Ulcerative Colitis: 6 Foods to Avoid
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6 Foods to Avoid for Ulcerative Colitis

Dietary changes with the types of foods you eat can help soothe your symptoms and reduce your risk of a flare-up.
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Updated on May 20, 2025
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oatmeal, soda and red meat
Certain foods can trigger UC symptoms in some people.

If you are diagnosed with the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) ulcerative colitis, doctors and nutritionists may recommend that you change your diet to ensure you are consuming much-needed nutrients without making your symptoms worse.

If you know what foods make you feel worse, it can be easier to live with the disease and to avoid flare-ups. It’s also wise to know what foods can help ease ulcerative colitis symptoms.

Be sure to speak with your doctor or a dietitian before you start any special diet for ulcerative colitis. If you start removing particular foods from your diet, you may develop nutritional deficiencies. Your doctor or nutritionist can test your nutrient levels, help you create a meal plan that’s right for you, and identify which of the following foods you should cut out of your diet.

1

Nuts and Seeds

mixture of nuts
When you have an ulcerative colitis flare, it’s best to eat foods that are easy to digest. This may mean temporarily avoiding high-fiber foods such as nuts, seeds, and corn, as well as raw fruits and vegetables.

Once your colon is healed with proper treatment, these foods are fine to eat, and high-fiber foods are beneficial when you’re not in a flare.

2

Dairy

dairy products
The dairy sensitivity known as lactose intolerance prevents you from properly digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. This occurs because the small intestine lacks the digestive enzyme lactase.

 Lactose intolerance is common and can affect people with ulcerative colitis, says Themistocles Dassopoulos, MD, the director of the Baylor Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dallas.
There is little evidence that dairy alone causes ulcerative colitis to flare up, however. In fact, research has shown that yogurt and milk may reduce your risk of ulcerative colitis.

That said, lactose intolerance symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea can be mistaken for ulcerative colitis or make it worse.

 It can be wise to add lactase supplements to reduce these symptoms if you have a known dairy sensitivity.

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3

Red Meat

red meat
Dr. Dassopoulos recommends limiting the saturated fats found in red meat.

“My advice to people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease is to follow a healthy Mediterranean diet and limit red meat,” Dassopoulos says.

Not all fats are bad, however. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, have been found to help with intestinal inflammation.

4

Foods That Contain Gluten

bowl of oatmeal
People with ulcerative colitis may have a tougher time digesting bread and other foods that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some oats.

 This may occur in people with celiac disease, which causes an immunologic reaction to eating gluten, and in people with gluten sensitivity.
Blood tests, a biopsy, and your response to a gluten-free diet can determine if celiac disease is responsible for causing abdominal symptoms like cramping, diarrhea, or pain that can be mistaken for ulcerative colitis symptoms. Although celiac disease can damage the small intestine, ulcerative colitis typically damages the large intestine.

5

Spicy Foods

chilli peppers
Research has shown that spicy foods may be the top culprit for ulcerative colitis relapses. This may be because of the chemical capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their “heat” and is known to inflame and irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

During an active flare, it may be best to avoid spicy food altogether.

“In general, when someone is flaring, we say to follow a bland diet,” Dassopoulos says. “Don’t add insult to injury.”

6

Foods and Beverages High in Sugar

soda in a glass
Too much sugar can promote inflammation and make ulcerative colitis worse, according to research.

Look out for more than candy and soda, too. Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and mannitol, which come from fruits and vegetables, often appear in food and drinks advertised as sugar-free but can cause bloating and diarrhea.

What Foods Should You Eat When You Have Ulcerative Colitis?

While it’s wise to stay away from large meals and foods and drinks that can cause ulcerative colitis to return or get worse, you also must consume enough nutrients to keep your body healthy.

Yogurt, olive oil, and salmon are nutritious recommended foods for people with ulcerative colitis. Diet options may include:

  • Elimination diets, which remove certain foods from your diet to see if symptoms abate; discuss this option with a nutritionist or gastroenterologist to ensure you are getting enough nutrition.
  • The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), which is designed especially to control IBD symptoms; research on its effects on ulcerative colitis is limited

  • The Mediterranean diet
  • Low-fiber diets, which restrict foods that increase bowel activity

Consult your healthcare provider about which dietary changes may be right for you.

The Takeaway

  • Ulcerative colitis symptoms may come and go, but it’s wise to avoid foods and drinks that may inflame your intestines.
  • Foods high in sugar, gluten, and spiciness may make ulcerative colitis worse or cause a relapse. Consider avoiding fiber during an active flare.
  • Food sensitivities vary by person, and not all diets work for all people.
  • Talk to your doctor to ensure your diet includes enough nutrients to maintain your health while managing your symptoms.

Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson and Tony Stasiek.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Ulcerative Colitis Flare-Ups: 5 Tips to Manage Them. Mayo Clinic. March 25, 2025.
  2. Lactose Intolerance. Mayo Clinic. March 5, 2022.
  3. Amini MR et al. Consumption of dairy products and odds of ulcerative colitis: An Iranian case–control study. Food Science & Nutrition. November 20, 2023.
  4. Garber J. I Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). What Should I Eat? Harvard Health Publishing. May 18, 2020.
  5. Marton LT et al. Omega Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: An Overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. September 30, 2019.
  6. Harringer EOS et al. Gluten Degradation by the Gut Microbiota of Ulcerative Colitis Patients. Microorganisms. December 21, 2022.
  7. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Commonly Mistaken Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 12, 2024.
  8. Chen Y et al. Spicy Food Is a Vital Trigger for Relapse in Patient With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. January 2020.
  9. A Nutritional Plan for Anyone Living With Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Cleveland Clinic. January 30, 2024.
  10. Burr AHP et al. Excess Dietary Sugar Alters Colonocyte Metabolism and Impairs the Proliferative Response to Damage. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2023.
  11. Solan M. How Healthy Is Sugar Alcohol? Harvard Health Publishing. December 18, 2023.
  12. Chitnavis MV et al. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Evidence and Execution. Practical Gastroenterology. August 2019.
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Yuying Luo, MD

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Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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