10 Sauces and Condiments for Ulcerative Colitis | MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam (2024)

It’s Friday night, and you’re out to dinner with friends. As you reach for the ketchup bottle, you pause and wonder, “Will this trigger my ulcerative colitis symptoms?” You’re not alone. Approximately 1.6 million Americans live with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or another inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to UCLA Health — and these conditions can make food choices challenging.

While you might have to stop and think before adding certain sauces or condiments to your food, you can still enjoy delicious meals. Keep a food diary to figure out which foods cause bloating, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. Write down what you ate and how you felt afterward. Be willing to consider alternatives if your favorite foods trigger flare-ups.

This article reviews popular sauces and condiments and how they affect some people with ulcerative colitis. Your body may react differently. If you have questions about what to eat, schedule an appointment with a doctor or dietitian.

1. Ketchup

One MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member said, “I have no problem eating ketchup.” Another said, “I can’t eat anything acidic, including ketchup. It hurts too much.” A few said they avoid ketchup due to the sugar and salt content.

If the sugar in ketchup — or in barbecue sauce, a similar condiment — triggers your ulcerative colitis symptoms, try brands without added sugars or sweeteners. You can also make ketchup at home. Turmeric, cinnamon, and other spices can provide the desired taste without high-fructose corn syrup and other additives.

2. Mustard

“I eat plant-based hot dogs covered in mustard and relish,” said one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member.

Another said, “I try to stay away from spicy mustards. I eat some, but I am careful.”

The UMass Chan Medical School Center for Applied Nutrition website offers many IBD-friendly recipes that list mustard as an ingredient, like this one for Dijon Fish. While mustard may trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms in some people, it seems generally well tolerated. Look for versions without added sugars or spiciness, or experiment with homemade recipes if you notice that you don’t feel well after smearing mustard on your favorite sandwich.

3. Mayonnaise

One MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member said, “I am a mayonnaise girl. I love it and put it on almost everything.”

“I avoid mayo,” another member said. “It does me no favors!”

The fat content in mayonnaise may trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms in some people. Researchers have linked high-fat, as well as high-carbohydrate and-low fiber, diets to IBD, according to a 2023 retrospective cohort study. Many varieties of mayonnaise are available. If one type upsets your body, experiment with low-fat, fat-free, and other versions. Olive oil- based mayonnaise may be better tolerated and even help reduce inflammation.

You can also try replacing mayonnaise with mashed avocado or sweet potato or with yogurt (either dairy or nondairy). It might take your taste buds time to adjust, but these alternative spreads may be better for your digestive system.

4. Tomato Sauce

Several MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam members said tomatoes, tomato sauce, and other tomato-based products upset their bodies. “I’ve never had an issue before, but in recent months, tomato-based sauces seem to be causing me to have issues,” said one.

Another said, “Since being diagnosed a year ago, I haven’t been able to eat yummy pasta sauce.”

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation includes tomato sauce as a source of vitamins A and C in their Diet, Nutrition, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease guide. However, they also recommend limiting your intake of sauces and spices. Tomato sauce seems to disagree with many people, so proceed cautiously and write down how you feel after eating it. Experiment with homemade versions and brands that claim to be lower in acid, or eat tomato sauce in small quantities.

5. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is one you’ll have to experiment with on your own. Research has shown that it may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, which can help with overall health and disease prevention.

However, soy sauce typically contains wheat and sodium, so it may cause flare-ups for some people. One ulcerative colitis blogger recommends swapping out soy sauce with gluten-free tamari sauce.

6. Salsa

“A ripe tomato will send me into a super flare, but cooked tomatoes are okay,” said one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member.

Another member also knows their limits for tomatoes: “I’m OK as long as I don’t eat tomato skins or seeds.”

Raw tomatoes cause issues for some, as do fresh onions. And spicy foods can upset gut health, even in people without ulcerative colitis. Does this mean salsa goes on your “no eat” list? Not necessarily.

Experiment with different types, and keep notes to see which pass the test. Mango salsa is a popular tomato-free salsa alternative. Roasted tomatillo salsa may be another alternative if tomatillos don’t worsen your symptoms.

Also, salsa doesn’t have to be spicy. Avoid gut irritants like chili powder and cayenne, don’t add hot sauce to increase the spiciness factor, and go easy on fresh tomatoes and onions until you know how they affect you.

7. Guacamole

Guacamole isn’t just for dipping tortilla chips. You can also use it as a sauce, condiment, or sandwich spread. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recommends avocados as a nutrient-dense snack for people with IBD. As long as you avoid adding spicy seasonings and other gut irritants to a base of mashed avocados, guacamole is unlikely to trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms.

8. Dairy Products

Milk, ice cream, and other dairy products aren’t typically tolerated by people with ulcerative colitis. These foods often cause abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea. But some sauces and condiments contain dairy, too. For example, spinach and artichoke dips are often made with sour cream, and Alfredo sauce uses heavy cream. Traditional ranch and blue cheese salad dressings are also dairy-based.

Some companies offer dairy-free versions of popular items like ranch dressing, so look for alternatives online or at the grocery store. If you don’t want to give up dairy products, ask your health care provider about enzyme supplements to help digest lactose, the milk sugar that can cause gas and bloating in some people. People with IBD are more likely to be lactose intolerant than the general population.

“In our local support group, we discovered that almost all of us that had IBD were unable to digest dairy without Lactaid pills,” said one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member.

9. Salad Dressing

With a seemingly endless variety of salad dressings on the market, you may need to test several before finding one that works for you. If you prefer dresses based in olive oil rather than dairy, you could be in luck. One small study found that consuming extra-virgin olive oil may reduce bloating, constipation, and other symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Look at a salad dressing’s label to help you avoid added sugars and preservatives. Or make your own by mixing extra-virgin olive oil with vinegar and lemon juice and then tossing it with your favorite IBD-friendly fruits and vegetables. One MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member recommends drizzling mandarin oranges with raspberry vinaigrette.

10. Peanut Butter

While peanut butter is often the star of the show, like in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it can also serve as a condiment to jazz up apple slices, celery sticks, and other foods. If you enjoy eating peanut butter, you can continue. Beware of added sugars, and look for smooth versions rather than crunchy ones. Unless you have a nut allergy, peanut butter and other nut butters can be high-protein, healthy fat sources for people with ulcerative colitis.

There’s no official diet for ulcerative colitis. What works for someone else might cause you cramping or other gastrointestinal issues. Also, foods you can eat when your symptoms are under control might not feel good in the midst of a flare-up. Write down how you feel after eating different foods, and talk to a health care professional if you have questions.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam, the social network for people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, more than 180,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with IBD.

What has your experience been with sauces and condiments? Do you notice a difference when you’re having a flare-up? Do you have favorite ways to dress up your food? Share your story in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.