Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease that results in inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract—mainly affecting the lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. There is no known cure, but there are new treatments and medications available to reduce symptoms, including Entyvio and Stelara. With UC, it’s important to monitor your diet as certain foods can be triggers that cause flare-ups. Read on to learn what foods you should avoid with colitis:

1. Spicy food

Spicy food like hot sauce, hot peppers, chilis, and more can trigger symptoms or worsen an ongoing flareup by affecting the digestive tract. Diarrhea and other symptoms associated with UC are likely to get worse with the consumption of spice, so try to avoid it.

2. Dairy products

Avoiding dairy products will likely be in your best interest if you have UC. Due to the lactose properties in many dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yogurt, consuming them can be a trigger for UC symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain. This becomes worse if you’re lactose intolerant as your body has a harder time digesting the lactose. If dairy is a big part of your diet, try reaching for lactose-free dairy products or try a Lactaid before eating.

3. Red and processed meat

Red meat and processed meat can worsen UC symptoms as they contribute significantly to the colonic pool of sulfur. It’s important to reduce the sulfur in your colon as it exacerbates symptoms, so you don’t need to cut out meat entirely, simply monitor your portion sizes.

4. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are harder for your body to digest as compared to other foods. With UC, you want to consume foods that are easy to digest and won’t worsen symptoms or put a strain on your digestive system, potentially resulting in gas, diarrhea, and bloat. Avoid walnuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds, and other nuts and seeds.

5. Carbonated drinks

Carbonic acid, found in carbonated drinks like sodas and beer, irritates the digestive tract and can worsen symptoms or be a trigger for UC. Try herbal teas and naturally-flavored flat water to get hydrated while not worsening symptoms.

6. Gluten

A protein found in wheat, rye, and barley called gluten is in more foods, sauces, and drinks than you would expect. Considering that gluten can trigger symptoms of UC, trying a gluten-free diet or really monitoring or reducing the amount of the protein you consume could significantly benefit your symptom management.