Basics of a Colitis Diet Menu

H ealth nutritionists have expended a lot of energy to come up with a colitis diet menu. Ulcerative colitis is a bowel inflammation of the large intestines. The large intestines develop ulcers as a result. Scientists believe that it caused an autoimmune condition where the body immune system fights positive bacteria in the colon often leading to inflammation. Doctors use various medications to reduce remissions. However, an effective treatment for ulcerative colitis has not been developed. Therefore, ulcerative colitis has been managed by different nutritional specifications. There are no types of food known to cause ulcerative colitis but some foods may trigger flare-ups. Therefore, a colitis diet menu is a meal plan that gets rid off or reduces the types of food that can trigger colitis process. In an effort to avoid those types of food, it is necessary to ensure that the victim gets all nutrition requirements of the body. A healthy diet is composed of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals salts, fats and oils, fibre and water. However, the greatest challenge for developing a diet for collative patients is that no single specific diet will work for everyone. Another challenge is that collative conditions keep on changing. Patients need to know the type of food that triggers a remission and one that reduces its effect. The process may however take time and it is worth it. However, most patients may not be able to discover foods that go wrong with and therefore avoid them. Scientist, doctors and nutritionists have devoted a good deal of time and enthusiasm to develop a colitis diet menu that will work for the majority. The research is continuing up to date. Some of the recommendations that have been advanced are on some of the foodstuffs to one need to avoid since they are potential troublemakers. Alcoholic drinks, foods and beverages that contain caffeine, carbonated drinks, dried legumes, sulphur containing foods, dairy products to lactose intolerant individuals., red meat, sugar-free gum and candies, raw vegetables and fruits, spices and refined sugar. Since ulcerative colitis causes diarrhoea and high rate of internal wearing, colitis diet menu should include multivitamins and mineral supplement. Supplements feel the gap between mineral uptake and body requirements. Another type of food for ulcerative individuals depends on various personal reactions to the food. A low fibre diet is advocated for colitis patients i.e. 10-15 grammes per day. Grain foods should include refined white bread dry cereals. Proteins should consist of tenderly cooked poultry, eggs, fish and soft butter. Fruit diet can add fruit juices, canned fruit watermelons, and bananas. Vegetable for colitis patients include: cucumbers, raw lettuce and onion, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, eggplant and wax beans. Fats that are safe for ulcerative individuals are butter, margarine, oils and whipped cream Persons who are prone to ulcerative colitis are advised to take small but frequent meals every three to four hour, consume about three litres of water per day and meal that contains pro-biotic and pre-biotic. A keen observation of the colitis diet menu can help reduce the frequency of remissions significantly. [Photo: flickr]