19/04/2022
What foods should you avoid when you have ulcerative colitis?
1. Whole grain breads, cereals and pasta
Foods that are high in fiber tend to be difficult to digest for people with ulcerative colitis during flare-ups. Whole-grain flour is high in fiber because it hasn't had the germ or bran removed.
You should avoid eating foods made with whole grain flours, such as:
- Bread
- Cereals
- The pasta
- Noodles
During a flare-up, choose white bread and pasta made with enriched white flour, unless you are gluten intolerant.
Flour is "enriched" when nutrients are lost during germ removal and bran is replaced. Grains like puffed rice, corn flakes, and cream of wheat are also lower in fiber.
2. Brown rice and other whole grain starches
Avoid the following whole grain foods:
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- buckwheat
- Oat
- Wild rice
These grains still have the fibrous endosperm, germ, and bran that can irritate ulcerative colitis and possibly trigger flare-ups. Avoid other whole grains:
- Plain Barley
- Millet
- Wheat berries
- Dry flour
- Spell
A better option for people with ulcerative colitis is well-cooked white rice.
3. Nuts
Nuts, including those cooked into other foods or powdered, should be on your do-not-eat list if you've been prescribed a low-fiber diet for ulcerative colitis. The fiber in nuts can be very difficult to digest.
4. Nuts
Like nuts, seeds can also worsen symptoms. Seeds are an insoluble fiber that can cause bloating, diarrhea, bloating, and other unpleasant side effects.
Some nuts to avoid include:
- Sesame seeds
- Linseed
- Millet
- Pine nuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Wild rice
5. Dried peas, beans and lentils
Legumes, including beans, lentils, and peas, are high-fiber, high-protein foods. Because of the hard-to-digest sugars in beans, they're also notorious for causing bloating. If you're experiencing an ulcerative colitis flare-up, you'll want to turn the following:
- All beans, including chickpeas
- Atduki beans
- Soybeans, including soybeans and edamame
6. Fruit filaments
Although they have health benefits, most fruits are high in fiber. Fruit is on the list of foods to avoid if they:
- Rough
- Dried
- Has seeds that cannot be removed (like most berries)
You can eat fruit that has been peeled and if the meat has been cooked until very tender, such as apple sauce. You can also eat canned fruit, but choose those packaged in water or juice separately to avoid excess sugar.
Most fruit juices are drinkable, but only the pulp should be discarded. Skip prune juice as it is rich in fiber.
7. Fibrous vegetables
Like fruits, vegetables are also rich in fiber. Only include them in your diet if they:
- Skinning or peeling
- No seeds
- Cooked until soft
Avoid all raw or undercooked vegetables, including corn. Canned vegetables and potatoes are fine, as long as the skins are removed. Try pureed vegetable soups to ease the digestion of vegetables.
Vegetables provide many important nutrients and it is important to incorporate them in your diet.
8. Sulfate and sulfide
Sulfate is an essential nutrient in the human diet, assisting in many bodily processes, however, it can also feed certain types of bacteria that produce the toxic gas H2S in people with ulcers. Colon. In fact, more than 90% of people with ulcerative colitis produce H2S gas, not the normal methane gas.
If you find yourself gassy and have a bad odor, you may have too much of these bacteria in your colon, an excess of sulfates and sulfides in your diet, or both.
Foods high in sulfates and sulfides to reduce include red meat, dairy, beer and wine, apple and grape juices, cruciferous vegetables, eggs, cheese, dried fruit, and some well water.
9. Dairy products
A common food intolerance among people with ulcerative colitis is dairy. If you suspect dairy may be the cause of your symptoms, eliminate all dairy including butter, milk, yogurt, and cheese for at least four weeks.
Work closely with your doctor or dietitian to help you learn how to follow your diet.
10. Foods containing gluten
One food intolerance that is becoming more common in people with digestive symptoms is gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is not only found in common foods like bread and pasta, but also added to processed products like condiments, sauces, soups, and proteins.
If you suspect gluten may be your symptom trigger, eliminate all grains, cereals, baked goods, and other products that contain gluten for at least four weeks.
11. Food to enjoy
While your diet may be restrictive if you're experiencing an ulcerative colitis flare-up, it doesn't have to be boring. Focus on foods you can eat rather than foods you should avoid. Foods you can eat (unless you have an allergy or intolerance to any of the foods below) include:
- Seedless white bread
- White pasta, noodles and pasta
- Rice
- Crackers and cereals made with refined white flour
- Canned cooked fruit
- Cooked vegetables without skins or seeds
- Pureed vegetable soup
- Soft, tender meat (no hair or skin) and fish
- Peanut butter and other nut butters
- Oils like olive oil and coconut oil
It's important to remember that diet plays an important role in your overall health. Use this information as a guide to help you recover from acute symptoms such as diarrhea, tightness, or surgery.
To increase your chances of remission, gradually reintroduce fiber-rich foods, as fiber protects the health of your colon tissue as well as your gut bacteria.
