Written by Cheyenne Buckingham, BS | Reviewed by Katie E. Golden, MD
Key takeaways:
Certain foods may ease colon inflammation symptoms. These include cooked vegetables, lean proteins, and some starchy foods.
When you have a condition that causes colon inflammation, you may want to steer clear of foods that can cause a flare-up. These include foods high in fiber and fat, as well as alcohol and caffeine.
Working with a healthcare provider and, if you can, a registered dietitian can help you form a treatment plan that may help alleviate inflammation in your large intestines.
Colon inflammation is when you have swollen, irritated, and damaged tissue inside the colon, Samuel Akinyeye, MD, a gastroenterologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told GoodRx Health.
When a licensed healthcare provider diagnoses you with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this means you have colon inflammation. Two chronic conditions fall under the IBD umbrella: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
No matter the condition that causes colon inflammation, one thing is certain: There may be some foods that just don’t agree with your gut. The good news is, there are nutritious options that may help alleviate symptoms and improve your condition.
What foods can ease colon inflammation?
There is no shortage of foods that may help alleviate colon inflammation, said Megan Hilbert, RDN. But ultimately, your nutritional needs are unique to you. Keeping a symptom diary can help you identify which foods sit better with you and which ones trigger colon inflammation.
Here are just a few categories of foods that may help improve or offset IBD symptoms.
Fruit
Eating fruit that is ripe or cooked down may be easier to digest. Similarly, removing the skins on certain fruits can help reduce fibers that are harder to digest. Try:
Peeled peaches or nectarines
Cooked or pureed skinless apples
Ripe bananas
Cantaloupe
Honeydew melon
Watermelon
Applesauce
Pureed pumpkin
Diluted fruit juices are another form of fruit that may be easy to digest if you have colon inflammation. Watering down fruit juice can help you lower your sugar intake. This is important, because too much sugar in your diet may lead to watery stools during a flare-up. Watered-down fruit juice is also lighter on your digestive tract.
Well-cooked vegetables
Hilbert said that many of her clients with IBD prefer to center their meals on cooked vegetables, such as pureed or broth-based soups. These veggie options can also help to replenish water lost through loose stools. Try:
Boiled green beans
Soft carrots
Pureed squash
Steamed or boiled skinless potatoes
Steamed asparagus
Lean proteins
Eating protein-rich foods helps you feel full and satisfied, which can be especially helpful after a bowel movement. But that isn’t the only benefit when you have a condition that causes colon inflammation.
“Since protein is important for gut lining function, getting enough protein in the diet is essential,” Hilbert said. Research suggests that when protein is digested, it produces compounds linked to healthy gut bacteria growth and improved bowel health.
But colon inflammation flare-ups are often accompanied by protein loss through diarrhea, openings in the intestine, and bleeding. This makes it all the more important to replenish your protein with quality sources.
Consider adding the following to your plate:
Chicken or turkey (without skin)
Cooked tofu
Eggs
Plain Greek yogurt
Oily fish
Oily fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are also linked to lower inflammation in the body. Hilbert said these foods may help by “turning off the inflammatory response and turning on a healing tissue response in cells.”
Research around omega-3 fatty acids’ ability to prevent or soothe IBD-specific symptoms remains mixed. However, if you enjoy and can tolerate eating oily fish, it can be a nourishing option to add to your diet.
Fish rich in omega-3s include:
Salmon
Sardines
Tuna
Mackerel
Anchovies
Herring
Whitefish
Striped bass
Black cod
Cobia
Smooth nut butter and ground seeds
Hilbert emphasized that you may want to avoid whole nuts and seeds when your GI tract is inflamed. When you eat those foods whole, it takes more effort for the body to break them down. Instead, opt for nut or seed butter or ground seeds. Some examples include:
Ground flaxseed
Ground chia seeds
Creamy sunflower seed butter
Creamy peanut butter
These nuts and seeds are high in monounsaturated fat. Research suggests these fats may help lower inflammation in people with IBD.
Certain starchy foods
Starchy foods can be a light, yet nourishing option if you have colon inflammation. In addition to potatoes, here are other starchy foods to consider:
Oatmeal (instant or old-fashioned oats)
Rice
White noodles
Bread (sourdough or white)
What foods should you avoid if you have colon inflammation from IBD?
There are several types of foods that Hilbert and Akinyeye recommend avoiding, especially during an IBD flare-up. These foods and drinks may cause digestive discomfort or increase inflammation:
Whole nuts
Most raw fruits and vegetables
Fried foods or foods high in fat
Highly processed foods
Alcohol
Caffeine
Foods high in added sugar, including pastries, candy, and sugary drinks
Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners
Certain dairy products, such as milk and soft cheeses
Certain whole grains that are higher in fiber, such as rye and barley
Spicy foods
Should you eat fiber if you’re having a flare-up?
When you’re experiencing an IBD flare-up, Akinyeye suggested avoiding foods that are high in fiber. Too much fiber can potentially irritate the colon further. However, he said that eating some fiber shouldn’t cause discomfort.
Hilbert agreed that eating some fiber during a flare-up is OK. But stay away from foods that are high in insoluble fiber during flare-ups (think raw broccoli or unpeeled apples). Insoluble fiber does not break down in water and increases stool bulk, which stimulates the colon to pass waste.
On the other hand, soluble fiber can help prevent diarrhea. It does this by soaking up excess water in loose stool, which may help reduce the need to go to the bathroom. Some sources of soluble fiber include oranges, oats, and flaxseeds.
“In the past, providers have usually told patients to avoid all kinds of fiber,” Hilbert said. “While more research is needed in this area, lower fiber is not necessarily better for flare-ups.”
“We see that there are potential benefits to eating soluble fibers for patients with IBD,” she said. According to the American Gastroenterological Association, eating fiber may also help increase the time between flare-ups. In other words, fiber may help delay the onset of your next flare-up.
The bottom line
Colon inflammation from irritable bowel disease (IBD) can be uncomfortable and painful. The good news is, eating certain foods may help you get through a flare-up. For example, instead of raw fruits and veggies, try peeling and cooking down your produce. For other filling foods that are lighter on your intestines, opt for fatty fish or chicken without skin. At the same time, it’s important to avoid foods that trigger colon inflammation. These often include foods that are high in fiber.
References
American Heart Association. (2021). Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.
Balestrieri, P., et al. (2020). Nutritional aspects in inflammatory bowel diseases. Nutrients.
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