Like many conditions that affect the digestive system, Ulcerative Colitis can have a huge impact on someone’s life. For some people, food can have a big impact on causing “flare-ups” of ulcerative colitis and they have to be incredibly careful with their diet due to the painful and, at times, embarrassing and inconvenient side effects such as the need to go to the toilet frequently.
One of the ways some people with the condition help to regulate their symptoms is keep a food diary. Although the exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, some people may find that certain foods or drink trigger these flare-ups.
Here’s our top tips for keeping an ulcerative colitis food diary:
- Don’t give up! – Try to fill out your diary for at least two weeks, including weekends, to get a clear and accurate picture of any triggers.
- Don’t forget drinks! – Make sure to include all fluids in your diary, including caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
- The more detail the better – Try to capture as much detail as possible on how the food was prepared and what ingredients were included. Details on any medication you might have taken at the time or any exercise can also be useful.
- Take your diary on the go – you might forget specific ingredients or what you ate/drank by the time you get home, so it might be a good idea to take your diary with you when you go out.
- Be honest – Even if your meal wasn’t the healthiest, it’s important to include it in your diary anyway to create an accurate picture of potential triggers.
With all the precautions people living ulcerative colitis must take, daily life can be challenging and we here at MAC Clinical Research understand that difficulty and are committed to trying to find new treatments for ulcerative colitis.
MAC Clinical Research are conducting a new study for a potential ulcerative colitis treatment, but we need your help. If eligible, you could receive £2670 for your time and commitment and reasonable travel expenses will be paid.
This trial is running at MAC’s clinics in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire and involves outpatient visits and endoscopies.
If you’re aged between 18 and 80, have ulcerative colitis, and want to take part in a research trial, visit our website here.
