Ulcerative Colitis & Booze: Is UC the End of Alcohol?

Ulcerative colitis flare ups can be caused by alcohol in some people. There are also other health problems that alcohol can cause that simply make ulcerative colitis worse.

In my case, I have had to completely give up any type of alcoholic beverage. Even a small sip of a wine cooler is sure to lead to an ulcerative colitis flare up for me. I have learned that it is easier to simply stop drinking alcohol than it is to deal with the pain and embarrassment of an ulcerative colitis flare up.

Alcohol is one of the few things that I have given up totally. To be honest, I am not sure if I gave it up only because of my ulcerative colitis. I am not a big alcohol drinker anyway so, giving alcohol up did not seem like such a big sacrifice for me.

I have a friend, Leah, who suffers with ulcerative colitis who drinks alcoholic beverages every weekend. She says that the alcohol does not bother her ulcerative colitis. She says that she has a system that helps her to avoid a flare up. She eats only safe foods on the days that she knows that she will drink alcohol. This way, she lessens the chance of a flare up.

In addition to that, she drinks two glasses of water before every alcoholic drink. I am not sure if this actually does any good but, she says that it helps to dilute the alcohol so that it will not be as irritating to her system. I have not actually known her to have a flare up after drinking alcohol.

Just like every other trigger for ulcerative colitis, alcohol causing a flare up is a sure thing for some sufferers and in others, it is not even a consideration. My advice is that if you do drink alcohol, do it in moderation regardless of the effect is has on your ulcerative colitis. You never know when the alcohol will cause you other health problems or when you may get an ulcerative colitis flare up because of the alcohol.

If you think that you have a problem with alcohol or if it is affecting your ulcerative colitis, contact your health care professional for advice on ways to get help for your problems.