Dietary Changes to Ease an Ulcerative Colitis Flare
The best way to shorten a flare, of course, is to have your doctor adjust your medication regimen to treat the increased inflammation. But there are steps you can take at home too.
When you’re experiencing a flare, consider following a low-residue diet (a type of low-fiber diet) for several weeks, Damas says. The goal is to let your colon rest. That means staying away from seeds, nuts, most fruits, raw vegetables, whole grain bread and cereal, and fatty meats.
“We’re learning more now about the influence that diet can have on control of inflammation,” Damas notes. “When patients are having an acute flare, it’s important in the short term to have a low-fiber diet. We recommend what’s called a ‘low-FODMAP’ diet. However, this diet is not recommended long term, because it has no impact on inflammation itself and only [controls] symptoms.”
FODMAPs, or fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, are indigestible carbohydrates found in plant foods — foods that also tend to be high in fiber. FODMAPs draw water from your intestines as feces travels through, which can trigger diarrhea. As a result, temporarily cutting back on FODMAPs and the high-fiber foods that contain them can help with digestive symptoms.
It can also be helpful to identify and avoid your food triggers when ulcerative colitis is flaring. Try cooking vegetables without the skin; limiting full-fat dairy products, such as milk and cheese; and cutting down on other common triggers, such as alcohol, and fatty, sugary, or spicy foods.
“Additionally, we recommend patients avoid eating processed foods, as well as those high in fat and animal protein, as these have been associated with inflammation in some studies,” Damas says.
Ask your gastroenterologist about your diet. If you don’t already have a registered dietitian on your team; they can recommend someone with experience in treating people with ulcerative colitis. A dietitian will work with you to help you formulate eating plans to use during both flares and times of remission; many insurance plans will cover dietitian visits when you have IBD.
You can also try the symptom-specific tips below, which may help you find relief.
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