Diverticulitis Diet

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticula are small pouches in the large intestine, or colon, that bulge outward. When you have diverticula present in your colon, you have diverticulosis. When these pouches become inflamed or infected the condition is known as diverticulitis. About 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis will develop diverticulitis at one time or another. Most people with diverticulosis do not know they have it because there are few signs or symptoms. They usually find out they have the condition when it becomes diverticulitis, which is characterized by abdominal pain and sometimes fever, nausea, vomiting, and cramping.

Causes of Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

It is believed that diverticulosis is caused by eating a low-fiber diet. High fiber foods help make the stool easy to pass, preventing constipation. Straining due to constipation can cause weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

The jury is still out on the direct cause of diverticulitis. However, it is believed that stool, bacteria, or even certain foods that can get stuck in the diverticula can cause an inflammation or an infection.

What is The Diverticulosis Diet?

If you have been diagnosed with diverticulosis and are not currently undergoing an attack of diverticulitis, a high fiber diet is best. As we have said, a high fiber diet will help make stool soft and easy to pass so it leaves the colon more quickly, lessening the chance of causing inflammation or infection. Most people need 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day. The best sources of fiber are fruits such as apples, pears, and peaches, vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, asparagus, and salad greens, and whole grains such as whole wheat bread and cereal, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta. In addition, it is easy to see how much fiber is in most food products by checking the food label.

There are certain foods that should be avoided because they may get caught in the diverticula, leading to an inflammation or infection. These foods include popcorn, nuts, and seeds such as pumpkin, caraway, sunflower, and sesame. Some other foods that may cause problems include zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, raspberries, poppy seeds, and corn. It is up to each individual which foods they should exclude from their diet, as some foods can affect some people and not others.

What is The Diverticulitis Diet?

When you have an attack of diverticulitis you will not feel like eating much! Because of the abdominal pain a liquid diet is usually prescribed for a period of time. After the inflammation or infection has subsided, which may require a hospital stay and/or surgery in extreme cases, it is best to return to a high fiber diet when your physician feels your colon has thoroughly rested.