Ulcerative Colitis Smoothies and Juicing - Digestive Recovery for Chronic Inflammation and Irritation!

Ulcerative Colitis Faces up to Juicing & Smoothies - Digestive Recovery for Chronic Inflammation and Irritation!

4/24/2019

Here at The Healthy Juice and Diet Life we pride ourselves on our mission to help as many people as possible with our combined knowledge of healthcare and nutrition. Being in good health in general, alongside having an understanding of how this plays an important role in our mental processes such as decision making and emotional harmony, has been shown to have a strong positive correlation with key indicators of a positive, happy and fulfilled life.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that affects between 250,000 and 500,000 people across the USA and just shy of 150,000 people in the UK. These are not small numbers!

With something as important as quality of life at stake for this many people we know just how frustrating it can be trying to find reliable, accurate and trustworthy information to point you in the right direction for specific ailments and conditions when it comes to not just medication but also, more importantly, effective, natural and nutritious goodness!

So, if you're sick of feeling sick, this article will set you well on your way to a full and well rounded understanding of Ulcerative Colitis, what it is, what it means for you and what you should (and shouldn't!) be doing. We also give you some great examples of juice recipes for Ulcerative Colitis to get your taste buds tingling and have found some of the best resources available online to assist in maintaining a, flare-free, full and rewarding life with Ulcerative Colitis.

Let's get to it!

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic (long term) condition whereby the colon (large intestine / bowel) and rectum become inflamed. Ulcers can develop on the lining of the colon as with other similarly affecting Gastro-intestinal diseases such as Diverticulitis and Chrohn's disease, these can become infected, bleed and ooze puss into the affected areas.

The main symptoms of Ulcerative colitis include:

Abdominal cramping and stomach pains
Frequent diarrhoea, often containing blood, puss, or mucus
Feeling the need to empty your bowels more than usual

Sufferers also note other symptoms including fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.

When a 'flare up' occurs some people also encounter symptoms in other areas of the body including:

Mouth ulcers
Arthritis (Painful and swollen joints)
Irritated, itchy, red eyes
Patches of red, painful, swollen skin

Having to empty your bowels 6 or more times a day is defined as a serious case of Ulcerative Colitis and has been documented with additional symptoms such as:

Fever and having a high temperature
Shortness of breath
An irregular or fast heartbeat
More prominent blood in stools

Depending on the extent of the affected area, Ulcerative colitis is identified in differing terms: Ulcerative Proctitis refers to when just the area inside the rectum is affected, Proctosigmoiditis involves the rectum and the Sigmoid colon (the lower end of the colon), Distal (or commonly 'left-sided') colitis includes the rectum and up the left side to the Sigmoid and descending colon, and finally, Pancolitis refers to when the entire colon is affected - at this stage one should absolutely seek both medical and nutritional intervention if not already doing so.

Progression from Pancolitis to the more life threatening Fulminant colitis is absolutely avoidable with a diligent focus on diet, which we highly recommend as further progression from this stage can lead to severe and lethal conditions including toxic megacolon and bowel perforation! Not to get the wind up your back!

Where did you come from where did you go!?

While it's no 'Cotton-eyed Joe' the exact cause of Ulcerative colitis is unknown. However, as an autoimmune condition, the leading theory is that the immune system mistakenly identifies healthy gut bacteria as a threat, thereby attacking the tissues of the colon leading to inflammation. Experts point to both underlying genetic and environmental factors that cause the immune system to act in this way.

Ulcerative colitis is a tricky condition to tackle with a 'one size fits all' approach. While there are certain preferences in terms of food groups and types, lifestyle factors including stress and more typical factors such as local infection, Ulcerative colitis 'flare ups' can come and go with almost very little to no warning and often with seemingly no identifiable cause.

The coming and going of Ulcerative Colitis flare ups (relapses) and subsequent periods of milder symptoms (remission) can make life particularly troublesome if a good understanding of the nutritional and medical requirements during each phase is not in place.

Ulcerative Colitis Diet - What to Eat / Keep Close!?

While a specific diet has not been linked to the cause of Ulcerative colitis, it is clear that dietary changes will help to manage the condition once acquired and also minimise the impact and duration of flare-ups. On an individual basis you will find specific or alternative foods that work best for you which may not necessarily exactly match someone of a similar condition. Remember this is your journey and your body and while you won't be able to gorge on too many 'cheat foods' there will certainly be a healthy selection for you to enjoy!

In general, people with Ulcerative colitis will benefit from dietary changes including:

Eating smaller, more frequent meals. 5-6 smaller meals is preferable over 3 main meals.
Hydration is key make sure you do not become dehydrated especially during bouts of severe diarrhoea. Water, water, WATER is your go-to.
Nutritional supplements. As a condition of the intestine, often our nutritional uptake is negatively affected - be sure to keep on top of your daily vitamin and mineral intake! Your GP should be able to advise if this course of action is likely to benefit you. Typically the increased intake of magnesium and potassium is advised to recover those nutrients lost from the body during diarrhoea.
Blackberries, raspberries and blueberries contain phyto-nutrients are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants which induce intestinal anti-inflammatory responses.
Apple, pears, guavas, plums, gooseberries and oranges, along with other citrus fruits contain large amounts of pectin which soothes the intestinal mucous membranes.
Apricot, beetroot, carrot and papaya are high in beta-carotene which heals inflamed intestinal mucous membranes.
Cabbage, dandelion, and garlic are high in organosulfur (organic sulphur/sulfur) which plays an important part in the effective protection of the liver function while healing the bowel.
Leafy, green, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach and pak choi (bok choy) are high in vitamin K which strengthens the immune system positively enhancing natural gut bacteria decomposition.

Ulcerative Colitis Diet - What not to Eat / Avoid!?

Fiber. Whilst the intake of a certain amount of fiber aids smooth digestion, those suffering from severe Ulcerative colitis want to avoid a high-fiber diet as this will help reduce the frequency of bowel movements and abdominal cramps.
Most high-fructose corn based products, processed fruit juice, honey and molasses are poorly absorbed leading to typical digestive irritation including bloating, gas and diarrhoea.
Caffeine. Found in chocolate, coffee, tea and many carbonated drinks. Caffeine has been identified and pointed to as a potential cause of irritation and flare-ups across the globe.
When looking for pectin, be aware soft fruits such as grapes, cherries and strawberries only contain small amounts. See above for high-pectin foods.
Dairy products are well-documented as an 'avoid' food group for many digestive disorders. The consumption of too much lactose can negatively affect digestion and can cause or develop symptoms including diarrhoea, gas, and cramping.
Alcohol. On the best of days alcohol doesn't do wonders for our digestion. As a rule it is best avoided or consumed in regulated quantities in line with a balanced lifestyle.
Nuts and Seeds can cause cramping, abdominal pain and, bloating and diarrhoea. Small seeds may become lodged in the intestine and can cause, or irritate, a flare-up.
Gluten - found in wheat, rye, barley and many processed white-bread products can trigger symptoms of Ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative Colitis Smoothie / Juice Recipes!

So now we have a good understanding of Ulcerative colitis, what food groups are potential triggers and which food types and groups can counter the symptoms, you can see the endless possibilities for delicious, mouth-watering concoctions! Of course, you don't want to overdo it on any drastic diet changes as this can cause inadvertent upset so we recommend a gradual shift so as not to force the natural transformation of the gut to a healthier state.

So, here are three fantastic juicing recipes for Ulcerative Colitis pain management for you to get whipping up!

*PLEASE NOTE* As fiber is not our intended goal here please ensure you use a pulp-separating juicer and not a blender when following the recipes below.

There are many many more great smoothies and juices we whole-heartedly recommend too so don't feel limited - use the category headings on the right hand side of this page to click on an ingredient to see all our recipes containing that particular ingredient if you have a preference or see our links below to some of the best resources online for Ulcerative colitis treatment, natural remedies and management strategies!

With an improved diet and the inclusion of smoothies and juices packed with nutritional goodness we have every confidence that in no time at all you will feel like a totally new you! Good luck!