Ulcerative Colitis Diet - Healthy Habits to Manage Flare-Ups

Keeping to a strict diet plan has been proven to be effective in controlling Colitis attacks. A diet plan is just not a matter of watching what foods you eat, but a change in your eating and drinking habits as well.

There are very helpful methods in successfully keeping Colitis attacks at bay and maintaining a healthy digestive system as a whole. Here are some excellent guidelines to incorporate into your daily diet routine:

• Observe proper sanitary precautions when preparing, cooking, serving and storing food items as a preventive measure to keep bacteria and viruses from setting in. This should include washing your hands before eating or handling food in general.


• Drink plenty of fluids every day. This is not limited to just water, but can include even fresh fruit juices, vegetable juices, and black coffee and tea (keep away from flavored coffee or tea which are overloaded with sugar)


• Take in a superior multi-mineral vitamin daily to supplement regular food intake and replace lost nutrients


• Follow a diet high in fiber only when the disease is in remission but avoid this during an attack or relapse as fiber can act as an abrasive to the lining of the intestinal wall.


• Eat three heavy meals a day but if you do not feel like eating at all then take in smaller meals spaced at regular intervals like every 1 to 2 hours. It is important that the stomach contains food to digest in order to balance acid and alkaline levels.


• Foods high in fats or are very oily can aggravate the intestinal walls further and is a common trigger for attacks.


• Limit your drinking of alcohol to 1 glass per meal only, and control caffeine intake to only 1 to 2 cups daily as alcohol and caffeine are natural irritants.


• Avoid foods that contain lactose such as milk, soy, ice cream.


• Steer clear from foods that can be the source of too much gas in the intestines especially when there are bouts of diarrhea and abdominal pain.


• Recommended food add-ons such as fish oils and probiotics are popular suggestions which help in the treatment process of Colitis.