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Diet for People With Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is characterized by infected and inflamed diverticula, the small bulging pouches in the digestive tract. If you have diverticulitis, you need to monitor your diet to allow your intestines to heal. While a high-fiber diet can help prevent attacks, it can aggravate an active one. It is important to note the diet is not the treatment. You need medication to ease the inflammation and clear the infection. If your case is mild, you will not need hospitalization and you can do treatment at home.

  1. About Diverticulitis

    • The most common symptoms of diverticulitis include acute, severe pain in the lower left section of your abdomen, a change in bowel habits, tenderness in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Rarely, you might experience bloating and bleeding from the rectum. The medical community is still not sure of the exact cause. Common risk factors include lack of exercise, a low-fiber diet, obesity and age; you are more likely to experience this condition if you are over 40.

      Mild cases can be treated at home with oral antibiotics, pain medication (if needed) and an active attack diet. More serious cases require hospitalization to administer intravenous antibiotics. In the most severe cases, you might need surgery to remove the damaged part of your colon.

    Diet for an Active Attack

    • During an attack, your doctor will probably recommend a liquid diet for two to three days to give your intestines a break. Acceptable items include broth, clear sodas, pulp-free juices, ice chips, ice pops, plain gelatin, water and tea or coffee with no cream. This diet is not recommended beyond a few days since it is low in calories and nutrients and can cause weakness and other problems. If you feel you can't transition to solid foods after this time, let your doctor know so he can determine if additional treatment or hospitalization is required.

    Diet as Symptoms Ease

    • Once your condition starts improving, start adding low-fiber foods back into your diet. These include canned fruits, eggs, white breads, rice and pasta, low-fiber cereals, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish and cooked vegetables. Stay on this low-fiber diet until you are completely healed.

    Post-Attack Diet

    • Increase your fiber intake once your condition has healed. High-fiber intake helps prevent diverticulitis by softening stool and making it easier to pass through the intestines. This decreases pressure in the digestive tract, which reduces the risk of inflamed diverticula. A woman should consume at least 25g a day; a man 38g.

      High-fiber foods include brown rice, fruits, lentils, beans, whole-grain breads and cereals and vegetables. If you find it difficult to meet your fiber requirements through diet, consider supplements like Metamucil or Cirtucel. Drink plenty of water. Fiber absorbs water from the intestines, which helps give stool its bulk. Too much fiber and too little water can lead to constipation.

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