Leena Watts
Diverticulitis is a common condition in developed countries, especially in adults aged 40 and older. It occurs when small pouches, or diverticula, form in the walls of the colon and become inflamed or infected, resulting in abdominal pain. While there is no specific diet for diverticulitis, making healthy food choices can help manage and prevent flare-ups. During a diverticulitis flare-up, doctors often recommend a clear liquid diet for a few days to give the digestive system a rest, followed by a low-fiber diet as symptoms improve. Once symptoms subside, transitioning to a high-fiber diet is recommended to prevent future flare-ups. Maintaining adequate hydration is also crucial when increasing fiber intake.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet during diverticulitis flare-ups | Clear liquid diet, including clear juices like apple, cranberry, and grape, gelatin, ice chips, ice pops, clear broths, tea, and coffee without milk |
| Diet after diverticulitis flare-ups | Low-fiber foods like canned or cooked fruit and vegetables without seeds or skin, white pasta, white bread, white rice, and white crackers |
| Long-term diet to prevent diverticulitis flare-ups | High-fiber foods like vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, dark leafy greens), whole grains, popcorn, nuts, and seeds; aim for 25-35 grams of fiber per day |
| General guidelines | Stay hydrated by drinking enough water, gradually increase fiber intake, and consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice |
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What You'll Learn
During a flare-up, a clear liquid diet is recommended
During a diverticulitis flare-up, it is recommended to follow a clear liquid diet. This is because a liquid diet gives your gut a break and helps ease your symptoms. Your doctor may advise you to stop consuming any solid foods and drinks for a short period, which is known as a bowel rest. This allows your digestive system to rest and recover.
A clear liquid diet includes water, clear juices without pulp (such as apple, cranberry and grape), clear broths, tea and coffee without milk, and clear sodas. You can also chew on ice chips or eat gelatin or ice pops without fruit. This liquid diet should only be followed for a few days, after which you can transition to low-fiber foods.
Low-fiber foods are easily digestible and help avoid irritating the colon, facilitating healing. Examples of low-fiber foods include canned or cooked fruits and vegetables without seeds or skin, such as applesauce, melon, and white pasta, white bread, white rice, and white crackers. It is important to note that you should only resume your normal diet when your diverticulitis symptoms are under control.
Once your symptoms improve, you can gradually add fiber back into your diet. High-fiber foods help prevent diverticulitis flare-ups by softening stools and preventing constipation, which reduces pressure in the colon. Good sources of fiber include vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. It is recommended to aim for 25-35 grams of fiber per day. However, it is important to increase your fiber intake gradually and ensure you are well-hydrated, as fiber requires water to work effectively.
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High-fibre foods are good for prevention
While experiencing a diverticulitis flare-up, it is recommended to follow a clear liquid diet for a few days to give your gut a break and let it rest and recover. Once your symptoms start to improve, you can gradually transition to low-fiber foods such as canned or cooked fruits and vegetables without seeds or skin. This is important because high-fiber foods are harder to digest and can irritate the colon during a flare-up.
However, when you are not experiencing a flare-up, a high-fiber diet is highly recommended for prevention and reducing the risk of developing diverticulitis. Fiber softens stool and helps prevent constipation, thereby decreasing pressure in the colon and reducing the risk of flare-ups. The recommended daily fiber intake is about 25 grams, but it can vary depending on sex and age. It is important to increase your fiber intake gradually and ensure adequate hydration, as fiber requires water to function effectively.
High-fiber foods include vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and Swiss chard. Popcorn, nuts, and seeds are also excellent sources of fiber and do not increase the risk of diverticulitis, contrary to previous beliefs. A Mediterranean diet, which is high in fiber and low in processed foods, may be beneficial for people with diverticulitis.
It is always best to consult with a healthcare professional or a dietitian to determine the right diet plan for your specific needs and to ensure a gradual increase in fiber intake to prevent discomfort.
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Avoid foods that are hard to digest during flare-ups
During a diverticulitis flare-up, it is important to give your digestive system a break and let it relax and heal. This means avoiding foods that are hard to digest, including those that are high in fibre.
When symptoms flare up, doctors usually recommend first taking a brief pause from eating and drinking. This is known as a bowel rest. After this, you should adopt a diet of only clear liquids for a few days. Good choices include clear broths, tea and coffee without milk, clear and pulp-free juices (such as apple or cranberry juice), and clear sports drinks or sodas (like ginger ale). You can also chew on ice chips or eat gelatin or ice pops without fruit.
Once your symptoms improve, you can start to eat solid foods again. However, you should stick to low-fibre foods. This is because high-fibre foods are harder to digest and can irritate the colon. Low-fibre foods include canned or cooked fruit without seeds or skin (such as applesauce and melon), and canned or well-cooked vegetables without seeds and skin. You should also avoid foods that are high in fibre, including beans and legumes (such as lentils and black beans), whole grains (such as whole wheat, oats, and brown rice), and whole-grain products (such as high-fibre cereals and whole-grain breads).
It is worth noting that, while fibre is important to avoid during flare-ups, it is beneficial when diverticulitis is under control. Fibre helps to prevent diverticulitis by keeping stools soft and reducing the risk of constipation, which can decrease pressure in the colon and prevent future flare-ups.
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A well-balanced diet can help prevent future attacks
When your diverticulitis is under control and you're not experiencing a flare-up, adopting a well-balanced diet can help prevent future attacks. This involves increasing your intake of high-fibre foods, as studies show that fibre helps prevent diverticulosis, a condition that can lead to diverticulitis.
A high-fibre diet is important for digestive health and can help lower cholesterol. Fibre softens stools, making them easier to pass and reducing the risk of constipation. This, in turn, helps to prevent inflammation and lower the risk of developing diverticulitis. Aim for 25 grams of fibre per day. Good sources of fibre include vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dark leafy greens like kale and spinach. Popcorn, nuts, and seeds are also great sources of fibre and, contrary to previous beliefs, do not specifically cause inflammation. In fact, decades of research have not found that these foods trigger attacks of diverticulitis.
It is important to increase your fibre intake gradually, as doing so too quickly can cause bloating and gas. Drinking plenty of water every day can help with the transition to a high-fibre diet, as fibre requires water to work properly. Aim to drink at least 8 to 10 cups of water per day to help prevent constipation.
In addition to increasing your fibre intake, it is recommended to reduce your consumption of red meat. A diet high in red meat may increase the risk of developing diverticulitis.
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Staying hydrated is important
Staying hydrated is essential when managing diverticulitis. During a flare-up, it is common for doctors to recommend a liquid diet to give your gut a break and allow it to rest and recover. This liquid diet should include clear liquids like juices without pulp, clear broths, tea or coffee without milk, and water.
Once you start transitioning to solid foods, it is crucial to increase your water intake, especially if you are also increasing your fiber intake. Fiber requires water to work effectively in the body. Melinda Cater, a dietitian at Sibley Memorial Hospital, recommends the following:
> The number of ounces I recommend is about half the person’s body weight in pounds.
For example, an individual weighing 180 pounds should aim for about 90 ounces of water per day. This amount of water will ensure that the fiber can do its job, keeping your bowels healthy and functioning.
It is important to note that the transition to a high-fiber diet should be gradual to avoid discomfort. Additionally, it is always recommended to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider to determine the appropriate diet for your specific needs.
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Frequently asked questions
During a diverticulitis flare-up, doctors usually recommend taking a brief break from eating and drinking, and then adopting a diet of only clear liquids for a few days. Clear liquids include juices without pulp, such as apple, cranberry, and grape juice, and clear broths. After a few days, you can gradually add low-fiber foods to your diet, such as canned or cooked fruits and vegetables without seeds or skin, and white pasta, white bread, and white rice.
To prevent diverticulitis flare-ups, it is recommended to eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of high-fiber foods, such as vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, spinach, etc.), and popcorn, nuts, and seeds. It is also recommended to reduce red meat consumption.
During a flare-up, it is important to let your digestive system rest and heal. Your doctor can advise you on when and how to resume eating solid foods and returning to your normal diet. After a flare-up, it is important to increase your fiber intake gradually and stay well-hydrated, as fiber requires water to work properly.
