Nutrition in Ulcerative Colitis

While Crohn’s disease can affect the entire digestive tract from mouth to anus, ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. There, ulcerative colitis sufferers develop inflammation and bleeding ulcers in the superficial mucosal layers. This causes bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain during an episode of this chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

General tips on diet for ulcerative colitis.

Individuals affected by inflammatory bowel disease should take a few points to heart regarding their eating habits. For example, those affected should tend to eat small meals and prefer to eat more frequently. Larger meals put more strain on the digestive tract.

The temperature of the food can also be decisive: ice-cold or very hot food irritates the intestines and can cause diarrhea. Spicy or highly seasoned foods also put a strain on the digestive system.

As a general rule, take your time when eating: Eating deliberately and slowly and chewing carefully make it easier for the intestines to digest. By providing a friendly and calm environment, you can better internalize this eating behavior.

Nutrition in ulcerative colitis: acute flare.

While an almost normal everyday life is possible during the symptom-free periods, those affected have severe pain during the acute phase, which can only be endured with bed rest, occasionally even in hospital.

As with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis also causes severe fluid losses due to diarrhea during an attack, which must be compensated for with low-carbonated water or mild teas.

Particularly suitable for this purpose:

  • Fennel tea
  • Caraway tea
  • Chamomile tea
  • Peppermint tea
  • Anise tea

Acute phase: what to eat?

Due to the diarrhea and to fight the many inflammatory foci in the colon, the body consumes calories and loses a lot of fat through the stool. Therefore, even in the acute phase, calories and fats need to be increased, preferably through cold-pressed, non-hydrogenated oils or margarine. Animal fats, on the other hand, are less well tolerated, apart from butter, which provides a lot of valuable vitamin A.

It is also important in ulcerative colitis to take certain vitamins and trace elements. The loss of blood during diarrhea can lead to iron deficiency. In addition, foods with calcium, folic acid, zinc and magnesium are suitable for the diet.

Acute phase: what is better to do without?

The following foods should be avoided as much as possible by ulcerative colitis sufferers, especially during the acute phase:

  • Salads
  • Raw vegetables
  • Hard-shelled fruit
  • Citrus fruits
  • Sweet dairy products

Diet in ulcerative colitis: remission phase.

In the remission phase, the diet in ulcerative colitis can be normalized. There are various suggestions for diets, although none has yet provided firm evidence of health-promoting effects. In general, a light, whole-food diet is recommended for ulcerative colitis.

Regain the pleasure of eating

Ulcerative colitis sufferers who listen to their bodies and their reactions will quickly find out which foods they tolerate better and worse. Those who know what they can eat will also find it easier to regain pleasure in eating. This is especially important for patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

In general, the body should be supplied with all important nutrients, minerals and vitamins during the time between relapses, and digestion should be regulated by a high-fiber diet.