In search of a way to better manage Ulcerative Colitis (UC), we have read and tried quite a few diets and books, some of which address specifically IBD. These diets, as well as our research, have prompted us to design a diet of our own, which has helped us achieve and maintain remission. Here, we bring these books to your attention to show you what is out there. Some of these diets are a little different from ours, others are significantly different. We recognize that our diet might not work for everyone, so here are some alternatives you should know about.
The Gut Balance Revolution
This is a book written by Gerard Mullen, Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at Johns Hopkins University. The book offers a diet for weight loss and for reducing gut inflammation by fixing gut microbe imbalances. This diet is closest to ours, but there are differences about the use of sugars and gluten. This diet was not specifically designed for Ulcerative Colitis, but it is great in that it promotes the use of fermented foods. Link.
The Specific Carbohydrate (SCD) Diet
This book was written by a biologist, Elaine Gottschall B.A., M.Sc., specifically for IBD patients. This diet is predicated upon the exclusion of specific carbohydrates, which cannot be processed in the body and become the food of pathogenic (bad) bacteria in the gut. This diet is different from ours in that it excludes all grains and most legumes. This diet was the first one that started working for us. We modified it very substantially to arrive to our Colitis Diet. Link.
Forks Over Knives
This diet has been designed to decrease cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. This diet is different from ours in that it excludes all animal products, all oils, and sugars. This was the first diet we tried. While we would really recommend it for weight loss, we found it less suitable to our Ulcerative Colitis needs. However, the diet has some excellent recipes, most of which are on our diet. Link.
The Low Glycemic Index
The Glycemic index was designed to rank foods according to how quickly or slowly they cause increases in blood sugar levels. The Glyxemic index is not a diet, but it recommends foods with a lower index which are slower to produce increases in blood sugar and keep you satiated with food longer. UC patients can use the Glycemic index as a tool for choosing low-index foods to help better control blood sugar levels and hunger. Learn more.
The FODMAP Diet
The FODMAP Diet addresses the needs of IBS rather than IBD patients. It excludes fermentable short-chain carbohydrates, which – it argues – are not well absorbed, causing IBS symptoms. This diet has not helped us in particular, but we still thought we should post it for your benefit.
Recommended Cookbook
Fermented vegetables are essential for maintaining healthy gut bacteria, reducing inflammation and the symptoms of UC. This book, which shows you how to quickly pickle anything, has been a great help to us. Link.