Diet Chart For colitis

Colitis diet is a diet remedy to help with the disease of ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It happens when the large intestine, rectum, or both get inflamed leading to the production of ulcers on the lining of the large intestine. Although there is no known diet plan for individuals suffering from ulcerative colitis, the colitis diet is a low-fibre diet that eliminates those foods that trigger and aggravate your symptoms. Low fibre or low residue colitis diet is based around low-fibre foods that are easy to digest, slow down bowel movements and limit diarrhoea.

Following are the essentials of the low fibre colitis diet:

1. Dairy products such as cottage cheese, pudding, yoghurt and milk are highly advised.
2. Fruit juices with no pulp and canned fruits are recommended.
3. Bananas, watermelons, melons, plums, peaches, berries and apricots should be avoided.
4. Vegetables such as lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, onion, spinach and green beans are highly recommended.
5. Spicy sauces, pickles and other dressings are not to be consumed, however; butter, margarine, mayonnaise, smooth sauces and whipped cream can be consumed.
6. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages are strongly advised against being consumed.
7. Lastly, it is important to remember to space out your meals every 3-4 hours and have at least 8 glasses of water every day to remain hydrated.

1. Coffee and Carbonated Beverages : affeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea should be avoided because they stimulate acid production and can cause indigestion, especially in individuals with stomach ulcers.
2. Alcohol : lcohol can irritate and erode the lining of the stomach and small intestine and should be avoided by individuals with stomach ulcers because of the potential for bleeding and inflammation.
3. Spicy and Acidic Foods : Managing acid reflux is important because it is related to stomach ulcers. Avoid spicy foods, such as chilies, hot peppers and hot sauce. These foods can increase stomach acid, trigger acid reflux and worsen symptoms associated with stomach ulcers.
4. Other Foods : In addition to coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages, dieticians recommends limiting refined foods, such as white bread, pasta and sugar; red meats; and trans fats found in commercially baked goods and processed foods.

Do's:

1. Having 5 small easily digestible meals a day at proper intervals is a key to good digestive health. Eating slowly without talking and chewing the food properly also improves digestion. It reduces intestinal gas as less air is swallowed during the eating process.
2. Any kind of physical activity which leads to sweating improves the process of metabolism and digestion in the body. Breathing exercises and yoga can bring relief from bloating, flatulence and other symptoms of indigestion and intestinal gas.
3. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day is mandatory to prevent any gastric complications. Drinking 1 glass of tender coconut water at mid-morning helps in improving the condition.
4. Probiotics are the friendly bacteria of the gut. They help in breaking down the food and making it easy for the body to digest it. Fermented milk products like curd (homemade) contain the bacteria lactobacillus which is known to promote digestion.
5. Non glutenous grains, non citric fruits and vegetables, moderate fiber intake and lean animal proteins are the best choices.

Don'ts:

1. Avoiding foods like complex carbohydrate and fatty proteins (difficult to break down and longer time for digestion) can be helpful.
2. Avoiding alcohol and smoking is essential to recover from a gastric attack. Prolonged intake of these could also cause irrepairable damage to the gut.
3. Staying away from certain medications like acetaminophens, analgesics, ibuprofen, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs is important in preventing gastritis.
4. Caffeinated beverages like sodas, cold drinks, tea and coffee are best be avoided.
5. Keeping away from refined wheat, tomatoes, lemons, red meat etc is essential for fast and better recovery.
6. Anything too hot or too cold and some spices like black pepper, red chili powder, too much green chilli powder should be avoided and if taken in limited amounts.
7. Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, beans are tougher on the gut and should be avoided. If taken should be in less amounts in breakfast and/or lunch, not at dinner.

1. Cereals & Pulses: Whole grain cereals (rice, oats, jowar, bajra and ragi) and pulses (red gram, green gram, bengal gram and black gram dals).
2. Fruits & vegetables: Fruits (stewed apple, banana, papaya, pomegranate, pear, melons (water melon, musk melon) and vegetables (all gourds, ladies finger, tinda, green leafy vegetables (indian spinach, fenugreek leaves, corriander leaves).
3. Meat, Fish & Poultry: Lean meat, skin less chicken, fish (mackerel, trout, sardine, salmon, tuna).
4. Milk & Milk products: Yoghurt, curd, paneer, chacch.
5. Nuts & Oils: Almonds, walnuts, pista, olive oil, vegetable oil, mustard oil.