Got Ulcerative Colitis? Can't Have Dairy? Don't Cross Yogurt Off Your List...

Dietary changes and restrictions are a regular part of life for anyone suffering from ulcerative colitis. Fried foods, some dairy products, nuts and other foods can cause flare ups. The only way for any person who suffers from ulcerative colitis to know what foods will trigger a flare up is to take a chance on a food by trying to eat it.

I have found that in my case, dairy is one of my main triggers. That means that I have to drink milk and eat dairy products with caution and only in moderation. Too much dairy in one day has serious consequences for me.

I am sure that you can imagine my surprise when another ulcerative colitis sufferer suggested that I eat yogurt to help my ulcerative colitis. I can remember thinking that she was just plain old crazy!

I have learned that when you suffer from ulcerative colitis, even the most crazy ideas are worth trying out. I took the chance on this yogurt idea. I made sure that I tried it when I did not have anything to do away from home for a couple of days.

I ate a single serving container of yogurt in one day. I did split it up by eating 1/3 of the container with each meal. I waited for the flare up. It never came! I was shocked, to say the least.

I eat three single serving size containers of yogurt a day now. I have not had a flare up since I started this about a month ago.

I am the crazy woman now since I tell other sufferers about yogurt. Many of my friends who suffer from ulcerative colitis have tried this with the same result as I had. Out of a large group of us, only two people have had a flare up because of the yogurt.

I think that it is important to tell you the type of yogurt I eat. I only eat plain, unflavored yogurt that contains live cultures or bacteria. The live cultures are good for any digestive system, including one that is ravaged by ulcerative colitis. Brand name does not matter. I have eaten name brands and off brands and they are all the same to me.

Some of the others eat flavored yogurt. I am not that brave. I started out eating the unflavored and I figure that as long as that is working, I am not going to take the chance of a flavoring or additive in the flavored yogurt causing me to have a flare up.

I must caution you that, as with all dietary changes when you have ulcerative colitis, this is a suggestion that should be tried when you can stay at home if you have a flare up. Most ulcerative colitis sufferers know that not every thing that works for me will work for them.

By the same token, you cannot hope to live a normal life when you suffer from ulcerative colitis if you are not willing to take the chance on some out of the ordinary suggestions. Start small and work your way up to a more normal life.