Foods That Trigger Ulcerative Colitis
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Foods That Trigger Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes gastrointestinal inflammation, which causes sores, or ulcers, to form inside the lining of the large intestine. These ulcers affect the ability of the intestines to absorb water from waste material as it is passing through the colon, causing diarrhea. UC is incurable, and people with this disease experience flare-ups in between periods of remission, where they do not have any symptoms.
Though researchers do not believe a poor diet causes UC, some foods can trigger symptoms and make flare-ups worse. Here is a list of 6 foods to avoid

1. Alcohol
Too much alcohol might cause liver problems, toxin build up that affects the GI tract, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. It might also interfere with medications used to treat UC

2. Caffeine
Soda, coffee, tea and chocolate all have caffeine, which stimulates the bowels to work as a laxative. Caffeine can also lead to increased urination, restlessness and trouble sleeping

3. Carbonated drinks
Sodas, along with some beers and other carbonated beverages, have carbonation which can be hard on the GI tract and produce gas. They also contain caffeine and sugar, which can lead to diarrhea

4. Dairy products
Dairy products are not a problem for everybody with UC, though they should certainly be avoided by anyone who is lactose intolerant, but they do contain sulfur, which may cause gas and bloating

5. Foods with sulfur or sulfates
Sulfate is food for certain intestinal bacteria and feeding these bacteria can cause gas and bloating. Foods with sulfur or sulfates include almonds, bananas, beer, breads, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cheese, cider, coconuts, eggs, legumes, milk, onions, peanuts, pineapples and wheat pasta

6. High-fiber foods
Fiber is hard to digest for a lot of people. It can cause bloating, cramps and gas. High-fiber foods include broccoli, brussels sprouts, beans, cabbage, fruits, nuts, popcorn and whole grains. Cooking vegetables may make them easier to digest.

7. Other recommendations
Other recommendations are to drink plenty of water, avoid fatty foods as well as too much spice and eat smaller meals throughout the day

8. Keep a food journal
People with ulcerative colitis may benefit from keeping a food journal to regularly jot down which foods cause them problems

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