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Question: I have had Ulcerative Colitis for the past four years. Can this diet help control it?

Answer: The exact causes of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, are not yet known. However, it has been observed that these conditions occur more often in parts of the world with high consumption of meat and dairy and rarely in areas where people eat mainly a plant based diet. So, the short answer is YES, absolutely this diet can help you.

Although the verdict is still out as to whether certain foods directly cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease, there is a consensus that particular foods aggravate the condition. Included in these problem foods are high allergen foods such as dairy, soy, wheat, corn, and eggs; foods associated with inflammation such as caffeine and alcohol; foods high in saturated fats (the major fat in all animal products); and citrus fruits.

Just as there are foods to avoid, there are foods that you may wish to include in your diet as they have been found to protect the intestines. Foods composed of complex carbohydrates (found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), which are high in fiber, may reduce the damage caused in the intestinal tract by Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Additionally, these healthy plant foods help protect against cancer. This is particularly important because patients with Ulcerative Colitis have an increased risk for developing colon cancer. A warning with high fiber foods, they may increase gas and bloating especially with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This may occur more often with foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. If you find that you don’t tolerate certain vegetables well then you may wish to slowly increase your consumption as tolerated (cooking certain vegetables first tends to help as well).

We hope this helps. Let us know if you have any further questions and good luck!

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