What Diet Should Be Followed to Prevent Ulcerative Colitis

Overview

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the large intestine (colon) and the rectum. It also creates sores in the inner lining of the large intestine. It is believed that it is an auto-immune disease which is caused by our own body. Mostly it affects the colon and rectum part of your body. It affects males more than females and mostly occurs between the age of 15 to 40.

What are the symptoms of ulcerative colitis?

• feeling an urgent need to take a bowel movement
• fatigue
• abdominal pain and cramping
• Diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• rectal bleeding and
• anemia (low red blood cell count).

What causes ulcerative colitis?

The cause of ulcerative colitis is still not clear yet but it is believed to be caused by a combination of many factors including an overactive immune system, genetics, present lifestyle and the environment.

1. Overactive immune system:

• It is believed that in ulcerative colitis, the immune system begins working with more aggression and confused which mistakenly attacks the inner lining of the large intestine, the result is increased in inflammation and symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

2. Genetics:

• Ulcerative colitis can run in families. The genetic link is not absolutely clear but studies have shown that up to 20% of people with ulcerative colitis have had a close family member already with the disease.

3. Environment

• Certain environmental factors are also responsible like taking some medications (nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, antibiotics, and oral contraceptives), and eating a high-fat diet may slightly enhance you making more prone to acquiring ulcerative colitis

Note

• Physical or emotional stress and certain foods do not begin ulcerative colitis, however, they may flare up the symptoms in a person who already has ulcerative colitis.

There are many foods that should be included in your diet plans and some of them should be avoided because they flare up its symptoms.

Let’s see which should be included

1. Pomegranate Juice

• Drink pomegranate juice daily at least 50ml is enough to call it a day. Pomegranate has a number of healthy ingredients involving antioxidants and polyphenols.
• Anti-oxidants save the cells from the harmful free radicals and polyphenols serves a lot of protective actions including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities that are necessary for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Pomegranate juice is preferable than the juice of other fruits.

How to Take

• Drink pomegranate juice twice in a day to relieve abdominal pain and bleeding

2. Yogurt with banana

• Yogurt with banana is very good when the patient consumes yogurt along with a banana.

How to Take

• Take once or twice a day for better results. It cures the ulcers and provides soothing effects.

Eat an apple after meals.

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ at least in the case of ulcerative colitis it proves true. Ulcerative colitis is linked with blood loss. This results in deficiency of iron. Apple plays a role that eradicates this deficiency of iron loss.
• Apple has lots of iron in it. Apples will enhance the appetite and wither away that bloating feeling. If ulcerative colitis gets active and the bleeding begins, peel the apple skin before eating or drink a glass of fresh apple juice, as that would regain the iron lost due to bleeding, and it would retain the strength to the body. If you consume a boiled apple, then the results will be better.

4. Cow’s desi ghee

• Cow’s desi ghee has an abundance of butyric acid. A study was conducted that revealed that people with unhealthy digestive tract often don’t produce butyric acid in a natural manner.
• Since good digestion is the foremost key to good health, it becomes mandatory to incorporate foods that are rich in butyric acid and should be included in your diet to help digestion in a better way.
• This acid makes the cells strong in the intestines, reduces the leakage of undigested food particles and helps in the repair of the mucosal wall.

5. Amla enhances digestion

• Amla (Indian gooseberry) has lots of fiber and helps in regularizing bowel movements. It steps down constipation and trigger the secretion of gastric juices.
• It also improves digestion and nutrient absorption becomes more effective. Include amla in your diet in any form and you’ll soon begin feeling a dramatic change in your health.
• But amla should be taken in moderation by ulcerative colitis patients.

There are many other food items if all are included in your diet plans that can help you get free from UC symptoms.

Foods to be consumed by Ulcerative Colitis patients are:

Coconut water, Rice, Idli, Plain Dosa with as little oil as possible, Pear, Papaya, Tragacnth Gum, Bottle gourd, Ash gourd, Non-spicy Gruel, Ridge Gourd, Fenugreek leaves, Tunip, Potato, Carrot, Coriander leaves juice, Spinach, Mustard leaves, Marigold flower juice, Bael fruit and rose petals juice and there are many more that reduce the symptoms of UC

Foods to be Avoided by Ulcerative Colitis patients

• There are also food items that should always be avoided if you are worried about the flare ups like cheese, milk, tea, butter and buttermilk, almost all dairy products. All citrus fruit should also be avoided like lemon, lime, mango and tangy orange.
• Avoid having pineapple or its juice. Also ignore the veggies like tomato, beans, peas, cauliflower, muskmelon, kidney beans, chick peas, black eye beans, Bengal grams, split red grams, brinjal, lady finger, cucumber, taro root, sorghum, pearl millet, triphala, psyllum seed husk, dates, raisins, pickles, tamarind, almonds, cashew nuts, pistachio, ginger, basil, ball peppers, spices like red chillie, black peppers, cloves, turmeric, asafetida, soft drinks, biscuits of any kind, junk foods (like burgers, pizza, noodles, chips etc), packed foods, savory snacks etc. Not even a tinge of it as they cause lots of troubles to make UC sprout up.
• If you remain a little alert in selecting your diet plans you will be able to prevent UC and remain healthy and smart.
• So the next time you visit your super market remain alert while selecting your food supplements. Someone in your family must be between the age of 15 to 40 years when this disease ambush in his or her body.
• Don’t let it happen as it is only usual but it can ambush your body in any age. Then don’t cry over the split milk