Logo Carenity
Logo Carenity
Join now! Log in
flag en
flag fr flag es flag de flag it flag us
Home

Forums

Latest discussions
General discussions
See all - Forum index from A to Z

Conditions

Fact sheets
See all - Disease index from A to Z

Magazine

Our featured pieces
News
Testimonials
Nutrition
Advice
Procedures & paperwork

Medications

Medications fact sheet
See all - Medication index from A to Z

Surveys

Ongoing surveys
The results of the surveys

Join now! Log in
  • Forums

    • Latest discussions
    • General discussions
    • See all - Forum index from A to Z
  • Conditions

    • Fact sheets
    • See all - Disease index from A to Z
  • Magazine

    • Our featured pieces
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Nutrition
    • Advice
    • Procedures & paperwork
  • Medications

    • Medications fact sheet
    • See all - Medication index from A to Z
  • Surveys

    • Ongoing surveys
    • The results of the surveys
  • Home
  • Forums
  • General forums
  • Research and useful tips - Ulcerative Colitis
  • 14 Foods for Ulcerative Colitis Patients to Avoid
 Back
Research and useful tips - Ulcerative Colitis

14 Foods for Ulcerative Colitis Patients to Avoid

  •  114 views
  •  0 support
  •  1 comment

avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

25/01/2017 at 17:17

Good advisor

avatar Margarita_k

Margarita_k

Last activity on 07/10/2020 at 11:39

Joined in 2016


1,195 comments posted | 20 in the Research and useful tips - Ulcerative Colitis group

2 of their responses were helpful to members


Rewards

  • Good Advisor

  • Contributor

  • Messenger

  • Committed

  • Explorer

  • Evaluator


 View profileView  Add a friendAdd  Write

Specific foods or eating habits don't cause ulcerative colitis, but they can make it worse.

Here are some common foods that can exacerbate ulcerative colitis symptoms.

1. Beans

Legumes and beans are high in fiber and can cause gas, so they're not an ideal food for someone having an ulcerative colitis flare.

Try different preparations and smaller portions. For example, rinsing canned beans well, or removing the outer coating of chickpeas, or pureeing them into hummus can make these foods more easily tolerated.

2. Coffee and tea

Coffee has a reputation for fueling bathroom breaks even in people without IBD, and it can make symptom management especially difficult for ulcerative colitis patients. The same goes for tea and other caffeinated beverages as well as products with guarana, a stimulant often found in energy drinks.

3. Dairy

If you are lactose intolerant, eating dairy can cause IBD-like symptoms. But that doesn't mean everyone with colitis should steer clear of milk.

"Most people think they are automatically lactose intolerant if they have colitis, and that's not true," says Sunanda Kane, MD, professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnessota, USA. "Lactose intolerance has to do with how much of a specific enzyme you have. And the only way to know is if you do an experiment where you drink a glass of milk and then see if you feel worse afterward."

4. Broccoli

High-fiber, stringy vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and celery are not easily digested, and can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

You may be able to tolerate these foods if they're well cooked and chopped into small pieces, but if not, consider an alternative. "We like to focus on what people still can have," says Julie Cepo, who works with IBD patients at Mount Sinai Hospital, in Toronto, Canada. "Cooked string beans, cooked cauliflower, well-cooked carrots, and sweet potatoes, for example."

5. Seeds

If you are having an ulcerative colitis flare-up, avoid eating whole seeds. It helps if you even steer clear of the tiny fruit seeds (such as those found in berries) in the fruit itself, as well as in smoothies, jams, and yogurts made with real fruit.

Seeds are generally not a problem, though, if they're ground finely enough, Cepo says. Her patients have never had issues with ground flaxseed, for example, or tahini, which is made from a sesame-seed paste.

6. Corn and mushrooms

It's hard to digest corn or mushrooms, says Dr. Kane. "We eat it, we chew it, but for the most part, those corn kernels are still going all the way through you whole." This can cause GI irritation and diarrhea in those with ulcerative colitis, so many choose to avoid these during a flare-up.

Dr. Kane recommends that IBD patients follow a low-residue diet while they are experiencing symptoms; this means avoiding anything that won't digest totally, such as corn, mushrooms, roughage like broccoli and cabbage, and small, hard foods like seeds and nuts.

7. Fatty meats

When it comes to ulcerative colitis symptoms, very fatty meats can be bad news. Choose leaner cuts of meat, and remember that the more thoroughly you chew it, the less likely it will make your symptoms worse, says Cepo: Meat in ground form—like in meatballs, meat sauce, or meatloaf—is generally easier to tolerate than a tough cut of steak, for example.

Fatty fish may be a different story. People seem to tolerate salmon well, Cepo says.

8. Whole spices

"People get this idea that if they have colitis, they have to eat a soft, bland diet, but spice isn't necessarily going to cause a problem," says Dr. Kane. "People who follow Korean diets with colitis, for example, still eat a very spicy diet."

Powders and finely ground spices can be incorporated successfully into your diet, says Cepo. But if you are cooking with fresh or dried herbs, like whole parsley and cracked peppercorns, chop or mince them finely so they are easier to tolerate, she says. If you have a bad reaction, cut back until you find an amount you can tolerate.

9. Creamy foods

Rich, high-fat condiments and sauces, like mayonnaise or Alfredo sauce, can sometimes trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms.

Some people report problems with peanut butter, which is rich in healthy fats, too.

10. Chocolate

Sugar and caffeine, two of chocolate's most prominent ingredients, can both contribute to cramping and increase stool frequency in people with ulcerative colitis, especially during a flare-up.

"I see it as a portion-size issue," says Cepo. "If you enjoy chocolate and you want to keep it in your diet, most people can stick with a small piece of good-quality chocolate and be just fine."

11. Alcohol

Different types of alcohol may affect you in different ways, but in general, they can stimulate your intestine and trigger diarrhea. You may be able to have moderate amounts, however.

Cepo's patients tend to tolerate white wine better than red, and often experience gas and bloating if they drink beer or carbonated beverages. It's better to drink something with a meal rather than on an empty stomach, and she recommends that people try new drinks (or foods) at home first, rather than out at a bar or in a social setting.

12. Nuts

Like seeds, nuts that aren't ground up or broken down well enough can cause discomfort both during digestion and bowel movements. But (unless you have an allergy), you don't have to give up those healthy fats completely: Nuts that are ground into smooth nut butters are generally OK, says Cepo.

"Spread it on crackers, breadsticks, put it in smoothies," she explains. And for some people, just thorough chewing before swallowing can be sufficient. "The smaller the pieces are going down, the less likely you are to have any issues."

13. Soda

Cola and other carbonated beverages pack a double whammy: not only do most contain caffeine and sugar or artificial sweeteners, which can increase gas and bowel production, but the bubbles can also cause cramping and make you feel bloated.

If you're going to drink soda, limit your quantities and skip the straw, which can introduce more air bubbles into your GI tract, says Cepo.

14. Onions

Onions are another "stringy" vegetable and they tend to be difficult to digest, says Cepo.

"People seem to do better with onions when they're chopped or minced very small, or cooked well," she adds. "Or we tell them to use it to flavor their foods, like soup, and then strain out the actual onion if needed."

Source: www.health.com
_____________________

I invite you to share your ideas on ulcerative colitis and diet in this discussion.

Follow

Other groups...

All things Christmas
Carenity News
Feedback for Carenity
Fun and games
Good to know
How to use Carenity
Let's talk about COVID-19
Life beyond illness
News from the media
Procedures and Paperwork
Youth patients with chronic conditions

Give your opinion

Survey

What do you think about the Carenity Forum and community?

Survey

How do you use Carenity? Share your experience!

All comments

avatar exit

Unregistered member

26/01/2017 at 11:10

 I find eating white bread better for me than brown or seeded. I can tolerate it better.


14 Foods for Ulcerative Colitis Patients to Avoid https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/my-library-ulcerative-colitis/14-foods-for-ulcerative-colitis-patients-to-av-1563 2017-01-26 11:10:13

Give your opinion

Survey

What do you think about the Carenity Forum and community?

Survey

How do you use Carenity? Share your experience!

Articles to discover...

Screens and the brain: What are the risks of overuse and how can you protect yourself?

28/06/2025 | News

Screens and the brain: What are the risks of overuse and how can you protect yourself?

Women's health: Why is medical research still falling short?

21/06/2025 | News

Women's health: Why is medical research still falling short?

Can you train your brain to feel happier, scientifically?

14/06/2025 | Advice

Can you train your brain to feel happier, scientifically?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): A way to better live with your thoughts and emotions

09/06/2025 | News

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): A way to better live with your thoughts and emotions

NHS - Get help with prescription costs

12/11/2019 | Procedures & paperwork

NHS - Get help with prescription costs

Diclofenac to become a prescription drug

21/01/2015 | News

Diclofenac to become a prescription drug

Opioids Causing Concerns, Problems for Chronic Pain Patients

14/10/2016 | News

Opioids Causing Concerns, Problems for Chronic Pain Patients

Do you have the winter blues?

21/10/2014 | News

Do you have the winter blues?

icon cross

Does this topic interest you?

Join the 500 000 patients registered on our platform, get information on your condition or on that of your family member, and discuss it with the community

Join now! Join now! Join now! Join now! Join now!

It’s free and confidential

Subscribe

You wish to be notified of new comments

 

Your subscription has been taken into account

Join now! Log in

About

  • Who are we?
  • The Carenity team
  • The Science and Ethics Committee
  • Contributors
  • Carenity in the news
  • Certifications and awards
  • Data For Good
  • Our scientific publications
  • Discover our studies
  • Editorial policy
  • Code of conduct
  • Our commitments
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Cookies management
  • Contact
  • Carenity for professionals

Quick access

  • Health magazine
  • Search a forum
  • Learn about a condition
  • See medication reviews
  • List of forums (A-Z)
  • List of condition info sheets (A-Z)
  • List of medication fact sheets (A-Z)
  • Language flag fr flag de flag es flag it flag us

The www.carenity.co.uk website does not constitute or replace professional medical advice.