By Denise Mann
Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD
Last Updated: August 29, 2019
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes the lining of the large intestine to become inflamed, leading to painful ulcers on the colon. If you’re among the more than 700,000 Americans who live with ulcerative colitis, you likely experience periods of symptom-free bliss and bouts of uncomfortable or even painful flare-ups.
Certain foods and eating habits may ease symptoms, or in some cases make them markedly worse.
“This disease isn’t caused by diet, but the symptoms will certainly be affected by your diet,” says Arthur D. Heller, MD, a gastroenterologist with NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Here are 10 rules of thumb that can keep flare-ups at bay:
Raw fruits and vegetables can be hard to digest and can cause additional bloating, gas, and stomach pain during a flare. “Cooked fruits and veggies are better tolerated than raw ones, and peeled fruits are better tolerated than unpeeled fruits,” says Heller.
If you’re worried about losing nutrients to a pan of water when cooking vegetables, Heller suggests using the leftover hot water to cook rice. The rice will absorb the nutrients veggies leave behind so you don’t miss out.
