Lifestyle options

Certain lifestyle choices can help control the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Watch what you eat: Certain foods and drinks can aggravate your symptoms, especially when you are experiencing a flare-up, so it's important to recognize and eliminate these from your diet.

• Try limiting dairy foods, since many people with ulcerative colitis find that they make diarrhea, abdominal pain, and gas worse.
   
• Try low-fat foods, since your small intestine may not be able to digest or absorb fat normally (fat passing through your intestines can worsen diarrhea).
   
• Avoid problem foods and drinks that seem to make your symptoms worse. Problem foods may include "gassy" foods such as beans, cabbage, and fruits; spicy foods; alcohol; and foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate.

Reduce stress: Stress may trigger flare-ups, so it's important to know how to manage it in your daily life. Exercise, yoga, deep breathing, and meditation can be effective ways in relaxing and relieving stress.