But Sunny Anderson, a cohost of the Food Network’s The Kitchen, has always loved food, cooking, traveling, and trying dishes from all different parts of the world. Even after being diagnosed with UC as a young adult, she was determined not to let her chronic condition stand in the way of any of those things. And, clearly, she hasn’t. From her early days as a caterer to hosting Food Network shows like Cooking for Real and Home Made in America With Sunny Anderson, the 46-year-old has managed to mix living with UC and working in the food world, primarily by learning how different foods affect her body. “I originally thought it might be that time of the month or the result of eating spicy food,” she recalls. Her parents were both in the military and the family had just moved to Asia, so she thought the stress of the move might also be in play. “After my symptoms lasted longer than a week, I knew something was wrong,” says Anderson. But she continued to suffer in silence for a full month before she finally told her dad, who was a doctor, about her symptoms. He encouraged her to see a gastroenterologist. After a battery of tests, the specialist found that Anderson’s digestive problems weren’t caused by stress, her menstrual cycle, or anything she ate. It was ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes swelling and ulcers (sores) on the inner lining of the large intestine and leads to abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements, and bloody or pus-filled diarrhea. When she first learned about her condition, Anderson was extremely worried that having UC would mean giving up who she was — someone who loved to eat, cook, and travel all over the world. To keep that from happening, she threw herself into finding out everything she could about the disease and the best way to manage it. Unfortunately, in the mid-1990s, there was little information on the causes and ways to ease the pain of inflammatory bowel disease. By working closely with her doctor, however, Anderson was able to figure out which foods exacerbated her condition, and then tweak her cooking and eating habits to help keep her symptoms at bay. RELATED: Finding the Right Ulcerative Colitis Doctor

How a Celebrity Chef Manages Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms

Ulcerative colitis symptoms come and go; symptom-free periods are followed by flare-ups. During a flare-up, the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. The disease makes it difficult to focus on food, Anderson says. “Food is sometimes the last thing you want to think about with UC, especially when experiencing a flare and symptoms are at their worst,” she explains. “While food didn’t cause my IBD — nor will food cure it — I’ve learned to recognize which foods aggravate my symptoms.” With help from her doctor, Anderson identified many raw fruits and vegetables that trigger her UC flares. She now stays away from leafy greens, corn, fruits with skins, and even red and green bell peppers, as the skins irritate her system. She can’t just have a big salad, for example, because her body doesn’t break it down. Anderson jokes that her UC explains why her cookbook Sunny’s Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life (Clarkson Potter) only includes four vegetable recipes — everything else is meat and potatoes, which have always been her favorite foods anyway. Because the malabsorption of nutrients is a key concern for people with the disease, Anderson tries to vary her diet when she’s not flaring. “I have many foods I love, and as soon as I feel I’m out of the woods on a flare-up, I pack my system with the nutrients that weren’t being absorbed during the flare-up,” she says. Anderson has always worked closely with her doctor and has been on medications in the past. But she is feeling much better these days. “I’ve been in a happy remission for many years and hope I never have to go back to how it was when I was first diagnosed,” she says. “I always stress that everyone’s experience with UC is different.” RELATED: 8 Foods to Eat During an Ulcerative Colitis Flare

Managing the Stress of Ulcerative Colitis

Dealing with a stressful job and a chronic condition can be a lot for anyone, but Anderson has learned to roll with the punches. “I’m a happy person. I stress out for a good five minutes, and then it’s over,” she says. “If I got annoyed and stayed annoyed, I don’t know how I’d get anything done.” To put her troubles and everyday concerns in perspective, she tries to keep up with the news and what’s going on in the world at large. “One look outside your life and you’re sure to find that your troubles could be worse,” she says. “That, right there, as weird as it may sound, makes me a truly stress-free person. Annoyed for a few minutes, yes, but stressed? Nah.” Anderson emphasizes the importance of rest and work-life balance. “I was raised to believe that life is way more important than work. Sure, I love my career, but I can’t do anything without sleep,” she says. “That being said, I count a good night’s sleep at around six hours and a great night at nine. My military upbringing doesn’t allow me to sleep much past sunbreak.” RELATED: 5 Ways to Cope With Chronic Anxiety When You Have Ulcerative Colitis

The Importance of Talking About IBD

When asked what advice she has for someone recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Anderson recommends learning as much about the condition as possible. “I’d say listen to your physician, try to get your ulcerative colitis in remission, and, now that there is so much information available, become smarter about your disease than the next person,” she says. She also encourages newly diagnosed people to try to get over any embarrassment they may feel about their disease. “I always [ask] where the bathroom is because when the urge comes, it must be answered,” she says. “I am not ashamed of my disease, and I have no problem telling someone I have UC if there’s a line and I need to use the restroom. I constantly remind people that not all disabilities are visible.” Anderson believes it’s important to raise awareness about ulcerative colitis. “Talking about UC is important because we are in the shadows,” she says. “Many people have never heard of it. Or, people know someone with it but don’t understand it. The more we talk about it, the more we have a chance to educate people. Not just friends, family, or coworkers of people with UC, but also people who have the symptoms and don’t realize they should see a physician to get an accurate diagnosis and learn to better manage their condition.”