Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes prolonged and intense pain in the abdominal area, leading to loss of appetite, reduced weight, and bouts of diarrhea. This chronic condition causes inflammation of the large intestine, rectum, and sores that develop along the lining of the colon. Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the condition causes the body to mistakenly attack the tissues of the colon and rectum.
Patients with UC require a well-planned dietary schedule that should be followed strictly in addition to doctor-prescribed medications. There is not a specific meal plan to treat UC as symptoms vary widely between patients. However, patients often respond negatively to similar food triggers:
1. Coffee or caffeine
Tea and coffee tend to make ulcerative colitis worse because caffeine is a stimulant and once in your intestine, levels of diarrhea will increase causing dehydration. This leads to sleepless nights and increased stress levels. Coffee stimulates the release of the hormone, gastrin, into the colon, thus increasing motor activity and speeding the emptying of the colon, often causing explosive diarrhea. Caffeine may also increase levels of restlessness, stress, or anxiety so it’s highly recommended to avoid caffeine products with UC.
2. Butter or margarine
While food allergies don’t cause ulcerative colitis, in many patients dairy products can trigger an ulcerative colitis flareup (or period of worsening symptoms). In addition, many UC patients are found to be lactose-intolerant. Dairy products in general are often difficult to digest making them troublesome for patients with ulcerative colitis.
3. Carbonated beverages
These drinks may include anything effervescent, such as sodas, energy drinks, and beer. When a patient with UC consumes a carbonated drink it can irritate the digestive system causing gas to accumulate in the colon. Also, many carbonated drinks contain excess sugar caffeine, which are key triggers of ulcerative colitis.
4. Corn
Did you know corn is among the hardest foods to digest? Even if you chew this vegetable up really well, some parts still go through your digestive tract as whole kernels. Because the inner lining of the colon is soft, and abrasive veggies such as corn can cause irritation to patients with ulcerative colitis, leading to heartburn, excess gas, upset stomach, and constipation or diarrhea.
It is not clear what causes ulcerative colitis, but doctors believe the root cause may be a combination of genetics, an overactive immune system, and environmental factors. Genetics research states that up to 20% of ulcerative colitis patients have a close family member with the same condition. Environmental factors that contribute to colitis may include taking certain drugs over the long terms (i.e., oral contraceptives and antibiotics) and diets high in fat.