Dietary Restrictions for Ulcerative Colitis Control
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If you are searching for information about an ulcerative colitis special diet, you may find yourself very confused. Dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis are not agreed upon by all healthcare professionals. Most doctors simply recommend that you eat a healthy well balanced diet and prescribe medications to control ulcerative colitis. Nutritional supplements are typically recommended, because frequent diarrhea can prevent the body from absorbing necessary nutrients.
Most eating plans that are advertised as an ulcerative colitis special diet were designed by those who suffer from the disease or those who love them. One man who sells a cookbook for his ulcerative colitis special diet plan says that he was told by a doctor of “oriental medicine” (his words, not mine) that he should eat no meat, no fish, no egg yolks, no fruits and no nuts. While another ulcerative colitis special diet that was developed by a doctor and a biochemist recommends meat, fish, eggs, fruits and nuts be included. It may be wise and most effective to design your own dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis, taking into account any known food allergies or sensitivities and including any recommended ulcerative colitis nutritional supplements.
A symptoms and food diary may be helpful to use as you are developing dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis control. Try to note not only what you ate, but what you drank. While there is little agreement about what foods should be included in an ulcerative colitis special diet, there are certain products (like caffeine, alcohol, high fiber cereals, some fruits and some fruit juices) that are known to have a laxative effect, cause cramping and diarrhea, even in people who do not have an inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis. Nutritional supplements that are typically recommended include a multi-vitamin with adequate amounts of D, B12 and iron to prevent anemia.
Simple sugars and artificial sweeteners cause flare ups in some people. No matter what your food preferences, it is important when developing dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis control to include healthy foods and exclude empty calories. It may be hard to give up sodas, coffee, candy and muffins, but your goal should be to control your symptoms. Even if you are using ulcerative colitis nutritional supplements, the food you eat should be high quality and any ulcerative colitis special diet should supply adequate amounts of protein, carbohydrates and good fats. A good mix would be 30% calories from protein, 30% from fats and 40% from carbohydrates. Other ulcerative colitis nutritional supplements that are typically recommended include aloe and omega-3, but omega-3 supplementation causes diarrhea in some people. Try to add new ulcerative colitis nutritional supplements one at a time so that if you have unwanted side effects, you can be sure which product is the problem. The same can be said about food.
One thing to consider when designing an ulcerative colitis special diet is stress and anxiety. While stress and anxiety are not believed to cause ulcerative colitis, it is believed that they can aggravate the condition. Many people who suffer from ulcerative colitis also suffer from anxiety. It may be that the condition causes people to be more anxious, never knowing when they may have to find a bathroom, always worrying about a flare up, etc. Symptoms of anxiety include rapid pulse, trembling, shaking, sweating and nausea or abdominal distress. Dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis control and anxiety control are similar, but there are other suggestions. These include eating smaller meals more frequently, chewing thoroughly and eating slowly.
Salt and preservatives are known to put additional stress on the body. These should be excluded or at least restricted from a healthy ulcerative colitis special diet, particularly when symptoms of stress and anxiety are present. Ulcerative colitis nutritional supplements cannot take the place of proper diet. Another consideration is meat selection. Most companies that raise poultry, cattle and pigs for human consumption include hormones in the animal’s diets. While there is no conclusive evidence that these hormones are harmful to humans, many people believe that they can put additional stress on the human body, because they increase stress on the animal’s bodies. When you are developing dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis control, consider using less pre-packaged foods, which are full of salt and preservatives and try selecting chicken and fish that have not been fed hormones. Organically grown foods are becoming easier to find and you may consider going organic, to avoid all chemicals. The scientific community just does not know what affect all of these chemicals are having on the human body, but people who have switched to an all organic diet report that they feel better. This does not apply exclusively to the ulcerative colitis special diet, but to people in general.
The lack of agreement about dietary restrictions for ulcerative colitis control probably stem from the fact that people have different food sensitivities and allergies. For example, a person who is lactose intolerant can not follow a diet that contains numerous milk products. One who is allergic to legumes can not follow a diet that relies heavily on legumes for protein. If you do not know if you are allergic to any foods, it may be wise to visit an allergy specialist. Sometimes food allergies develop over time, so foods that you were able to eat at one time with no adverse reactions may, at a later date, cause symptoms to flare up.
All of this may seem overwhelming and even depressing, but you may be encouraged to know that many people have found an ulcerative colitis special diet that works well for them.
Related: Dietary Restrictions for Ulcerative Colitis Control
Additional information:
Masters of Science curriculum focusing on the role of nutrition as a preventative, adjunctive and alternative strategy for disease.
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