Ulcerative colitis or UC is one of the most common types of inflammatory bowel diseases. UC symptoms start in the large intestine and can often be severe, resulting in difficulties carrying out regular activities. Research shows that profound lifestyle changes to manage ulcerative colitis can help patients lead normal lives even with the condition. Read on to know seven essential lifestyle changes to manage ulcerative colitis.

• Diet: Implementing small dietary changes can go a long way in alleviating symptoms of UC. While  no one diet can cure ulcerative colitis, there are some nutritional tips that can help manage the condition better. Eat 5 to 6 small meal portions every day instead of 3 large meals. Drink lots of fluids because dehydration is a common symptom of ulcerative colitis. Avoid or reduce intake of alcohol and caffeine to reduce diarrhea and gas.
• Keeping a food diary helps as one can track foods that improve or trigger symptoms. This helps one eliminate foods that trigger symptoms from their diet completely. However, one must not eliminate entire food groups; for instance, avoiding all dairy foods may not be a wise decision because then your body is deprived of necessary minerals and vitamins.
• Low-fiber diet: It is best to stick to a low-fiber diet or low-residue diet, which alleviates UC symptoms and prevents aggravation. These diets help control the frequency of passing stools. Refined breakfast cereals, white rice, cooked vegetables, lean meats and fish, and eggs are low-fiber foods.
• Stress relief techniques: Lifestyle changes to manage ulcerative colitis should include exercises, relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga, and therapy. Exercises help manage symptoms and eliminate complications because of UC, such as stress, mental health problems, weight, and poor immunity. Yoga or Tai Chi helps relax the digestive system and heal the mind and body. Meditation includes methods like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, which activate the parasympathetic system.
• Therapy: You can also consider working with therapists to manage UC symptoms better. For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy provides skills that help one handle the stress and pain related to flare-ups. It eases abdominal pains and helps one learn muscle relaxation.
• Natural treatments: Probiotics and natural supplements support medications for treating and living with ulcerative colitis. Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that help better digestion and boost immunity.
• Supplements: Certain supplements and herbs like ginseng can alleviate UC symptoms. They reduce inflammation and stop DNA damage.

Dealing with ulcerative colitis symptoms can be hard and overwhelming. This is why one should aim to alleviate the symptoms using key lifestyle changes and dietary modifications. The goal is to reduce the propensity of flare-ups and eliminate the need for surgeries.