Diet for Digestive Problems

No matter what type of digestive trouble you are experiencing---whether it is Crohn's disease, colitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome or any other form of intestinal malady---modifying your diet can often help alleviate symptoms and provide some measure of relief. While there is no one "cure all" diet for all types of digestive problems, you can quickly apply trial and error to your particular situation to determine which diet is best for you.

Elimination Diet

• The first step in dealing with many digestive problems is adherence to an elimination diet, in which you systematically remove potential trigger foods from your diet. Common triggers include alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, gas-producing foods (such as broccoli and cauliflower) and dairy products, in cases of lactose intolerance. As recommended by the Mayo Clinic, eliminating consumption of these foods will usually bring about some relief from most digestive conditions.

Manipulate Your Fiber Intake

• Another step you can take is manipulating how much fiber you eat. According to the Mayo Clinic, increasing your fiber intake can either improve or intensify your symptoms depending on the particular condition you have, so gradually increase the amount of fiber in your diet to see if some relief can be found. Fiber-rich foods include oats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

  If increased consumption of these foods makes your symptoms worse, gradually begin decreasing your fiber intake to help relieve symptoms.

Keep a Food Diary

• Maintain a food journal so that you can better track what works---and what fails to work. List the foods that you have consumed throughout the day along with the total amount of fiber you have eaten, and compare that against your symptoms to search for any signs of progress or regression. Over time, this constant monitoring will help you identify the precise quantity and types of foods that best alleviate your digestive problem.