Important Dietary Tips For Treating Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's: How to Stay in Remission Through Diet
74Diet is a very important aspect of keeping your ulcerative colitis or Crohn's under control. You will find many diets across the internet that claim to heal or cure these diseases. Although they may be extremely beneficial, and can bring you years if not a lifetime of remission, once you have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, you will always have it... Wait, there is one exception for ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis can be "cured" by surgery, but these are my thoughts on the matter, after having been "cured" myself.
Prior to having my colong removed, I tried many different diet tricks to try to have some effect on my ulcerative colitis, but by the time I tried anything, my case was so incredibly severe that nothing had an effect. I encourage you to do your research, talk to a nutritionist, and work with your diet to see if you can find some change in your severity of ulcerative colitis, and if you're lucky, bring it to a remission.
Hydration and Food With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The most important need is to drink plenty of liquids. Whether you have constant diarrhea or constipation, water is essential. You want to make sure you have plenty of liquid and electrolytes so that you do not become dehydrated.
Ulcerative Colitis is Not A Food Sensitivity
No food causes flare-ups, though you may find that certain foods may irritate an already existing flare-up. For me, I didn’t find any foods that caused me to be better or worse. Though I was told by a nutritionist that when you are in remission, to increase your intake of fibrous foods such as bran, apples, and salads. Your colon is much like a muscle that needs firmed to stay healthy. By eating fibrous foods (ONLY WHEN YOU ARE IN REMISSION) this allows your colon to be exercised and cleansed. Ironically, what helps you remain in remission should be avoided at any notice of any ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Fibrous Foods are Good For You, but Not Always Good For You
Because ulcerative colitis involves ulcerations in the lining of the intestinal tract, when fibrous foods brush against those ulcerations it doesn’t allow them to heal. This will cause even more irritation, meaning more diarrhea or constipation, and more bleeding. It’s best to stay on a low fiber diet when in a flare-up.
More Possible Triggers!
Other things you may find aggravate is caffeine. This is known to cause the digestive system to speed up, which would aggravate an already existing case of diarrhea.
Milk may affect some people, but don’t automatically blame it, because milk has many essential vitamins that you need. Often times, people unnecessarily will cut this out of their diet, when they don’t need to. If you do feel this is a concern, experiment. Keep your diet the same as always, but cut milk products out. If you get better, then it’s a good idea to avoid that particular food for a while. You may want to try adding cheeses and other dairy products slowly, to see if just milk irritates it.
Don't Give Food A Bad Name Because It Made You Sick Before
Ironically, not always the same foods will remain the culprit of aggravating a flare-up, so be careful of avoiding foods indefinitely, after an irritation. This is a common mistake people do that suffer from these diseases, and end up limiting their diet so severely, they stop ingesting enough nutrients from food. Don’t be afraid to try a food that previously caused you problems. You may find that it does affect your stomach one month, then not the next. The reason for this is unknown. Although if you find it irritates it after you try to put it back in your diet, there may be a possible food allergy and it should be avoided.
IBDs Sometimes Cause Low Grade Fevers
One thing often overlooked in those with IBD is that when someone does run low-grade fevers for long periods of time, they will burn more calories. This means that a person who does run frequent fevers, should ingest more calories. Though it’s not just the quantity of those calories but also the quality of what is in them.
Diet is a very important part of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's. There are many really great diets out there. You will find many of them in the comments to my other hubs. If you know of one that worked for you, feel free to post it as a comment so others can see these great diets.I encourage you to try one that seems right for you for about a month, if you see improvement, stick with it. If you don't, then it's time to try a different thing. Regardless, you will want to stick with many of the suggestions above.
Other Great Articles on Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis
Do You Live With An Ostomy?
Living with an ostomy can be embarrassing at times, frustrating, and just a plain nuisance. I had one for only six months of my life, and it was one of the hardest parts of all my surgeries and illnesses. But I made it through, through the help and advice of others. Some of these are for all of us who have undergone the surgeries even if we have had a reconnection surgery. Here are some hubs written by a fellow ostomates:
Another Skin Care For Ostomies
What to do in case of a Bowel Obstruction
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Thank you. I hope it helps others understand their bodies a little better. :)
I've been learning a lot about this condition from your Hubs angela,keep up the great work!
I'm glad people are learning so much. I just hope those who suffer from the disease can find what they need from these websites!
With Crohns avoiding spicy foods often helps when having a flare and for some avoiding it all of the time can help.
By the way, your hubs on this subject are excellent.
Thank you Aunt Barb! Actually I should probably add that in the article. I know they do say, spicy in is spicy out, so I'm guessing even if we're not feeling it, it's spicty all the way down.
Very informative hub. I know it will help someone with these diseases.
Thank you Pamela, I hope so. :)
Good job--many feel fiber cures everything, but when it irritates the colon, it can make symptoms worse.
Very true Garnet, I didn't know that until later in my symptoms, so I wanted to make sure others knew it as well!
I read your Crohn's Disease hub first and now this one. I am sorry to read of the serious effects this disease has had on you. All those surgeries! I experienced much of Crohn's during the early 1990's. I'm still not 100% well, but I'm pretty good. I went the naturopathic route.
Great writing, Angela Michelle.
I am so glad to hear that the naturopathic route worked for you. I'm trying to live a more healthy lifestyle now. I tried doing it while I was sick, but by the time I tried anything, I think my body was too far gone. I'm healthy and happy now, and that's all that matters. :) Thanks for stopping by!
Eating with ulcerative colitis should be based on a well-balanced diet that's high in protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, and good fats. Such a diet will provide you with energy and keep you well. Alcohol,caffeine,spicy food, sauces,seeds and carbonated beverages should be avoided.
That sounds like good advice for all people, not just those with uc! :)
Hello...I have UC and wanted to tell you how I find gluten and sugars to irritate my GI. I really feel that celiac is so close to UC and Crohns in some way. I have also been reading about papaya and how it is an anti-inflammatory. And for all those that have UC, watch your calcium...I now have osteoporosis (and I am not even 50 yet!) because my colon, when inflamed, could not absorb minerals, vitamins, nutrients. Also juicing is great when you feel raw veggies may be too much.
Thank you for your hub...
I also now have severe nutrient malnurishments. (I know that doesn't quite make sense, but you get the gist). You added some really great comments. I actually have also recently heard about the connection with gluten, but not about papaya. Interesting. I really need to update this article. I've been so busy as of late. Thank you for adding your own knowledge!
Smireles Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
Nice hub. Very informative. Good job.