Questions on Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

QUESTION: I suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease, and though I have
searched high and low for a diet that could help me avoid some of the troubled
times I've had, there is none to be found. Surely you must have come across a
helpful list in your work, and I would appreciate you sharing your knowledge
with me.
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ANSWER: There is a very good reason that explains why you have been unable to
find a good diet to help prevent the painful symptoms of your condition.
There simply isn't one. Each inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient must
create their own list of foods to avoid based upon the reactions they have had
to the food. Many IBD patients can eat quite normally, enjoying a wide
variety of foods without any restrictions whatsoever. When the acute stage
hits, they switch to a bland diet, with less fiber and less spice than usual.
The important factors to consider are the maintenance of a well-balanced and
nutritious selection of dietary items to preserve good health and maintain
normal body weight and defense reserves. Certain foods do have a reputation
for irritating some patients' bowels, foods like nuts, raisins, seeds, bran
and whole grain, as these are not as easily digested as other foods. While
some patients tolerated cooked or canned fruits and vegetables, others may
not, making the proper choice of foods a highly individualized effort.
Keeping a log or diary of food intake and all possible reactions will provide
you with a written record of unhappy experiences with your diet, and serve as
a reminder of specific items to avoid. When you discover that a class of
foods may be the culprit, consult your physician or a dietician, who can
provide you with some hints about getting around the problems, or suggest
substitute items to use in maintaining your balanced nutrition.