What Is the Diet for Colitis?

Colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. Here's what happens: The digestive tract has a heightened tendency to become irritated and inflamed, prompting a person to experience some undesirable symptoms, including loose stools, diarrhea, cramping and constipation. If you are diagnosed with this condition, there isn't really a diet to follow, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, because dietary recommendations should be tailored to each individual, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. But a few dietary options and restrictions might make living with colitis a bit easier.

Dairy Foods

For some people with colitis, limiting the amount of dairy products consumed each day can reduce the amount of abdominal cramping and diarrhea that commonly occurs. The culprit is lactose. Avoid anything made with dairy products, including milk, cheese and butter. Try substituting soy milk for regular milk; low-lactose cheeses, such as cheddar or Swiss, for regular cheese; and margarine for butter. Remember, when limiting the amount of dairy in a diet, you still need to get the proper amount of calcium, so you might need to take calcium supplements.

Fiber

Fiber is an important part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, but people with colitis sometimes have a problem with foods that are high in fiber. You may need to avoid foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and even apples. If you want to eat these fiber-rich foods, then steam the broccoli and cauliflower, bake the apples and stew the cabbage. It's really trial and error to see which foods work for your system.

Water

Increasing the amount of water you drink in a given day can help treat your condition. By drinking 64 to 80 ounces of water, you will keep your digestive tract in better health and ensure that you are properly hydrated, lessening the impact of the disease.

Increase Meals

Sometimes, simply reducing the size of meals and eating more often during the day can help keep symptoms at bay. This has been effective for many people who are living with colitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. You'll still get the proper nutrients and eat the foods you like, but the meals will be spread throughout the day.

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

People with colitis who eliminate alcohol and caffeine have seen an improvement in the symptoms of this disease. Both alcohol and caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic, can stimulate the bowels, worsening gas, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.