Diet and Other Natural Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis

FOOD & DRINKS THAT HEAL

1. Egg white: Take egg white from one egg (make sure there is no yolk) put it in a glass, and add an equal amount of honey. Mix thoroughly for couple of minutes. And drink it in an empty stomach, i.e. first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. It really doesn't taste as bad as you think. If you don't savor the idea of eating raw egg white, grill egg white in very little oil and eat at breakfast with white toast. Avoid egg yolk. Egg white will reduce inflammation and honey will start the healing process.
2. Squash or Zucchini: Stir fry green/yellow squash or zucchini and eat with white rice as much as you can. This is the ideal food for your condition, and you will begin to feel better almost immediately.
3. Rice Dishes: Eat as many rice dishes as you like but avoid spices mentioned below.
4. Honeydew Melon: Ideal fruit for ulcerative colitis. It will soothe the lining of your colon. Eat after lunch or dinner or both meals.
5. Apples: Eat an apple after meals. Apples will improve your appetite and get rid of that bloating feeling. If your Ulcerative Colitis is active and there is bleeding, remove apple skin before eating.
6. Drink one of these three juices after breakfast:

1. Drink a glass of apple juice, as that would replace the iron lost from bleeding, and it would give you strength.
2. Cucumber Juice: Invest some money in getting a good juicer and drink freshly squeezed cucumber juice (leave the skin on). Make sure cucumbers are not waxed. To sweeten it, you may also add some grapes when juicing. Raw cucumbers with food are also very beneficial.
3. Grapefruit Juice: Take a half glass of grapefruit juice and add equal amounts of water. It would help stop the bleeding.

1. Fish: Fish is an excellent food, rich in nutrients, and it is easily digested. Eat grilled or lightly fried. If you eat it with white rice, that’s an excellent food.
2. Water: Drink plenty of water. Drink a glass of water when you wake up and before going to sleep. In the beginning, it will add many trips to the bathroom, but eventually your body will begin to get used to
   it.

ELIMINATE THESE FOODS/DRINKS FROM YOUR DIET

1. Egg yolk: Whereas egg white is very beneficial, avoid egg yolk, especially if not hard-boiled. If you like egg omelet, use at least two egg whites for one yolk.
2. Red pepper/ paprika/black pepper.
3. Milk and yogurt
4. Butter (margarine in small amounts is okay)
5. Ice Cream
6. Seeds
7. Nuts (including peanuts) or dry fruit (including coconut)
8. Peanut butter
9. Strong coffee
10. Chocolate
11. Cakes and creamy pastries
12. Lentils/Beans (green beans are OK)
13. Heavily coarse bread/ whole wheat
14. Raw onions, raw garlic and hot green pepper
15. Celery
16. Beets
17. Smoked foods
18. Popcorn

FOOD & DRINKS THAT SHOULD NOT CAUSE ANY DISCOMFORT

1. Fish/Meat
2. All cooked vegetables (except those mentioned above).
3. Fruits (avoid bananas and mangoes if you have bloating. Do not eat oranges in an empty stomach)
4. Rice dishes
5. White bread/ plain crackers
6. Green tea/white tea/ decaffeinated black tea
7. Ice tea
8. Lemonade
9. Coke/Pepsi

FOODS THAT CAN BE TAKEN IN MODERATE AMOUNTS

1. Cheese/Pizza
2. Pasta
4. Bagels
5. Tacos
6. Corn chips
7. Potato chips (small quantity with other foods only)

Avoid exertion, heavy exercise, walking/running in the hot sun, as that would make your symptoms worse. If you have to, take plenty of liquids.

Soak yourself in a bathtub and relax. While you are still in the bathtub, unplug the drain, let water recede, and imagine illness leaving your body. During flare-ups, wash hips with first warm and then with very cold water. That has been known to promote healing and you will recover quickly.

Learn to relax, don't rush things, and don't be a perfectionist. This disease often afflicts people who are very conscientious or religious. Learn to laugh at yourself, have plenty of friends, and spoil yourself one in a while.

Avoid constipation. Allow yourself plenty of time in the bathroom.

In the short term, antibiotics can help but you need to take them with acidophilus, since friendly bacterial flora gets depleted when one is taking antibiotics. However, you may notice a recurrence. It's your body trying to tell you that you have to change---your diet and your lifestyle. For some people, using Anusol cream after a bowel movement is very helpful during flare-ups to cure anal fissures.

What works for somebody may not work for another. Take notes as to what causes a flare-up, and then avoid that food or activity. In time, you may develop your own list as to what works and what doesn’t. Good luck.