Healthy Living

For Ulcerative Colitis, Is Holistic Care the Best Option?

Why fiber is so complicated

For some people, certain foods are triggers for flare-ups. Something that people with UC should consider is avoiding insoluble fiber, which can increase the frequency of bowel movements. Soluble fiber attracts water and forms a gel during digestion that slows everything down, and should therefore be the fiber that people with UC seek out. This can be particularly helpful if your UC symptoms involve diarrhea. Soluble fiber can be found in oat bran, barley, nuts, beans, seeds, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is in wheat bran, some vegetables, and whole grains. With that being said, some people have issues with all fiber, so don’t be afraid to put it down for a while.

Lactose and caffeine worsen symptoms as well for certain individuals. A good place to start if you are new to this is to create a symptom and food journal. This can help you figure out what foods are causing an increase in certain symptoms, and will hopefully help you avoid food induced flare ups.