Ulcerative colitis can severely affect the quality and aggravate health issues if ignored. It is a chronic disease that affects the digestive tract and requires you to take a closer look at your lifestyle and change your food habits. Following effective dietary tips for ulcerative colitis begins with knowing the types of diets that concentrate on the specific needs of an individual.

Popular diets to treat ulcerative colitis
There are several specialized diet plans formulated to treat ulcerative colitis and prevent further damage to the intestinal tissues. Following these diets is an excellent way to manage this condition:

• Specific carbohydrate diet
  Processed foods, sugar, milk, grains, and starchy vegetables like potatoes are eliminated in this plan. This includes eliminating carbohydrates that take a long time to digest, and complex carbs are also left out to reduce and cure gastrointestinal symptoms like gas and bloating. It also treats diarrhea.
• Mediterranean diet
  Plant-based foods form a major portion of this diet. Besides those, you can include whole grains, nuts, olive oil, fish and legumes. Poultry foods have anti-inflammatory properties and should also be included. This diet is for people who don’t have many symptoms.
  Eating fruits and vegetables directly can aggravate ulcerative colitis. An alternative is to have vegetable smoothies, purees, and soups. The idea is to include nutritious vegetables and fruits is a different and easy-to-digest way.
• Gluten-free diets
  Gluten is a hard-to-digest protein that is eliminated from the diet for people who are gluten intolerant. Gluten can worsen the symptoms when you have a bowel inflammation.
• Low-residue diet
  This is a low-fiber diet that reduces the formation of stools in the intestine. It’s recommended to include white bread in the diet instead of whole grains. Canned or cooked fruits and vegetables should be consumed instead of eating them raw. Avoid dairy products, nuts, legumes, and dried fruits.
  Green leafy vegetables can also irritate the flared colon, but cutting down on these nutrient-rich foods is not advisable. Smooth almond butter can be consumed instead of whole almonds. Also, try having a blended smoothie over raw fruits and vegetables.
• Paleo diet
  Dietary tips for ulcerative colitis include switching to the popular Paleo diet that includes the consumption of lean meat, fruits, and vegetables. Dairy products, grains, and legumes are eliminated, and it’s very effective to reduce the intake of carbohydrates that are difficult to digest.

Food to eat while you have ulcerative colitis
An important part of the dietary tips for ulcerative colitis is the inclusion of the following foods in your diet:

• Unsweetened applesauce
• Salmon
• Soy-based protein
• Instant oatmeal
• Juice and smoothies
• Lean meats and poultry
• Avocados
• Fermented foods like yogurt containing active probiotics
• Plantains
• Cooked vegetables and fruits

Other points to consider
Eat smaller meals on a regular basis instead of three large meals throughout the day, and it’s also important to keep track of what you are eating. Make a note of how a particular food made you feel and how it affected the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.