Salmon & Yogurt
Salmon
Some ulcerative colitis patients have found omega-3 fatty acids to be beneficial—particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which fights inflammation in the digestive tract and throughout the body.
A pilot study in 2011 found that the fish oil in salmon was a beneficial source of EPA for ulcerative colitis patients. Salmon is a tastier alternative to fish oil supplements, and it comes with a variety of other nutrients and health benefits. This is particularly important for ulcerative colitis patients, who often have issues with malnutrition due to their digestive problems.
Yogurt
Foods with probiotics help control the destructive bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. While probiotics can be found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt may be particularly beneficial for ulcerative colitis patients—assuming you aren’t lactose intolerant.
Unfortunately, the sugars some yogurt brands contain aren’t necessarily a benefit. So, always check the label before making a purchase—the less sugar you can find, the better. Unflavored yogurt that specifically states it contains “live, active cultures” on the label is the best choice.
Did you know...
- A hearty laugh is good for the heart. Laughing can increase blood flow by 20%. Additionally, looking on the bright side can help you live longer. Studies have shown that a more optimistic outlook is linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for coronary artery disease.
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- There are many factors that contribute to your body odor, but one of the strongest links is our diet. This may be some bad news for meat-lovers because many studies have shown that those who refrained from or ate less red meat were judged as being more pleasant smelling. The meat sweats are real, and they don’t smell great!
- Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.