what foods do people have which help avoid flare ups?

Hi Phillip,the trouble is this disease affects everybody differently . My best advice is to keep a food diary,boring I know, but at least it may pinpoint your personal triggers. I don't think food triggers my flares but ' no no' foods do cause me tummy pain and extra toilet visits!  I avoid onions,rich sauces,sugar and dairy when flaring. Hope this helps

I also find onions irrate my tummy. I have only had the condition just over 3 weeks so mine is still flared up. I'm hoping when the flare up has gone that not many (if any) foods will irrate it as i love strong flavours! 

 I take lepicol which has got the pre and probiotics to encourage good bacteria in bowel. Lepicol is psyllium husk base. I also take psyllium seed which is available from Just Ingredients online not expensive stuff postage is dearer I think. Psyllium seed the brown as there is also black one available but it is not for bowel health. Psyllium seed encourages processing of butyric acid which coloncytes ( bugs in bowel ) love and reduces the inflammation. I take teaspoon of each ( used to take it twice a day when I was on steroids and when improvement set in down to one teaspoon) in glass of water....let it sit for an hour and then take. I also include teaspoon of hemp seed but that's a personal choice. It took a few days to kick in. Someone else started the potion recently and they are noticing an improvement. I only discovered this potion of stuff from a forum in my last flare in Jan past and I wish I had discovered it years ago. I however to have to b careful diet wise. I think I hav certain sensitivity to gluten so I try and eat gluten free bread ....usually toast I do with 'genius' bread bought in tesco or asda. Sugary stuff I try to avoid to best of my ability and that includes fruit ,keep alcohol to minimum and small amounts of plain yogurt if I fancy any .....no fruit yogurts cos of sugars. Think that's bout it diet wise. I did immunosuppressants for six months ...colitis did settle but there are mega amount of side effects and long term stuff that I came off it . I take asacol tabs and occasionally the suppositories and I take cocodamol for pain relief. I also take imodium if I have to for diarrhoea but haven't had to do that in yunks. U can buy the cheaper version from tesco or asda if u need to. Think that's about my list of remedies. If u hav any other queries do message. But I do think the lepicol and seeds are best combo. I wish u best of luck. I think Jill Charlotte and myself must do all the advising ......everybody has stuff that works for them and sometimes u hav to try a lot of things. I no I hav over the years till I hav got wher I hav got now and so far this one has been working and long may it last !  Mary Jo

Hi Phillip

search the web for a low residue diet, that should help, and easy once you get the hang of it.