Vegan Diet for Colitis

Colitis is a painful condition caused by the inflammation of the colon that many people try to treat with expensive drugs or even surgery. Yet many doctors and patients are now finding that a simple change of diet could be the cure to this uncomfortable disease. In fact, a vegan diet may be the simplest and most effective way to deal with colitis symptoms. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Why a Vegan Diet is Good for Curing Colitis

A vegan diet helps relieve colitis symptoms by eliminating foods which aggravate the colon, according to Dr. David Klein the Director of the Colitis and Crohn's Health Recovery Center. High protein foods such as meats and dairy products are harder for the body to digest, says Dr. Klein. So if the colon cannot completely digest a particular food, the food ends up decomposing in the gut. The rotting food then releases toxins, which causes inflammation in the colon. A vegan diet allows the colon to flush out these toxins and recover, because vegans do not eat offending meat or dairy products.

Vegan Foods Colitis Sufferers Should Avoid

Vegans do not eat any animal products--no meat, no seafood, no eggs and no dairy. However, there are certain foods vegans can eat which colitis sufferers should avoid. Eating a high-fiber diet is an excellent way to avoid getting colitis, once the condition is active, however, high-fiber foods should be avoided as they may be too harsh for the colon, says Dr. Patrick Donovan of Seattle. High-fiber foods include apples, bran flakes and beans. These foods can be re-entered into the diet as the colitis heals.

Other foods to avoid are those with a high-fructose content because these sugars could ferment in the bowel, says Dr. De Lamar Gibbons in his book "The Self-Help Way to Treat Colitis and Other IBS Conditions." Such foods include orange juice, pineapples, melons, jams, jellies and syrups.

Vegan Foods Colitis Sufferers Should Focus On

Vegetable juice is an excellent way to start off a vegan colitis diet according to Dr. Donovan. A liquid diet of cabbage juice, leafy green vegetables, and fresh water algae are excellent for flushing out toxins. Vegetable broths and broths made from seaweed are also good for a colitis diet. After a few days of a liquid diet -- nuts, fruits and whole vegetables can re-enter the eating regimen. Fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A and vitamin C are especially important when repairing the colon.