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While specific research on juicing as a treatment for UC is limited, the benefit is probably nutritional.
Fruit and vegetable juices can be a helpful way to get easily digestible vitamins and minerals, especially when your appetite is small or you’re reintroducing foods after a flare.
It’s important to listen to your body, as you may tolerate some fruits and vegetables better than others. Ultimately, your personal taste and what your gut can handle will be your best guide.
Pomegranate Juice
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Pomegranates are packed with powerful antioxidants called ellagitannins. Some studies suggest that these compounds may help manage UC symptoms in several ways. Researchers believe that they may help calm inflammation, protect cells from damage, strengthen the gut lining, and support a healthy balance of gut bacteria.
Further research is needed to understand the potential role, if any, that pomegranate juice could play in a typical UC treatment plan.
Wheatgrass Juice
In one small randomized trial, participants were given wheatgrass juice or placebo for a month. Those who drank wheatgrass juice had lower disease activity overall, and less rectal bleeding, than those who received placebo. More research is needed to confirm these findings.
One thing to keep in mind is the flavor. Wheatgrass can have a very strong, grassy taste, but some also describe it as similar to green tea.
Ginger Juice
“[Ginger] helps with stomach emptying and may ease sensations of overfullness or stomach discomfort,” says Nielsen.
Some people love the taste, but others find it overpowering. If you fall into the latter category, try adding a few shavings of fresh ginger root or a pinch of powdered ginger to your juice, a little at a time.
Turmeric Juice
There’s some evidence that curcumin, the vibrant yellow compound in turmeric, can help counter inflammation in the body. It works by reducing inflammatory messengers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inhibiting damaging molecules associated with oxidative stress.
That said, Nielsen points out that the doses of turmeric studied are often much larger than what you’d eat on your own. This is because the body has a hard time absorbing curcumin. To get around this, many studies use high-dose supplements, often combined with piperine (an extract from black pepper) to boost absorption.
