6 Foods to Soothe Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that can lead to intense diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and loss of appetite. It is easy to manage UC by simply making a few modifications in the diet. So, all you have to do is consume foods to soothe ulcerative colitis. These are the foods that lower the risk of inflammation and flare-ups.
Foods to soothe ulcerative colitis
1. Canned fruits and ripe bananas
If you go to a professional for a diet for ulcerative colitis, they will recommend the elimination of raw fruits, especially during a symptom flare-up. However, the consumption of very ripe bananas is recommended. Bananas are an excellent source of carbohydrates, and they are also rich in fats, proteins, and energy. Additionally, you can add canned peaches or pears to your diet as they are non-irritating.
2. Refined grains
People with ulcerative colitis can also add refined grains to their diet. It will include foods such as bread, pasta, and cereal made with refined grains. It is a recommended food group because whole grains are often hard to digest. Today, manufacturers often enrich grain products and white bread with additional vitamins and minerals.
3. Cooked vegetables
Raw vegetables and fruits are often hard to digest. Furthermore, they may also lead to gas, bloating, and stomach pain, especially when experiencing a symptom flare-up. Thus, one of the best foods to soothe ulcerative colitis is cooked vegetables and fruits. If you feel cooking the vegetables means losing the essential nutrients, you can use that leftover water for cooking rice. Consequently, the rice will absorb all the necessary nutrients and ensure that you do not leave anything behind.
4. Peanut butter
If you seek a perfect lactose-free source of healthy fat and protein, what could be better than peanut butter? Always go for the creamy variants over the chunky variants. The latter may have some nut pieces, which may make it hard to digest. So, for someone with ulcerative colitis, the chunky peanut butter may lead to flare-ups. Hence, you should pick the creamy peanut butter and eat it with bread.
5. Applesauce
Applesauce is an excellent source of healthy nutrients. However, if the applesauce has a high fructose and fiber content, it becomes hard to digest.
6. Fluids
When you have ulcerative colitis, you end up losing a lot of fuel, primarily because of diarrhea. This loss of fluids needs to be replenished. If you are dehydrated, all your symptoms will only be amplified. One of the best ways to make up for the loss of electrolytes and water is by consuming sports drinks mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio. Another option that you can try is no-pulp fruit juices. However, at all times, you should keep prunes out of your diet, as they have a high fiber content.