Adjusting your diet or making healthy dietary modifications is the first step to relieving any health inconveniences. The same goes for diverticulitis. Over time, your gut suffers wear and tear from eating, absorbing, and processing food. In addition, years of repeated and sometimes uneven pressure weakens the lining or elasticity of the colon, resulting in the formation of a pouch or pouch that leads to a condition known as diverticulitis. In layman’s terms, diverticulitis refers to small pockets in the colon.
You may want to limit a few foods in your diet while you have an episode of diverticulitis, or avoid one in the future. As for which foods to eat more, focus on high-quality, nutrient-dense, easy-to-digest food. In some cases of an attack of diverticulitis, a high-fiber diet is your best friend, but in others, it may not be. This article explains the latest dietary advice for diverticulitis and how you can control an attack.
Understanding the Diverticulitis Diet
The best diet for diverticulitis depends on whether you are experiencing symptoms, recovering, or trying to prevent an attack. For example, a clear liquid diet may be best during an acute attack of uncomplicated diverticulitis. If your diverticulitis attack is fully recovered, you should follow a regular, healthy diet rich in fiber. A low-fiber diet is a viable option for the typical outpatient who is starting to eat solid foods again. Therefore, the outline of the diet for diverticulitis relates to how the patient feels.
HealthifyMe Note
What you eat when you have an acute diverticulitis attack is different than what you eat when you’re better. If you don’t have a flare-up, it’s okay to eat any foods that you know for sure aren’t a trigger for you. But, again, the list of foods for the diverticulitis diet is subjective. Once your symptoms are under control, you can return to your usual eating habits.
What to eat in the diet for diverticulitis
Low-fiber foods
If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, you should consider eating low-fiber meals such as:
- Low-fiber carbohydrates: You can also choose potatoes without the peel. You can bake, roast, or puree them. It is also recommended to use bowls of low-fiber cereal, such as cornflakes.
- Proteins: Choose tofu, meat or seafood, whole eggs and egg whites as sources of protein. It should be flour, so baked fish and shredded chicken work well.
- the fruit: Be careful because they contain a lot of fiber. Some options include ripe bananas, peaches, or pears in cans, ripe cantaloupe, and mint. If you don’t eat the skin, there isn’t a lot of fiber.
- If you’re recovering from a flare-up, Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are big winners. It lacks fiber but is rich in calcium, protein and other minerals. Plus, they’re softer, wetter, and easier to swallow if you’re not feeling well. You can also eat low-fat cheese and vegetable milk.
clear liquid diet
The most restrictive way to treat the symptoms of diverticulitis is to follow a liquid diet. However, you should not follow it for too long.
A clear liquid diet usually includes:
- Water
- snow flakes
- Soup, broth or stock
- Gelatin (as gelatin)
- Strain your electrolyte drinks without any creams, flavors or sweeteners
- Soothing tea, such as chamomile tea or linden tea
You should increase your intake of high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water after the flare-up has subsided. Many foods rich in fiber include:
legumes
One of the best sources of dietary fiber is whole grains. A cheerful, healthy, and adaptable way to increase the fiber in your diet is to eat whole-grain products such as multigrain bread, crackers, quinoa and brown rice.
the fruit
Fresh fruits like apples provide the highest fiber content when eaten with the peel. They are also high in potassium and may be especially useful for recovering from an upset stomach.
Beans and legumes
You can include kidney beans, navy beans, chickpeas, and lentils.
vegetables
When you are symptom-free and consume a high-fiber diet, raw vegetables – especially root and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and other root vegetables – are considered nutritious energy sources.
Foods to avoid during diverticulitis
Processed and red meat
A study found that eating a lot of red and processed meat may increase the risk of developing diverticulitis.
Fatty and sugary foods
The typical Western diet tends to be low in fiber and high in sugar and fat. As a result, it may make you more likely to develop diverticulitis.
Avoiding the following foods will help prevent diverticulitis or reduce its signs and symptoms:
- refined carbohydrates
- Fried items
- Full fat dairy
- sugary products
Foods Rich in FODMAP
FODMAPs, which stand for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, are a class of carbohydrates. According to one study, diverticulitis can be avoided or treated with a low-FODMAP diet because it lowers colon pressure.
Some foods to avoid or limit are:
- Dairy products, such as milk, flavored yogurt, and ice cream
- Foods that have undergone fermentation, such as sauerkraut or kimchi
- Legumes and beans
- Foods that contain trans fats
- soy
- cabbage
- Onions
- garlic
Since everyone has unique food needs and sensitivities, and since many of these foods also contain healthy fiber, a person should consult a health professional before making any major adjustments to their diet. You can get the right advice on balanced, portion-controlled meals by talking to the health experts at HealthifyMe.
HealthifyMe Note
It appears that consuming enough fiber is essential. A high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of developing diverticulitis and promote overall digestive health. But it’s best for those on fire to stay away from high-fiber foods. Restrictions on red and processed meat may also reduce risks and symptoms. Depending on how severe the acute diverticulitis flare-up is, an initial low-fiber diet or a clear liquid diet may help relieve symptoms.
breakfast
- Fresh apple or pear juice: 1 cup
- Rice porridge: half a cup
morning snack
- Gentlemen crackers
- Cooked pears with a spoonful of cinnamon: ½
lunch
- Mashed vegetable soup: 1 cup / 200 ml
- Shredded chicken: 80-90 g / ½ cup
Evening snack
Dinner
- Grilled fish: half a cup
- Rice: 4 tablespoons
- Banana: 1
Simple ways to manage diverticulitis with diet
Some golden rules regarding dieting for diverticulitis can keep your stomach happy.
slow down
After an attack of diverticulitis, you should gradually ease into your regular diet. There is no need to rush and immediately indulge in a high-fiber diet. Instead, take your time initially by eating a low-fiber diet during and immediately after a bout of diverticulitis.
Search for players
Find out what triggers diverticulitis attacks. If something triggers your symptoms, such as nuts and popcorn, avoid eating it until after you’ve recovered from an attack of diverticulitis. Your triggers can be different from what someone else has. Sometimes, you may be able to eat foods that others can’t.
Here are some behaviors to follow to manage diverticulitis:
- regular exercise
- stop smoking (smokers are more likely to develop complications of diverticulitis)
- Avoid using NSAIDs
- drink a lot of water
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Attention to the needs of the digestive system
- Moderate consumption of red meat
conclusion
Finding out what causes diverticulitis can help customize your diet accordingly. During an acute episode of acute episodes, experts recommend starting with clear liquids before moving on to foods that are low in fiber. Once you feel like adding solid foods to your diet again, switch to a healthy, high-fiber diet. Patients often worry about eating high-fiber foods, but continued low-fiber intake can cause serious health concerns.
Diverticulitis patients should always maintain an active lifestyle, eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol use, and quit smoking to support overall health, reduce disease risk, and promote overall health and well-being.
