may be useful

During treatment for colitis, probiotic supplements can be helpful in helping to regulate intestinal flora, improving digestion, preventing diarrhea and constipation, and reducing gas formation.

Another supplement that can be used is omega-3 in capsules, which helps to reduce inflammation in the body and improve the immune system. However, it is important to remember that any dietary supplement must be prescribed by the doctor or nutritionist.