Colitis Treatment Information

If you want to reduce irritation in the colon then you need to follow the recommended ulcerative colitis diet.

Inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis occur in the large intestine region of our body. Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon. This type of inflammatory condition flares up unpredictably, but individuals who are suffering from this disease experience prolonged periods of remission. This disease can be managed and controlled with focus on minimal stress and adequate diet. Irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, which are also inflammatory diseases, can also be controlled with proper diet.

One should always remember that ulcerative colitis is not caused by diet but proper diet can make the life of the sufferer comfortable. One should stick to nutritious and well balanced diet because it is extremely beneficial. You can also take supplements because supplements can balance the nutrient intake and prevent malnutrition that is commonly associated with colitis. More than anyone else, patients who are suffering from ulcerative disease should include vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meats and grains in their diet.

We do require calcium for bone and teeth, iron for energy, protein for tissue repair and growth, fruits and vegetables for fiber, minerals and vitamins. But, some of these items can cause problems for colitis patients. The main aim of the diet for colitis is to reduce the irritation in the colon region. The preliminary stage is to find out which one of the diets or foods can increase the inflammatory symptoms and then eliminate them from the diet list as much as possible.

Some of the food items that are eliminated from the ulcerative colitis diet are:
- Dairy or milk products
- Saturated fats that are found in dairy products and animal products
- Inflammatory foods and beverages like caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar
- Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, broccoli and cauliflower which are intestinal irritants
- Products from corn
- Food items that contain gluten such as foods that are produced from barley, wheat, oats and triticale
- Soy, eggs and peanuts which are usual allergenic suspects
- Grapes, watermelon and pineapple which have high sugar content

Ulcerative colitis diet is prepared keeping in mind the general benefits that a patient will enjoy and not just a reduction in the frequency of the flare-ups and symptoms. The recommended foods are healthy and nutritious and the general population will be enjoying it. Drink plenty of fluids like water and vegetable juices. You can take protein in the form of lean meats, legumes, and dried beans, complex carbohydrates from oat bran, whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Fish oil is also helpful because it contains omega 3 fatty acids and potassium rich foods like potatoes and nuts are also helpful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.