Today I'm raising my glass of coconut water to you! Because it's flare up time and it's foods like bone broth, rice cakes and bananas for who knows how long! Today we're talking foods for colitis flare ups!
Because seriously, how many articles have you read that recommend foods you would not DREAM of taking during a colitis flare up? I've read countless articles recommending everything from fruit juice to canned fruit. Ouch!!!
So here's the scoop. Sometimes NOT eating is OKAY!
During a flare up I can loose weight really, really quickly. My biggest struggle is to keep weight on during a flare up. When my ex husband passed away I lost almost 17 pounds in a little over two weeks. After years of dealing with this, sometimes NOT eating is better than trying to eat and irritate my stomach. For me, the first few days of a flare up I don't eat much at all. I usually feel full and am so nauseated and my colon is on FIRE. Trying to force food down typically does more harm than good. I'll watch the scale during this time more closely and pay attention to how I feel but I'm surprised that a lot of times that at least for me I can start incorporating foods faster if I just give it a few days of not forcing it.
Go Easy!
The next few days, I'll start to incorporate what foods I can tolerate. Go with the flow. Have these ten food staples on hand and start with those.
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are absolutely necessary for keeping electrolytes up and staying hydrated. I usually opt for a Propel but coconut water works too! There are even interesting products on the market now from high protein waters and more!
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SOME HIGH PROTEIN LIQUID OPTIONS FOR COLITIS DAYS!
Protein Drinks
Protein drinks can be a great help when you can start to tolerate them. I opt for plant based ones but do whatever you can do! It's a good way to get in some easier protein when you aren't able to actually eat food protein sources yet.
Broth
Broth is the dinner of champions during a flare up. To try to get some extra protein in, I'll mix in a scoop of unflavored collagen protein into a bowl.
Rice
Rice cakes, rice bowls, rice noodles, rice krispies and using rice flour in baking or rice in general becomes a staple. It seems to be more tolerable for carbs during a flare up. Once I get started feeling a little better I'll even try to put some nut butter on the rice cakes or mix in some mild steamed vegetables like carrots or bell peppers in with my bowl of rice.
Macaroni and Cheese
This one is a weird one, but I CRAVE macaroni and cheese once I start turning the corner. But if my stomach says "you're getting there, but I'm still visiting" I opt for Annie's gluten free white cheddar rice pasta macaroni and cheese. I love that they even have it in quick and easy cups now that you can microwave.
Crackers
Saltine crackers, gluten free saltines, oyster crackers, wheat, multigrain and other mild crackers are super great to have on hand too. Go easy as sometimes carbs can be super irritating to some stomachs.
Bananas and Applesauce
Enough said. Your colitis has you feeling like you're getting over the flu bug. Again. Classic comfort sick food like bananas and applesauce just make me feel like I am a kid again. Only I have to fetch my own food now.
LOOKING FOR MORE HELP WITH YOUR COLITIS? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARTICLES AND INFO!
Meat
Bizarre I know and this is really, really unscientific of me to say but I've had a couple of friends mention that they eat lunchmeat (that good old deli meat!) during a flare up and can tolerate it well. I don't know. But I have heard that meat like salmon or chicken may be more palatable during flare ups.
Have you heard of this?
Yogurt
A good old cup of dairy free yogurt or higher protein greek yogurt might also be helpful during a flare up as yogurt contains natural gut friendly ingredients.
Toast & Butter or Cheese Toast
This might just be another childhood sick day comfort food, but a slice or two of toast with butter or cheese toast minus the garlic is another recipe that might be milder on the stomach as well.
Eggs
Eggs are also a milder food I can usually tolerate too. Very simple and easy to make too.
Bonus: Sometimes It's Okay That I Avoid You.
Not YOU specifically (here to help!) but sometimes there are foods you just gotta break up with for awhile. Sugar, dairy, gluten, beans and certain fruits and vegetables may all cause major issues with the stomach and keep irritating your stomach. Sometimes it's okay that you avoid them for awhile. The specific diet that aims to avoid these foods is called the low FODMAP diet. Once you're feeling better you can start to incorporate some of those higher FODMAP foods back in to your diet.
GET SOME FODMAP RECIPES AND INFO HERE!
Raising my Glass of Coconut Water to You With Love and Wishes You Get Better Soon! --Traci
COMMENT!! WHAT FOODS ARE YOUR GO TOS DURING A COLITIS FLAREUP?
Hey I'm no expert so consult your doctor please if you have any questions or concerns about your particular condition. Please and thank you!
I have been diagnosed with colitis, can I eat low sugar yogurt. I am a type 2 diabetic as well. Any tips on what I can eat
That would be a great question for a dietician. Our diabetes doctor had a dietician employed within their office. As far as colitis, I've seen people benefit from the FODMAP diet. Typically that means soft dairy foods like yogurt, cream cheese, milk and ice cream aren't tolerated as well. So maybe trying a non dairy low sugar yogurt and seeing if that helps with colitis symptoms?