According to Tracie, what you may be able to tolerate may change depending upon whether you're flaring or not. “When you’re flaring, there are some dietary adjustments that some people have found to be ‘easier’ on the GI tract to avoid discomfort. You should discuss these with your doctor,” Tracie says. “But in between flares, most people with UC are able to consume a more varied diet and can be more liberal with food choices. Don’t forget that eating a diet that is high-quality, and includes nutritious fruits and vegetables, is a general goal for everyone—and that includes people with UC. Eating healthy whether you are in a flare or not is always a priority. Talk to your doctor about various additional strategies for getting the nutrition you need when you experience diarrhea, appetite changes, or other UC symptoms.”
During an ulcerative colitis flare
Here are some examples of the types of dietary adjustments that some people and their doctors have found helpful during a flare:
- Avoid high-fiber foods to help with symptoms
- Eat smaller, more-frequent meals
- Avoid foods that may increase stool output, such as raw fruits and vegetables, prunes, and caffeine
- Avoid your trigger foods
- Avoid common foods that may cause discomfort, such as greasy foods, alcohol, dairy products, and spicy foods
- Consider nutritional supplements and/or vitamin and mineral supplements, as recommended by your doctor
Between ulcerative colitis flares
Here are some examples of healthy dietary approaches that you should consider between flares. Discuss these with your doctor to determine what is right for you:
- Try to increase the variety of foods you eat, especially high-quality protein and deeply colored fruits and vegetables—they’re packed with nutrients
- Eat a well-balanced diet that focuses on getting the amount of carbohydrates, protein, fats, fruits, and vegetables your doctor recommends
- To stay hydrated, drink 8-10 glasses of fluid per day—preferably water
- Don’t eliminate a food from your diet because you’ve “heard” it can make UC symptoms worse. Which foods trigger or aggravate symptoms is an individual matter. If you automatically cut out foods based on hearsay, you may not get enough of certain essential vitamins or minerals
- Instead, create a food journal so you can identify and eliminate foods that are a problem for you
- If you are lactose-intolerant, you should avoid dairy products and ask your doctor about substitutes that provide the nutrition you need
Any time
Here are some examples of strategies that you might find helpful in adopting a healthy approach to your diet:
- Plan meals and snacks with care
- Make shopping lists to help plan your week’s meals
- Avoid fast food, fried foods, and high-fat foods
- Always remember the importance of consuming nutrient-rich foods
- Understand that healthy food is important for everyone—that includes you and your family as well—so the nutritious choices you make benefit all of you
Supplements for ulcerative colitis
Nutritional supplements such as fish oil and probiotics get a lot of attention these days. But Tracie emphasizes that, although some people have found them to be helpful, these supplements do not have clinical evidence backing up their benefit for people with UC.
“Probiotics provide ‘good’ bacteria that some people believe helps aid digestion, and fish oil is thought to help fight inflammation,” Tracie says. “However, most of these remedies have not gone through careful and rigorous scientific testing with large groups of patients.”
Tracie cautions that it's important to remember that any type of supplement you are considering should be used in addition to your UC treatment. “Supplements are not a replacement for the medicine your doctor has prescribed,” she says. For this reason, Tracie stresses that you should talk to your doctor before taking any type of supplement to find out if it would be helpful for you and your current medical treatment plan.
We also asked Tracie to provide some general guidelines on healthy meal planning for people with UC. Learn more about meal planning and ulcerative colitis.
This material is not intended to replace conversations with your health care professional team. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about your condition, please speak to your doctor or nurse.
