Colitis Diet Plan

Colitis can be described as an inflammation that affects the colon of a person. At times, this condition could be seen as a one off occurrence in people, but it is also possible for chronic colitis symptoms to be evident in some individuals. People who are suffering from colitis tend to experience symptoms such as abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, weakness, fatigue and sleeping problems. People who experience some of the severe symptoms of this condition, like loss of control over bowel function and persistent diarrhea or frequent lose stools, generally consult a doctor and undergo treatment, to regain their strength so that the day to day functions can be easily performed. The treatment of colitis could include the use of certain medication.

At the same time, health care providers also advise patients to follow a colitis diet plan, to enhance the treatment and speed up the recovery process.

Doctors claim that the most effective way of following a colitis diet during flare up is by using sanitary cooking methods and eating practices. Caffeinated beverages, alcohol and aerated drinks are known to aggravate the condition and therefore they are a part of the colitis diet foods to avoid. Incorporating healthy colitis diet foods like steamed vegetables, rice, lean skinless meat; fish (without the skin), plain yogurt, skim milk and mild cheese should be consumed on a regular basis by colitis patients. In case of those patients who are in remission, high amounts of fruits like bananas, apples, papayas and pears should be consumed. However, before eating any of the fruits, the skin should be taken of. Although there is no specific colitis diet plan as such there are many colitis diet recipes easily available through online resources.

Most people confuse colitis with a condition known as ulcerative colitis, even though both are different. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation in the digestive tract and its symptoms may be similar to colitis. Patients suffering from this condition also usually follow an ulcerative colitis diet, as many foods and beverages aggravate the inflammation. An ulcerative colitis diet plan contains a limited quantity of dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably steamed). There are many ulcerative colitis diet recipes that people can choose from, containing salmon, turkey, chicken and other similar healthy foods. Some of the common ulcerative colitis breakfast recipes include Spanish egg frittata, rice flour pancakes, cinnamon buns, crepes and waffles.

Colitis Foods to Eat, Avoid

There are certain colitis foods to eat, which can help reduce the symptoms of the inflammation, thereby helping the body to recover faster. Foods that can have a positive impact on colitis include:

Almonds
Apple cider vinegar, mixed with distilled water
Cabbage and cabbage juice
Carrots and carrot juice
Figs that are fresh or sun dried
Fish oil
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil
Papaya
Spinach and spinach juice
Squash
Sunflower seeds

Just like some foods help alleviate the symptoms of the condition, there are others that may aggravate the problem and therefore, are regarded as colitis foods to avoid. Given below are some of the most common colitis foods to avoid:

Alcohol
Bread
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cakes
Caffeine
Chives
Cooked eggs
Cookies
Crackers
Dried peas
Energy bars
Meat
Onions
Pasteurized milk
Pastries
Pepperoni
Peppers
Pies
Processed food
Refined starch or refined sugar

This means that people suffering from chronic colitis problems should read the labels of all food items carefully, before they make any purchases. Most people mainly pay attention to the colitis foods to eat or the colitis foods not to eat; however, not a lot of people give an equal amount important to cooking methods. While some varieties of vegetables may be regarded as healthy ulcerative colitis foods, they should not be consumed in the raw form. It is best to steam the vegetables lightly, so that they still retain most of their nutrients. A healthy colitis menu is incomplete, if it does not contain an adequate amount of water in it. Also, it is absolutely essential for people to make sure that they do not leave long gaps of time between meals. Instead of eating 3 large meals in the day, it is best to consume 5 or perhaps even 6 large meals during the course of the day.

Colitis Juice

A juice diet, also known as a juice fast refers to a diet plan, in which people consume mainly juice. Most people are known to follow a juice diet in order to flush out the toxins and cleanse their bodies. Therefore, this diet may also be advised for people who are undergoing treatment for certain digestive disorders, infections or conditions. A colitis juice diet could include fresh fruit juice, vegetable juice or even a combination of both. However, people following colitis juice fasting diet should make sure that they do not include any prepackaged commercial juices in their diet. This is because such juices are very high in sugar and preservatives, which could cause the toxins in the digestive tract to buildup instead, thereby aggravating the condition. Fortunately, preparing fresh, healthy and palatable juice at home is quite easy and takes no more than a few minutes. Given below are some recipes for healthy colitis juice diet:

Cabbage Juice for Colitis:

The only ingredient required for preparing cabbage juice for colitis is of course, cabbage. The outer leaves of the cabbage need to be removed and the inner cabbage should be soaked in clean, lukewarm water, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then the cabbage should be cut into medium or small chunks, so that they fit the chute of a juicer. The juicing process should be kept up until the entire cabbage head has been converted into juice. Though the juice can be stored in a refrigerator for about 2 days, it is best to consume it on the spot. To make the juice more palatable, people can dilute it with some water or some raw apple juice.

Aloe Juice for Colitis:

To make a healthy aloe juice, around 400 grams of an aloe plant (mature) is required. After the leaves are cleaned thoroughly, the ends of the leaves and the edges need to be cut. The aloe leaves should then be split into half, so that the clear gel inside can be filleted. However, care should be taken to keep the inner gel away from the latex of the leaf. The gel then needs to be put in a blender, to which the juice of 3 or 4 oranges should be added. The ingredients need to be blended for around two minutes or so. The juice needs to be left in a refrigerator for at least 2 hours before it is consumed.

It is important to keep in mind that before to decide to add any colitis juice or ulcerative colitis juice to a diet, it is best to get an approval from a doctor.

Submitted on January 16, 2014