Diet for Ulcerative Colitis: Authorized and Prohibited Foods

Pain, rumbling and bloating, stool disorder are all signs of inflammationIntestines. If ulcerative colitis is diagnosed, the diet is one of the main conditions for prolonged remission of the disease and recovery.

In the process of treating colitis, it is important to eliminate all factors that aggressively affect the inflamed mucous membrane of the large intestine. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully approach the selection of products: during the period of exacerbation, the requirements for nutrition are stricter, with a remission the diet is somewhat enlarged.

Features of the diet for ulcerative colitis

With nonspecific ulcerative colitis of the intestine, a diet is prescribed Table No. 4.It is aimed at restoring the mucous membrane, not overloading the intestine, providing the body with all the necessary nutrients, preventing the development of decay and fermentation processes.

Basic nutritional guidelines for ulcerative colitis :

• Compliance with the .Take small amounts of food and often, at least 5-6 times a day. Due to this, the load on the walls of the intestines is reduced, they do not stretch very much, the assimilation of nutrients is facilitated.
• Food temperature .In order not to increase the inflammatory processes, you need to abandon the cold and hot dishes. The food temperature should be comfortable - from 25 ° to 55 ° C.
• Heat treatment method .Any products can be steamed or welded in water with a little salt added. During the exacerbation of colitis, food should not only be treated thermally, but also grinded. This will facilitate the work of the intestines and improve the absorption of nutrients.
• Availability of the protein quota .To restore the intestinal mucosa requires amino acids. Inflammation, intoxication, bleeding, the release of pus, the effects of drugs - all this leads to a loss of protein. Its daily rate is 1.5-2 g per kilogram of body weight. A smaller amount will slow the restoration of tissues, excessive consumption will lead to the development of decay processes.
• Fat restriction .These compounds increase intestinal motility, which provokes inflammation and diarrhea. During the period of exacerbation, the daily norm of fats is not more than 60 g.
• Moderate carbohydrate intake .Sahara - the main sources of energy, so reduce their number is not worth it. At the peak of an exacerbation, enough 250 grams of carbohydrates a day. The ban is imposed on products with fiber, as it stimulates the reduction of the walls of the intestine, strengthening the damage to the mucous membrane.
• Receipt of iron .With ulcerative colitis, bleeding is often observed. They lead to a shortage of iron. Therefore, the diet should be enriched with products with this element( red meat, eggs, oatmeal).

What can I eat when I'm exacerbated?

The diet for exacerbation of ulcerative colitis is more severe than during periods of remission.

The products for the daily ration are selected taking into account their safety and relevance to the body:

• Sources of protein .Each source of food should contain sources of low-fat proteins. It is allowed to eat lean meat, fish, cottage cheese and eggs. All that requires mechanical grinding, must be ground, twisted in a meat grinder or in a blender. Variants of dishes: curd pasta, kneli, cutlets, meatballs, soufflé, omelets. Sources of carbohydrates. .For an early restoration of strength the body needs energy. You can get the necessary amount of carbohydrates from mucous porridges( except for millet and pearl barley), rice, jelly, juices with pulp, semisweet berry broths. Vegetables and fruits are allowed only in grinded form.
• In addition to the main dishes , you can eat a small amount of dried wheat bread, soups on weak broths, butter for 1 tsp. For 1 meal. You can drink green tea, but give preference to berry broths, in particular, from rose hips.

To stick to a strict diet for longer than the exacerbation of colitis, it does not make sense. Restrictions in nutrition slow down metabolism and restore strength. Therefore, to expand the diet should be immediately, as soon as the doctor reports it, usually in 4-5 days.

What can be eaten at the remission stage

The diet for ulcerative colitis of the colon during the period of remission is more sparing. The diet increases the amount of fats and carbohydrates, table salt. Main principles of nutrition are preserved: heat treatment, treatment, etc.

The ration includes:

• porridges and garnishes of cereals except for pearl and millet, pasta;
• allowed dairy products such as cottage cheese, fresh sour cream, kefir, fermented baked milk, bifid, yoghurt, snowball, cheese( mild);
• soft-boiled egg, scrambled eggs;
• low-fat varieties of ham, doctor's sausage, cold meat, liver pates, lightly salted herring;
• cooked and stewed vegetables such as potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, cabbage( colored and white), beets, carrots;
• fresh you can eat cucumbers and tomatoes;
• any fruit and berries, except for plums, apricots and melons, as well as compotes, kissels, soufflé and jelly from them;
• tea and coffee with milk, broth of dogrose, juices;
• dried bread made of wheat flour, dried biscuits, a small amount of stuffed pies;
• dishes can be filled with a small amount of butter or sour cream, add onions( cooked), cinnamon, bay leaf.

Sample menu

The diet for ulcerative colitis of the intestine can be realized through the following menu option.

1. Breakfast: cereal cereal with 1 tsp. Melted butter, a steam cutlet, a broth of a dogrose.
2. Lunch: curd mass, berry jelly.
3. Lunch: potato soup with meatballs, casserole from rice and minced meat, compote.
4. Snack: green tea, crackers.
5. Dinner: stewed vegetables, fish cutlets, tea.
6. Before going to bed: kefir / baked apple.

This menu option is suitable for the period after exacerbation. In addition, you can eat 200-250 grams of dried bread, 1 cup of jelly or compote.

Treatment with diet

Ulcerative colitis often begins acutely: there is pain in the abdomen, the temperature rises, diarrhea develops with blood in the stool. All these manifestations frighten, and the sick person is focusing on medication, not thinking about the rules of nutrition.

Unfortunately, sometimes even doctors forget to emphasize the importance of this component of therapy and tell the patient about it in detail. Meanwhile, the observance of certain restrictions allows one to increase the success of drug therapy several times.

The diet for ulcerative colitis of the large intestine, including the direct one, leads to a number of positive changes:

• promotes the speedy recovery of a normal stool, eliminating diarrhea or constipation;
• increases the effectiveness of medicines, as it compensates for protein loss, accelerates the healing of the mucous membrane, so that a number of drugs begin to act more actively;
• compensates for the loss of nutrients, restores metabolism and energy storage.

What to eat is strictly prohibited

A diet with ulcerative colitis involves eating restrictions. In any period of the disease, products that can intensify or provoke a relapse of inflammation of the mucous membrane are strictly prohibited. This group includes any fried, sharp, fatty and salty dishes.

It is also necessary to discard mushrooms, chocolate, legumes, fresh pastries, legumes, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables with high fiber content. All these products cause the processes of fermentation, gassing, increase intestinal peristalsis, provoking diarrhea. In other words, they intensify the symptoms of the disease.

During the exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, more products are put under the ban. It is prohibited any pastry, including bread, not ground foods with fibers( meat, vegetables, fruits), rough food, which requires prolonged mechanical and chemical processing( seeds, nuts, pearl barley and millet, many sweets).

A diet with ulcerative colitis is an important component of treatment. It helps restore the intestinal mucosa, normalize the digestive process, eliminate the symptoms of the disease. The most severe restrictions are necessary during the period of exacerbation. Basic principles: the exclusion of foods that irritate the walls of the colon, the use of a sufficient number of proteins.

Author: Olga Khanova, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

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