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Sitting down to a delicious meal is supposed to be an enjoyable part of the day. But that's not always easy if you have ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes sores in parts of the digestive tract. When a person has ulcerative colitis, food can affect how good—or bad—you feel.
A few dietary guidelines can help you manage the condition, says Lori Woodward, RD, a dietitian at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates. "These tips will aid in the digestion and absorption of foods for IBD patients and may help relieve many of the symptoms associated with this condition," she says.
Sources: Wang L, Du M, Wang K, et al. Association... + 5
- Wang L, Du M, Wang K, et al. Association of ultra-processed food consumption with colorectal cancer risk among men and women: Results from three prospective US cohort studies. BMJ. 2022;378:e068921.
- Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Food: Eating with Crohn’s or Colitis. Accessed April 16, 2025.
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. The risk of colorectal cancer in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients. Accessed April 15, 2025.
- MedlinePlus. Low-fiber diet. July 24, 2024.
- UCSF Health. Nutrition tips for inflammatory bowel disease. Accessed April 14, 2025.
- UVA Health. Nutrition and ulcerative colitis. March 2024.
