Top 7 Do’s for Every UC Patient

But don't start chugging fruit smoothies, soft drinks or milk; "those can exacerbate diarrhea," says Catsos.

Instead, combine a small amount of fruit juice with bubbly water, lactose-free milk or coconut water, which contains electrolytes like potassium and sodium, she advises.

Or sip peppermint tea. Not only is it hydrating, it also reduces intestinal spasms. And ginger tea soothes nausea, which sometimes occurs with ulcerative colitis, Catsos says.

If you have lots of diarrhea, neither water nor a sports drink will prevent dehydration.

Instead, "Drink a solution with glucose and electrolytes like sodium, such as Pedialyte, to hydrate the body well," says Dr. Arsenescu. (Pedialyte is available online or in drugstores.)

6. Cut back on animal fats.
With UC, your colon is already inflamed, and eating red meat makes it worse. That's because "a diet rich in animal fat causes inflammation in the gut," says Dr. Arsenescu.

It might make your symptoms worse too. In a 2013 University of Pennsylvania Hospital study of almost 8,000 patients with IBD, many reported that red meat, fried and fatty foods exacerbated symptoms.

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