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Diet for Diverticulitus

Diverticula are bulging pouches at weak spots in the intestine. They are more common with increased age, possibly with decreased exercise, and with decreased fiber. Multiple pouches form a disease called diverticulosis, which may cause no symptoms. Diverticulitis, which occurs when the pouches become irritated and swollen, occurs in about a quarter of people with diverticulosis and often causes bleeding, fever and infection. Although attacks have specific triggers in different individuals, dietary changes can help treat and prevent flare-ups.

  1. High Fiber

    • Because diverticular disease is a direct result of too low fiber in the diet, the primary treatment and prevention diet strategy is added fiber to reach a goal of 20-40 grams each day for adult women and men, respectively, and depending on age. The high-fiber diet is recommended at all times for people with diverticulitis except during times when an infection is being treated by cleansing the bowel.

    Liquid Diet

    • A liquid diet for diverticulitis is used to increase comfort during flare-ups, to rest the bowel, and to decrease swelling and pressure while treating a possible infection with antibiotics. This diet should only be used for 2-3 days and under the care of a physician because of the risks of weakness and poor nutrition if continued longer.

    Low Fiber

    • Although counterintuitive, a low-fiber diet typically is introduced after the liquid-diet period. Introducing low-fiber foods slowly increases nutrients without overstimulating the bowel. However, this stage, too, should be continued with a doctor's care and for a short time, because low fiber in the diet eventually leads to constipation and increased pouch formation from more stress on the intestinal wall. The low-fiber phase is followed by a slow introduction of high-fiber foods, which should be maintained to prevent flare-ups and infections later.

    Recent Research

    • The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has started studying probiotics, or good bacteria, as a possible treatment or prevention strategy for diverticular disease.

      In addition, although practitioners once thought that small seeds and nuts should be avoided in people with diverticulosis or diverticulitis because they could lodge into the pouches and irritate the wall, no research supports this theory. In fact, adding seeds and nuts to the diet is now encouraged, because they are great sources of fiber.

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