{"id":2222,"date":"2018-07-17T04:20:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T04:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2222"},"modified":"2021-10-12T03:20:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T03:20:24","slug":"10-foods-you-must-avoid-on-a-colitis-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/10-foods-you-must-avoid-on-a-colitis-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Foods You Must Avoid on a Colitis Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ulcerative colitis is a chronic or acute condition that affects the large intestine, causing inflammation and the formation of painful, pus-filled sores or ulcers inside the colon.<\/p>\n

There are many potential causes of ulcerative colitis. One of the most common is infection: a viral or bacterial infection affecting the colon can cause inflammation in the lining and this can then lead to the formation of those ulcers.<\/p>\n

Perhaps more common in the case of chronic ulcerative colitis, however, is that this is an autoimmune disease. That means that the immune system is mistakenly attacking the colon, thinking that there is something that shouldn\u2019t be there and therefore trying to drive it out by inflaming the area, evacuating the bowels repeatedly, and possibly creating a fever.<\/p>\n

Either way, the symptoms are functionally the same. Many of the symptoms we experience when we are ill don\u2019t come from the invading bacteria itself, but rather from the immune system\u2019s attempt to drive that out. Therefore, on a colitis diet, you can help to ease the symptoms no matter the cause and avoid further triggering the painful and unpleasant reactions associated with the condition.<\/p>\n

Here are the foods to avoid\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Bread<\/h3>\n

Unless you\u2019ve been living under a rock, you likely will have heard that some people struggle when consuming gluten.<\/p>\n

Gluten<\/a> is a substance that is found in bread and a number of other simple carbs. It is responsible for providing these with their chewy texture and is used in a lot of baked goods in order to hold them together.<\/p>\n

The problem is that a large number of the population is gluten intolerant or Coeliac. That means that the gluten can negatively affect the \u2018villi\u2019 \u2013 the small finger-like tendrils that line the inside of the stomach and the intestines and are used to absorb nutrients from our food as it passes through the body.
\nThis may even be the cause of ulcerative colitis in some cases \u2013 so try to avoid it and see if that helps your condition.<\/p>\n

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2. Milk<\/h3>\n

Milk<\/a> is not going to be a problem for a lot of people, but for others, it might be the primary cause of ulcerative colitis.<\/p>\n

The issue here is relating to lactose. Lactose is a substance found in milk that a lot of the Western world have no problem digesting. However, those that are lactose intolerant (which includes the majority of many ethnic groups), will find that they don\u2019t produce the enzyme lactase in adulthood, meaning that they can\u2019t break down and utilize the lactose. That then causes the lactose to build up in the colon where it can actually curdle and begin causing methane.<\/p>\n

This causes pain and discomfort normally, but can of course seriously exacerbate ulcerative colitis.
\nIf you have ulcerative colitis, then it is worth trying to remove milk from your diet to see if that improves the condition at all \u2013 seeing as it affects such a large population.<\/p>\n

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3. Caffeine<\/h3>\n

Caffeine<\/a> is not a great choice for those with ulcerative colitis for many reasons.<\/p>\n

Firstly, caffeine is diuretic. This means that it encourages us to urinate and to empty our bowels \u2013 not great when you already have an issue that is forcing you to constantly run to the toilet! This is also a big problem considering that you are likely to be struggling with dehydration if you have a very serious bout.<\/p>\n

At the same time, caffeine also increases the fight or flight response \u2013 further encouraging bowel movements \u2013 and it is vasoconstriction which can impair bloodflow and which might even cause more contraction around the colon. Small amounts of caffeine are unlikely to be a problem, but having that third cappuccino from Starbucks is likely a bad move.<\/p>\n

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4. Brown Rice<\/h3>\n

You might be used to being told that brown rice is superior to white rice for most people. However, in the case of ulcerative colitis, that is not true!<\/p>\n

This is because brown rice<\/a> contains whole grains with fibrous endosperm, germ, and bran. That fiber can irritate the UC and this can in turn cause a flare-up. Other whole-grain foods that cause the same problem include a range of \u2018trendy\u2019 health foods, unfortunately \u2013 such as quinoa, oats, and wild rice.<\/p>\n

If you have ulcerative colitis, then you should also avoid the following:<\/p>\n

Plain barley
\nSpelt
\nBulgar wheat
\nWheat-berries
\nMillet<\/p>\n

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5. Red Meats<\/h3>\n

Contrary to popular belief, red meats<\/a> actually are very good for you and have a host of health benefits. These include being a great source of protein, a good source of healthy saturated fats that aid with absorption and cholesterol, high content of creatine, PQQ, and coenzyme Q10, and more. Better yet are organ meats!<\/p>\n

While this is all very well most of the time, it\u2019s not so good when it comes to ulcerative colitis. The problem is simply that red meats are very hard to digest. They are stringy and tough and hard enough to chew, let alone process in the gut. On top of that, the high-fat content is very slow to be absorbed and it ultimately becomes quite likely that you can experience bowel and digestion issues even if you have no pre-existing condition.<\/p>\n

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6. Nuts<\/h3>\n

In a very similar manner, nuts<\/a> are also very hard to digest and process if you have ulcerative colitis and you would do better to avoid them. Some of the worst include walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, and pistachios.<\/p>\n

The problem is that nuts can be hard to avoid and you might find they are in a lot of things that you would normally eat. At the same time, you need to be aware of products made from nuts, which even include some flours that have had them crushed into them!<\/p>\n

This is where it\u2019s worth pointing out that there is a fine line to be walked. Sometimes you might feel that it is worth experiencing some of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis if it means eating something you really enjoy. Just make sure you know the risk going in so that you can make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

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7. Low-Calorie Diets<\/h3>\n

Okay, so this is not a food to avoid so much as an entire eating strategy to avoid\u2026<\/p>\n

Low-calorie diets are diets that contain less energy. These are the diets that involve eating foods that are \u2018lean\u2019 in that they contain lower amounts of fats and\/or sugars and in doing so, result in less of a calorie \u2018surplus\u2019 \u2013 and a lower amount of calories left over at the end of the day for the body to convert into fat stores.<\/p>\n

Low-calorie diets are a good way for many people to lose weight, but they don\u2019t make a whole lot of sense for people who have ulcerative colitis<\/a>, seeing as the condition already causes a loss of appetite and a huge loss of nutrients via diarrhea. This can eventually lead to malnutrition, which is why it\u2019s important that you are sure you are getting your necessary nutrients from elsewhere. Not a good time to drastically limit what you are eating!<\/p>\n

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8. Fibrous Vegetables<\/h3>\n

Some vegetables can be very tough to beat and may be a cause of flare-ups in your ulcerative colitis. A good example of this for instance is purple sprouting broccoli. While very healthy, this vegetable is also incredibly stringy, fibrous, and tough and can be very difficult to eat.<\/p>\n

There are many other vegetables that can cause similar problems too. These include things like regular broccoli, green beans, cabbage<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n

There are things you can do to make these vegetables more palatable. Try cooking them for longer in order to help soften them, try eating them in a frozen or canned form, remove any seeds, and always remove the peel. The same problems can also occur with some fruits and again removing the skin is usually the best way to avoid this. Peeling apples before eating them is definitely a good idea!<\/p>\n

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9. Starchy Foods<\/h3>\n

Starchy foods are foods like potatoes that contain large amounts of\u2026 well, starch. If you have ever eaten very starchy food quickly, then you\u2019ll be all-too-familiar with how hard it can be to break down. Maybe you\u2019ve experienced that unpleasant sensation of having a large amount of dry potato slowly slide down your food pipe!<\/p>\n

Not only is the starch itself difficult to break up, but it can also be very absorbent and that means it can remove the moisture from your digestive system<\/a> as it passes through. Without that moisture, you lose the lubrication that should allow foods to pass more easily through the body and you, therefore, become bloated and painful.<\/p>\n

Other starches include pasta, bread, and chips. While these may be okay in small quantities, it\u2019s important not to eat them too fast or in large amounts.<\/p>\n

As with anything, try to monitor your own body. Keep a record of what you eat and of how it makes you feel and that way you can make sure to avoid the things that trigger flare-ups of you UC.<\/p>\n

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10. Sulfates and Sulfides<\/h3>\n

Sulfate is an important nutrient in our diet, so of course, you will need to get some. However, keep in mind that it can also provide bacteria with sustenance and may cause H2S toxic gas in patients with ulcerative colitis.<\/p>\n

Actually, over 90% of UC patients will create more of this gas and less methane (which is the usual as created). If you find yourself creating this gas (you\u2019ll know because you\u2019ll experience bloating and very odorous gas), then try reducing your intake of foods containing sulfates and sulfides.<\/p>\n

Things to avoid in this case include red meat (another reason!), dairy (again!), beer, wine, apple, grape juice, cruciferous vegetables, eggs, well water, dried fruits. Of course, avoiding alcohol generally is always a good idea, as this can cause inflammation, it is bloating (in the case of carbonated beverages in particular), and it is a diuretic<\/a>. \r\n

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