Ulcerative colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large intestine. It causes inflammation and open sores in the colon has no known cure, but symptoms like loss of appetite, anemia, blood in the stools, digestive problems, cramps and intestinal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, urgent need to use the bathroom, fever, dehydration, fatigue, and a rapid heart rate can be monitored and controlled to some extent. Here are four practical ways if one is wondering how to naturally beat ulcerative colitis without medication like NSAIDs, steroids, immunosuppressants, or surgery.

Identify the triggers
Smoking tobacco, genetic factors, environmental conditions, following the wrong diet, auto-immune reactions, NSAIDs, contraceptive pills, and certain antibiotic medicines are probable causes of ulcerative colitis. One or a combination of many factors can be responsible for the condition, and it can lead to varying symptoms in different people. One can maintain a detailed journal to keep a tab on their day’s activities and their body’s reactions for 3 months to help identify triggers. This is the first step in finding a management plan for ulcerative colitis.

Make changes to the diet
When wondering how to beat ulcerative colitis naturally, no one food can help, but making a few changes to the daily diet can help alleviate the symptoms. Eating frequent small meals spread throughout the day instead of three large ones might make a difference to some people with ulcerative colitis. The foods mentioned here should be included in the diet:

• Water and electrolytes to prevent dehydration
• Foods with low saturated fats
• Foods rich in fiber, calcium, and vitamins D and C like leafy greens, berries, bell peppers, and eggs
• Foods with omega-3 fatty acids like olive oil and cold-water fish

These foods should be avoided by people with this condition:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dairy products
• Foods rich in carbohydrates and sugars
• Greasy foods
• Gluten
• Meat
• Processed foods
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Spicy foods

Incorporate lifestyle changes to reduce stress
Lifestyle changes that should be incorporated to manage ulcerative colitis include regular exercise or recreational activities like yoga and meditation. Biofeedback or professional therapy can also help reduce stress, and quit tobacco use is one of the crucial steps to manage this chronic disease.

Physical exercises and yoga can help develop new routines, maintain a healthy weight, and boost energy levels. Individual or group therapy sessions might help release pent-up emotional stress. Biofeedback or cognitive behavior therapy, on the other hand, can help one recognize and ease symptoms like muscle tension, increased heart rate, and abdominal pain without external help. Engaging the brain in different activities that one is interested in can shift the focus from the pain or discomfort associated with ulcerative colitis.

Include probiotics and prebiotics in the diet
Probiotics and prebiotics are naturally present in certain foods. Prebiotics are present in onion, garlic, asparagus, leek, and bananas, which are best consumed raw. Kefir, miso, tempeh, yogurt, and sauerkraut are excellent probiotics. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are probiotics that are also available as liquids, capsules, or tablets and help maintain healthy gut microbial flora, reduce inflammation, and increase remission periods.