Colitis Nutritionists and Dietitians in Leon County, FL
Specializes in Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders, General Healthy Eating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBD, Low FODMAP, GI Conditions, Diverticulitis, Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, High Blood Pressure, Oncology Nutrition, Pre/Post Natal Nutrition, Malnutrition, Gastroparesis, Underweight Nutrition, Baby Led Weaning, Hyper/Hypothyroidism, and Sports Nutrition.
Heather is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to help them heal their relationship with their body and food. She works with clients to facilitate changes that will improve overall quality of life. She believes that food and nutrition should not only support someone’s physical health, but their social, emotional, and mental health as well. Her own experiences have fueled her particular interest in intuitive eating, disordered eating and HAES aligned care. She loves working alongside clients to find creative ways to make food both nourishing and enjoyable.
Specializes in Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders, General Healthy Eating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBD, Low FODMAP, GI Conditions, Diverticulitis, Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, High Blood Pressure, Oncology Nutrition, Pre/Post Natal Nutrition, Malnutrition, Gastroparesis, Underweight Nutrition, Baby Led Weaning, Hyper/Hypothyroidism, and Sports Nutrition.
Heather is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to help them heal their relationship with their body and food. She works with clients to facilitate changes that will improve overall quality of life. She believes that food and nutrition should not only support someone’s physical health, but their social, emotional, and mental health as well. Her own experiences have fueled her particular interest in intuitive eating, disordered eating and HAES aligned care. She loves working alongside clients to find creative ways to make food both nourishing and enjoyable.
Colitis Nutritionists and Dietitians
What is colitis?
Colitis is a general term that refers to inflammation within the intestine. Symptoms of colitis include abdominal pain, bloating, mucus or blood in the stool, and diarrhea. In some cases, colitis may be caused by transitory viruses and infections, as well as food poisoning; however, some causes of colitis are more chronic. A common type of chronic colitis is ulcerative colitis, which is an irritable bowel disease (IBD) caused by inflammation and ulcers within the large intestine specifically. Crohn's disease is another form of IBD known to cause chronic colitis but is caused by inflammation throughout the intestine and is not confined to the large intestine.
What foods cause colitis?
There is little evidence to suggest that specific foods directly cause colitis. The causes of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are not well-understood and are typically attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, certain foods can exacerbate symptoms in individuals with colitis. Dairy products, high-fat foods, processed meats, and high-fiber foods can often worsen symptoms, as can beverages containing alcohol or sugar alcohol.
What diet is best for colitis?
There is no single diet that is best for colitis, so individuals with chronic colitis conditions often learn over time what specific foods exacerbate their specific symptoms and avoid those foods going forward. Because some foods that are known to exacerbate symptoms of colitis are often part of a well-balanced diet—such as vegetables and fruits high in fiber—individuals with colitis can be at an increased risk of nutrient deficiencies, such as iron, calcium, and vitamin A deficiency. Ensuring one is getting enough of these nutrients, either through alternative foods that do not cause flare-ups or through supplementation, can thus be essential for patients with colitis.
Can seeing a dietitian help with colitis?
Seeing a dietitian can be highly beneficial for individuals with colitis for several reasons. Many people with colitis experience periods of symptom flare-ups followed by periods of relative relief, so dietitians can be helpful in assisting clients in identifying food or nutrition-related factors that may contribute to or worsen these flare-ups. Moreover, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conditions can lead to weight loss and malnutrition. If a client is struggling to maintain their weight due to colitis, a dietitian can provide personalized nutrition advice and may be able to collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure the client meets their nutritional needs while also minimizing their IBD symptoms.