7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis

A 7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis is presented here in a table format. A printable PDF format is given at the end.

This diet plan has been formulated by our nutritionist who has a special interest in healing diseases with simple dietary changes.

It is also important to note that during a flare of ulcerative colitis, always consult your doctor and do not experiment with diet alone.

In addition, some individuals have concomitant medical illnesses other than ulcerative colitis and they may need specialized diets. Such individuals can contact us and we can help them out with whatever is possible.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is sometimes mistaken for colitis and Crohn’s disease, but the three conditions are quite different.

Colitis is a general term indicating inflammation of the large intestine which could be due to any reason such as infections, whereas ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune inflammatory condition with flares, remissions, and relapses.

The management of ulcerative colitis can be quite difficult, and nutrition plays a critical role in this. The following are the most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Bloody diarrhea
• Urgency
• Weight loss
• Fever

The main cause of ulcerative colitis is still unknown, but genetics and auto-immune responses are said to be the two main causative agents for ulcerative colitis.

Diet and Ulcerative Colitis:

There is a great link between diet and ulcerative colitis, diet can be the cause, but diet can be the cure too.

Although, some people think that poor diet is the actual cause of ulcerative colitis. However, foods can aggravate or trigger the symptoms of ulcerative colitis but are not causing it.

Can Diet Cure Ulcerative Colitis?

NO, but diet can help you live in good health even if you have ulcerative colitis. There are many diets that claim to cure it but there is no scientific evidence on any such diet. One diet might work for someone while on the other hand, it can be a culprit for someone else.

As a result, we cannot suggest one diet as a permanent solution for ulcerative colitis because there is no limit to how long it works in your favor.

What are the Worst Foods for Ulcerative Colitis?

A list of the worst foods for ulcerative colitis is given below. These should be specifically avoided during a flare.

• Raw foods
• High fiber foods
• High-fat foods
• Spicy or acidic foods
• Lactose or gluten-containing foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Processed foods

If you have ulcerative colitis, you must be careful with these foods.

Diet for Ulcerative Colitis – The Complete Food Guide

As mentioned above, there is no specific diet to cure ulcerative colitis however, eating a balanced diet with carefully examining your symptoms after each meal can help you eliminate harmful foods and still have a nutritious diet.

Protein and Calories:

Your daily calorie intake should be optimal to support your daily life activities. Besides this, a high lean protein intake is recommended to meet the increased protein needs due to inflammation. With inadequate intake, UC patients might notice gradual weight loss and fatigue.

Fiber Intake:

At the start, a medium fiber diet is an easy way to keep the flare-ups at bay.  Soluble fiber is the most suitable as it does not cause any gas or abdominal pain. Furthermore, to stay on the safe side you must avoid fiber foods during a flare-up

However, you should try to reintroduce high-fiber foods one at a time and again check if they are still causing any symptoms.

Generally, it is safe to take 15-20 grams of fiber daily.

Cereals:

Refined cereals are good for people with ulcerative colitis as they contain less fiber. This is mostly recommended to prevent gas and bloating.

Lastly, it is not a hard and fast rule for everyone, if whole grains are well tolerated then you can always switch them with refined grains.

Dairy and Gluten:

If you have lactose or gluten intolerance then you need to be extra careful with dairy foods and gluten-containing foods. Consult a dietician to help you with alternative foods that are equally nutritious.

Essential Vitamins for Ulcerative Colitis:

People with ulcerative colitis follow a restrictive diet, even if they eat a wide variety of foods, they still have to avoid some foods.

Here are some vitamins and minerals that you need to be extra careful with:

• Calcium & Vitamin D:

  • Most people with diarrhea and colitis are asked to limit dairy products as they may have flares using dairy products especially if they have concomitant lactose intolerance.
  • Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation is necessary.
  • In addition, people with ulcerative colitis are also on medications such as prednisolone (corticosteroids) which can weaken your bones hence vitamin D and calcium supplementation is necessary.
  • It is generally recommended to take 800 IU to 1200 IU of vitamin D daily. However, those who have vitamin D deficiency may need higher doses of up to 2000 IU per day.

• Folic Acid:

  • Folic acid is an essential vitamin. It is required for healing. Patients with chronic diarrhea and ulcerative colitis may be deficient in folic acid because of several reasons. These include:
    • Low intake as the patient may not be able to tolerate fresh vegetables and fruits.
    • Poor absorption because of diarrhea
    • Increased demand as a result of cellular turnover
    • Use with antifolate medications such as methotrexate.
  • Folic acid supplementation is essential for patients with ulcerative colitis as it may prevent some of the complications of ulcerative colitis [Ref]
  • Folic acid in a dose of 0.4 to 5 mg is recommended. It may be given at an interval of 2 to 3 days after methotrexate. 

• Magnesium:

  • Magnesium deficiency is common in people with frequent diarrheal episodes. It is also one of the important causes of resistant hypokalemia (low potassium).
  • In addition, magnesium is said to have anti-inflammatory properties and supplementation may improve some of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis [Ref].
  • Magnesium should be taken in a dose of 320 to 420 mg per day.

• Iron:

  • Iron deficiency is very common in patients with ulcerative colitis because of frequent bloody diarrhea.
  • However, oral iron worsens the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and should be especially avoided during flares or ongoing intestinal inflammation.
  • In mild to moderate disease, a trial of oral iron as a maintenance therapy is given. However, intravenous iron is preferred in acute flares and in the following situations [Ref]:
    • an inadequate response to oral iron with a less than 2 gm/dl increase in hemoglobin after 4 weeks
    • Intolerance to oral iron
    • Hemoglobin of less than 10 g/dl

Foods to Avoid During Flare-up

People with ulcerative colitis experience flare-ups in which the symptoms aggravate. You may have frequent loose stools, bloating, and abdominal cramps during a flare-up.

• During a flare, you must follow a low-fiber diet. High-fiber foods might worsen diarrhea symptoms as they increase the transit time.
• Avoid foods containing insoluble fiber such as whole grains, fruits with peels, seeds, and vegetable skins.
• Eat small and frequent meals. Avoid eating large portions of food in one sitting.
• Take an adequate amount of fluid to avoid dehydration.
• To reduce gas and bloating, avoid carbonated beverages, sucking on candies, and quickly gulping food.
• Avoid gas-producing foods such as beans, lentils, sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.

7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis – ∼1000 calories

Table Summarizing the 7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis: ∼1000 kcal:

7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis – 1500 Calories

Table summarizing the 7 Day Meal Plan for Ulcerative Colitis ∼1500 kcal:

Here is a printable ulcerative colitis diet plan PDF version