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Happy Tummy Expert

10 months ago

Dear Sanghamitra Sonu, Thank you for the question

Colitis is a chronic bowel disorder characterized by inflammation of the colonic mucosa. The most common symptoms are diarrhoea, blood in the stool, and, occasionally, abdominal pain. Other symptoms may include fever, anaemia, and weight loss.

Here are nutritional tips to manage colitis

• Try to limit the intake of strong flavour such as sour & spicy foods that may cause irritation
• Avoid consuming hot beverages and prefer cold beverages.
• Avoid/limit the intake of drinks like alcohol, Coffee and caffeine, which may stimulate acid secretion 
• Consume   Vitamin B6 which is found in meat, fish, poultry, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
• Some of the rich food sources of Vitamin B12 & B2 are chicken, fish, prawns. Crabs etc, Eggs, Milk & milk products, Fortified cereals, Mushroom, beetroot, potato.
• Include omega -3 fatty acids rich fish mainly salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring; it helps in producing prostaglandins, which in turn protects the mucosa lining of the stomach and intestines.
• Antioxidants rich fruits and vegetables help in managing ulcer
• Keep yourself well hydrated & Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day

Acidity, Bloating, heart burn, Gastritis, Abdominal discomfort can be a symptom of gastrointestinal digestive issues such as indigestion, constipation, IBS, intolerances etc., and/or due to an underlying health condition.

Certain food intolerances can cause bloating and stomach pain after consuming specific foods. In lactose intolerance it is seen after consuming milk and milk products like cheese, paneer etc. And in gluten intolerance it is seen after consuming, wheat, rye, barley etc.

Indigestion towards certain foods, malabsorption, inability to digest/absorb certain nutrients can occur due to intolerance, digestive issues, food allergies or any underlying health condition which requires medical attention.

We recommend you to consult a specialized health professional such as a gastroenterologist for further diagnosis and management.

Here are a few tips to help manage acidity

• Do not skip your meals, have small frequent meals at regular intervals.
• Avoid large, heavy meals,
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption
• Have a gap of minimum 2-3 hours between bedtime and your last meal
• Try to limit the foods like caffeine, spices, raw onions etc.

A few guidelines for general digestive health to be considered:

• Do not skip your meals, have small frequent meals at regular intervals.
• Eat a well-balanced diet including minimum 5 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit in a day as they are good sources of fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, zinc etc.
• Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.
• Try to include whole grains like wheat, multigrain and millets in your daily diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients. Ensure not to consume excess amounts of fiber rich foods for management of ulcerative colitis.
• Avoid large, heavy meals, and practice portion guidance.
• Deep fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
• Have a gap of minimum 2-3 hours between bedtime and your last meal
• Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30-45 minutes for at least 5 days a week.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Low haemoglobin levels indicate presence of anemia. Women face more risk of iron deficiency anaemia, across lifecycle due to increased iron needs during menstrual blood loss & childbirth etc.  Some of the reasons iron deficiency inadequate intake, malabsorption, low intake of vitamin C, infections and/or underlying health conditions. Iron deficiency may potentially increase the risk of anemia. For further diagnosis and assistance please contact a health care professional.

Normal haemoglobin levels for women is 12 to 16 g/dl (Reference: NIH, Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition).

The richest sources of heme iron in the diet are lean meat and seafood and non-heme sources include nuts, beans, dark green leafy vegetables(blanched/ leached), and fortified grain, milk, whole grains, legumes and dry fruits etc.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Iron for women is 29mg per day.

Bitter aftertaste in mouth can occur after consuming bitter flavoured food or can also occur due to an underlying health condition which may require medical attention. We request you to consult a specialized health professional such as a gastroenterologist for further diagnosis and management.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

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