Waging a Battle Against Colitis Through Your Diet

How to Prevent or Fight Colitis: Healthy Diets Can Correct Inflammatory Disorders

Colitis is commonly known as ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. This condition is a chronic inflammatory disorder that causes tiny sores in the inner lining of the large intestine. When the mucous membranes that are lining the colon become inflamed, ulcers are developed. Some uncomfortable symptoms such as: bloody diarrhea, gas, bloating, pain, and hard stools may occur as a result of the development of ulcers in the colon.

Complications and Solutions of Colitis Symptoms

There is no one known conclusive cause of colitis, but the most possible contributing factors are: poor eating habits, stress, infectious bacteria, and food allergies. A diet that consists of too much refined foods, hydrogenated fats, and sugars contribute to inflammatory disorders and constipation. Hard stools are not as harmless as they seem, because the colon muscles have to work harder to move them through the colon. Another down side of that is that this can cause the mucous lining of the colon wall to have a pouch-like bulge. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm recommend a high fiber diet for colitis condition.

How Fiber Foods can Benefit Colitis

Soluble and non-soluble fiber foods have healing properties and are easy-on-the-colon. They are excellent means of controlling constipation, diarrhea and preventing hemorrhoids. Fiber plays a key part in weight loss without hunger because high fiber foods stay in the stomach longer and decrease the cravings for refined foods. Fiber keeps the blood sugar and energy levels even. Studies have shown that fiber regulates the gastrointestinal tract (G.I. tract). It cleanses and moves out the toxins from the body. On the other hand, refined foods will trap and store the toxins and fats in body. All refined foods contribute to inflammatory colon conditions, because the fibers and nutrients are removed during the refining of the foods.

A Diet for Colitis

Fresh vegetable juices are live healing foods. They are very effective in the healing of all kinds of ulcers. All refined and processed foods must be eliminated from the diet. Every meal should consist of green leafy vegetables and seaweed broth or freshly made juices, salads, whole grains, beans, nuts, and purified water. Cabbage and aloe vera juices are powerful inflammatory healing agents.

Juicing suggestions:

1. Purple or green cabbage, celery, apples, carrots, pineapple, and ginger root.
2. Cabbage, spinach, parsley, papaya, strawberry, ginger, and lime.
3. Cabbage, broccoli, carrots, apples, cantaloupe, ginger, and lime.
4. Collard green, turnip green, pineapple, pears, ginger, and lime.

Salads suggestions:

1. Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, red peppers, shredded onion, garlic, red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
2. Organic baby spinach, red peppers, pumpkin seeds, avocado, tomatoes, and garlic.

Broths suggestions:

1. Collard greens, asparagus, turnip, onions, and garlic.
2. Seaweeds, turnip greens, carrots, pok choy, onions, and garlic.

Stir fried vegetables suggestions:

1. Broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, red and green peppers, onions, garlic, and grape seed oil.
2. Green cabbage, carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, kale, red peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil.

Other foods are: whole grain oats, oat bran, 8 grain cereal, multi grain bread, sweet potato, brown rice, lentils and other beans, fish, nuts, soy milk, almond milk, fruits, and water.

For professional care regarding ulcerative colitis, make an appointment with the office of Dr. Vikram Tarugu.

References: Wright’s Book of Nutrition Therapy, Jonathan Wright

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC