Good Foods for Colitis

• Keeping a food diary keeps you aware of which foods aggravate or improve you condition.
  
  Eat a low-carbohydrate, high-vegetable-protein diet. Baked or broiled fish, chicken and turkey minus the skin are great sources of protein. Make sure to include plenty of vegetables; steaming them makes digestion easier. Include garlic for its healing and antibiotic properties.
  
  Drinking water, at least eight full glasses daily, is necessary to make up for lost fluids if you are experiencing diarrhea and to rid the body of toxins. Green drinks--powder or liquids that contain nutrients from green vegetables)--or adding chlorophyll to your water is good for digestion.
  
  Fruits should be eaten with meals and not on an empty stomach. Avoid any acidic fruits such as oranges and grapefruits, but do indulge in eating bananas, applesauce and canned fruits, which are milder. Fruits juices should always be diluted with water and taken during meals or shortly thereafter.
  
  Getting fiber into your diet is good for keeping the bowels regular and formed. Go with grains that are well cooked and soluble. Such foods as oat bran, brown rice, barley and lentils are good choices. For a crunch, try rice cakes.
  
  

Foods to Avoid

• Keep fats, including high-fat milk and cheeses--and oils away from your diet; these only exacerbate diarrhea that comes with colitis. Instead, try soy or rice milks and soy-based cheeses. If you know you are lactose intolerant, there are milks and yogurts that are lactose free. Nuts, seeds, and popcorn can be hard on the colon, so substituting nut butter will be easier to digest.
  
  Always avoid carbonated beverages, spicy foods and anything with caffeine. These substances aggravate the colon. It's best to limit the amount of red meat you eat, along with sugar and processed foods.
  
  

Supplements

• Since there are restrictions in the diet of a person with ulcerative colitis, it is wise to supplement the body with a multivitamin. Other vitamins of importance are the B vitamins including B12, along with vitamins A, D, E and K. When a person is prone to diarrhea, there may be a deficiency of potassium and magnesium. It is wise to have a physician check blood levels for iron as some who have ulcerative colitis may become anemic.
  
  Fish and flaxseed oils, in the diet or as supplements help the body fight inflammation ,which is the main factor in this disease. Using a good probiotic, which is a friendly bacteria helps to keep good bacteria balanced in the colon to fight off toxins. Probiotics can be found in yogurt, or in capsules or powder which are taken daily.