Ulcerative colitis is a condition that causes sores on the inner lining of the large intestine and it also causes inflammation. Ulcerative colitis is considered to be an autoimmune disease where the body harms itself and is regarded as a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It occurs mainly if a person has an overactive immune system. It must be noted that ulcerative colitis must not be confused with Crohn’s disease (another type of IBD).

The colon and rectum are the affected parts of the body in the case of ulcerative colitis, whereas the entire gastrointestinal tract is affected in the case of Crohn’s disease. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain, diarrhea, experiencing an urgency to pass stool, cramping rectal bleeding, weight loss, anemia, and loss of appetite. A person with ulcerative colitis needs to deviate from his or her food habits and switch to a diet that helps in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. A healthy diet does not aggravate symptoms and can aid in smooth and easier digestion. There is no concept of one fixed diet plan that can universally apply to all patients suffering from ulcerative colitis.

The diet must be shaped according to each patient’s unique requirements and the specific problems that he or she is trying to avoid. However, these varied diets can be categorized and broken down based on broadly similar characteristics and themes to make it easier for patients to understand which diet is best for them. The aforementioned categories of the diet plan are:

1. A high-calorie diet
Weight loss is a common occurrence in those suffering from ulcerative colitis. This can lead to problems such as malnutrition and anemia. A high-calorie nutritious diet can help tackle and deal with these problems to a large extent. However, the nature of the diet is clearly subject to other conditions that the person is facing (for example – low-fiber diet due to other symptoms of ulcerative colitis).

2. A diet without lactose products
Lactose intolerance and ulcerative colitis have been noticed to manifest in concurrence in most cases and also have a unique effect on the bowel movement of the person. It is best to avoid these circumstances.

3. A low-fat diet

Digesting and breaking down fat puts a lot of stress on the digestive system of a person with IBS and also activates symptoms. Thus, there is a rational explanation as to why fat must be avoided while still having to follow a highly-calorific diet.

4. A low-fiber diet
Ulcerative colitis causes people to have a bowel movement at short intervals. A lower-fiber diet that does not add a lot of bulk to a patient’s stool will be able to treat this condition properly.

5. Lack of salt in a person’s diet
The salt in a person’s diet retains water to a large extent. This also aids in bowel movement, which is undesirable for people suffering from ulcerative colitis. A low-salt diet is also desirable when a patient is undergoing corticosteroid therapy to reduce the amount of water retained.