When you have ulcerative colitis, it is vital to pay attention to everything that you eat. Though the foods will not cause or prevent a disease, they may lead to flare-ups. So, how can you avoid triggers and still get the required nutrients the body needs? It is possible when you have a diet plan that excludes all the trigger foods for ulcerative colitis.

Some of the trigger foods for ulcerative colitis are mentioned below:

• Pasta, cereals, and wholegrain bread
  Usually, foods with rich fiber content are difficult to digest for people with ulcerative colitis. Whole grains have a high fiber content because their bran or germ has not been removed. Thus, you should avoid foods with whole grain flour. These include foods such as macaroni, noodles, pasta, cereals, and bread.
  When you are experiencing flare-ups, you should select pasta and white bread made from enriched white flour. However, before you do that, do ensure that you do not have a gluten intolerance. Flour is enriched once you replace the nutrients that may be lost during the bran and germ removal process. Cereals such as corn flakes, puffed rice, and wheat cream have low fiber content.

• Insoluble fiber foods
  Some foods containing insoluble fibers are not easy to digest. These include raw cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli, or anything with a peel on it, whole grains, and whole nuts.
• Caffeine
  Even though there is no adequate data on the impact of caffeine on ulcerative colitis, a study reported that caffeine aggravates the symptoms. Caffeine is found in chocolate, tea, and coffee.
• Highly processed foods
  In processed foods, emulsifiers are used to elongate the shelf life and make products, such as margarine and ice cream creamier. However, they may lead to inflammation in your gut. Further, it is recommended to avoid greasy and sugary foods. Artificially-flavored sugar and sweeteners should also remain out of your diet, as they can lead to diarrhea.
• Dairy
  The consumption of dairy products does not cause ulcerative colitis in all people, but it does trigger symptoms in a few people. Further, people with lactose intolerance should avoid having dairy products.
• Non-absorbable sugar
  Foods, such as mannitol, sorbitol, or sugar alcohol present in ice cream, candies, sugar-free gums, or a few types of juices and fruits prune, peach, and pear, are trigger foods for ulcerative colitis and should be avoided.
• Nuts
  Nuts, even those that may be made into flour or cooked in other foods, should be kept out of your diet if you are recommended a low-fiber diet. These nuts are a rich source of fiber and are often hard to digest. Some nuts that you should avoid include hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, peanuts, and macadamia nuts.