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Diverticulitis
CONTENTS
Diverticulosis
Diverticulitis
High Fiber diet
Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid
Diverticulosis is a condition in which the inner lining layer of the large intestine or colon bulges out
(herniates) through the outer, muscular layer. These ‘outpouchings’ are called diverticula.
Diverticulitis is the term for inflammation and infection in one or more diverticula.
A person having diverticulosis (the condition), and perhaps diverticulitis (the inflammation) as well, is said to
have diverticular disease.
Diverticulosis Symptoms, Causes and Management
Diverticula occur in a colon weakened by age, when increased pressure inside the colon (usually due to constipation) causes little pea-shaped pouches of weakness in the intestine wall. The chance of developing diverticula increases with age, so that by age 50 between 20 and 50 percent of all people will have some diverticula, and by age 90 virtually everyone will.
Treatment
This diverticulosis is usually symptom-free, so that most people do not realize they have it. However, a few people will experience spasms and pain. Relieving the constipation, primarily by increasing fiber in the diet, can reduce the problems associated with diverticulosis. If cramps, bloating, and constipation are problems, the doctor may prescribe a short course of pain medication. However, many medications cause the colon to empty, an undesirable side effect for people with diverticulosis.
Diverticulitis Symptoms, Causes and Management
A person with diverticulosis may get diverticulitis when waste matter and bacteria are trapped in a pouch (diverticula). This blockage interferes with the blood supply to the area, and infection sets in. The tissue then becomes inflamed or infected, and in severe cases may even rupture. An attack of diverticulitis can result in fever, pain and tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen.
The infection and irritation of nearby tissues within the abdomen may cause the abdominal muscles to spasm. About 25 percent of all patients with diverticulitis will have some rectal bleeding, although this rarely becomes severe. Diverticulitis is three times more likely to occur in the left side of the large intestine, and men are three times as likely as women to suffer with diverticulitis.
Treatment
Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and inflammation with antibiotics, resting the colon with a liquid diet plus a pain reliever or a drug such as propantheline (Pro-Banthine) to control muscle spasms, and preventing or minimizing complications. Acute or repeated attacks with severe pain or severe infection may be serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.
High Fiber Diet Recommendations
High Fiber Diet for Diverticular Disease
This diverticulitis diet is a high fiber diet for managing diverticulosis, and for reducing effects of diverticulitis. The increased fiber (the American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams daily, including 6-8 grams of soluble fiber) in this diverticulitis diet plan produces more bulk in the stool, reducing pressure in the colon and assisting the more regular and complete elimination of waste, thereby preventing the formation of further diverticula.
Build up consumption of fiber in your diet gradually – rapid fiber increase may result in gas, cramping, bloating, or diarrhea. There are other benefits in having different kinds of fiber in a balanced diverticulitis diet: it helps to protect against cancer of the colon and rectum, and assists in preventing heart disease and a number of other health problems. Foods containing fiber also tend to comprise nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E and selenium, useful in fighting cancer.
Increase Fluid and Fiber
Anyone with diverticulitis who increases their fiber intake under this diverticulitis diet plan, should drink at least 1.5 liters (3 pints) daily. Insoluble fiber needs fluid to form stools that are easily passed. Medical advice may be to take a fiber supplement such as Metamucil daily (for soluble fiber from psyllium), and to use a cholesterol-lowering spread or margarine containing plant sterols. Fiber supplements provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, which is mixed with a quarter liter (8 ounces) of water before consuming.
Should Seeds Be Eaten?
Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds because it was believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this is now a controversial point and no evidence supports this recommendation. So the seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, which are part of your diverticulitis diet, are generally considered harmless.
Diverticulitis Diet Guidelines
Foods to Eat
- Breads and grains (6-11 servings daily)
- Bread, pastas, pizzas, pancakes, muffins, bagels, pita bread (use whole-grain, whole-wheat flours, and
add 2-3 tsp of unprocessed wheat bran to, or substitute oat bran for one third of all-purpose flour in homemade
breads, muffins and other baked goods) - Whole-wheat, whole-grain and bran cereal products
- Buckwheat and stone-ground cornmeal
- Rye bread
- Whole wheat crackers or crisp breads
- Oatmeal, oat bran, or grits
- Barley, dry
- Wheat germ
- Whole wheat pasta
- Brown rice
Eat raw or dried fruits and raw vegetables if possible – chopping, peeling, cooking, pureeing, juicing, and processing
fruit and vegetables may reduce fiber content.
Vegetables (3-5 servings daily)
- All vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, greens (such as beet greens, kale,
collards, Swiss chard and turnip greens), green beans, green pepper, onions, peas, potatoes with skin, Romaine,
snow peas, green snap beans, pole beans, broad beans, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, turnips.
Fruit (2-4 servings daily)
- All fruits such as apple, apricot, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, dates, fig, grapefruit, nectarine,
orange, peach, pear, pineapple, prune.
Milk/dairy (2-3 servings daily)
- Increase fiber in yogurt or cottage cheese by adding fresh fruit, whole grain or bran cereals.
Meat/meat substitutes (2-3 servings or total of about 180 gm or 6 oz daily)
- All beans and peas such as aduki, baked beans, black beans, fava, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans,
pinto beans and split peas. - Smooth peanut butter and other smooth nut butters.
- All meat (increase fiber in meat dishes like meatloaf, casseroles, by adding 2-3 tsp of unprocessed wheat bran
or pinto beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, or oatmeal), poultry, fish, and eggs
Fats and snacks
- Whole-wheat pretzels, baked tortilla corn chips or trail mix made with dried fruits.
- Cakes, breads, and cookies made with oatmeal or fruit.
- Bean dip
Foods to Avoid
Any hard or difficult-to-digest foods, such as nuts, corn, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds.
For more indepth information consider this book: Diverticulitis (How to Cope Successfully With)
These ebooks are also available.
The Fastest Way To End Digestive Pain Forever
New Diverticulitis Breakthrough
Had surgery on Jan 18 to remove a foot of the colon that had abcessed and created an almost total blockage due to diverticulitis that I did not know I had. Used to eat a rather high fiber diet just because I preferred it…salads, whole grains, fruits, etc. Now on strictly soft foods till the doc says to try others. Getting tired of chicken soup. Thanks for the ideas and advice.
i would like the list of things not to eat,when having diverticulitis.please you can help,,i need to know everything not to eat..please.thank-you.
l have just found out l have this disease l dont have pain but have problems dirtying myself my doctor said watch ur diet and if pain and fever go to er. But reading all this lm a bit scared is this what l have to look forward 2 . Can someone tell me what we should not eat. Im 52yrs and had breast cancer 2 yrs ago just what l need
PLEASE READ ALL!!!!
I found out in 2003 i had Diverticulitis. From then till 12/2004 it kept flaring up really bad then was bleeding a lot.I had surgery to remove 12 inch of intestine December 2004. Was not fun at all.I was 35 at the time.I was fine till July 4th 2009 when I ate Tia food that was very spicy. Ended up with mild fever and pain. CT scan showed more diverticula. I had another flare shortly after that which was not bad.Beginning of January 2012 I ate the dreaded popcorn because i had been with no problems.Bad move. I had some pain that Sunday night that kept getting worse. By the time I got to Doctors at 2:30 pm next day I had fever of 102 and had already taken 4 ibuprofen’s. Fever lasted 8 days and pain lasted 11 days. It was horrible.I was sweating all night and was so tired. I never really followed a diet so all I am saying is due the right things for yourself because once you have this it can come back quick if you do not take it seriously. I do not want the surgery again. Good luck to all!!
right on the nose. The discomfort, lower left tummy after pigging out on the white bread and potato products after christmas was extreme, and constipation. I am on the high bran/fibre diet for past two years and shall not now deviate from it. I’m almost 70.
So I had this pain for 5 days before going in. I thought bad constipation at first but it wasn’t. Already 3 whole days of no food so after the iv antibiotics I at least felt hungry. Lots of applesauce, bananas, and those little one person cambells chicken and stars. (Smaller pieces than in the can) This is day 3 of that diet. Oh and prune juice with a stool softener. Going is no longer that intense abdomen pain, it just goes off on a hair trigger. (Home for this diet is preffable instead of your office if that’s an option)
I had a very bad attack of diverticulitis in Dec 2011.. I want to know what I should not eat…I have read many different diets but they all are different…
What do i need to eat to stop the pain of divertidulitus I have been in pain for the last 15 days . I aso feel cold and want to be in bed sleeping . has any one any Ideas Please..
I was diagnosed with diverticulitis on 12/27/11 I have had a relapse and have finished three antibiotics. When am I going to feel better or more like my old self again, anyone?
Aloe Vera juice helps with the healing during an attack, just sip through out the day.
iv been dealing with this pain on and off for five years i can tell u i just learned not high fiber but low fiber….get on line look up low fiber diets. started the low fiber diet for at least two weeks maybe three..ou will feel much better this lets your intestion rest and it can heal..took me going to see a specialies to get some rest….plus use a stool sofner helps alot……good luck….jane
Thanks Greg, some ideas on how to start eating something….so much conflicting information on what to avoid. Having just spent 3 days in hospital coming up to Christmas any support seems to be available mid January, until then what????
Excellent information, I’m currently in the middle of a nasty attack and just got diagnosed. Interestingly enough I usually follow the guidelines, however I have just discovered those big roast beef dinners or anything too much sets everything off.
So the days of overeating are gone.. because this is way tooooo painful.
Just found out today that I have this dreaded disease.I will share with you all when I find out exactly what the hell are the correct foods to eat.
Too many conflicting diet advice ideas for me to take in at the moment.
Good Health to everyone.
Jude
great to read all the information to help us
I was just diagnosed and I’m only 35, ended up in the ER and they kept me for 3 day in the hospital with IV antiobotics. I am having a hard time finding things to eat… some say this some say advoid these foods. I have no appetite from the Medications, any ideas?
It was eye opening to find so many ideas about diverticulosis. I was diagnosed recently, and I find the dos and dont’s will have to be worked out individually for each of us. Everyone is different and that’s how your diet will be ultimately. Basically, avoid nuts and other things hard to diget and get enough other fiber to keep your system going.
For Anna; I started with a rice diet, peeled my apples, peeled and cooked my vegitables till soft. Once I recovered, I added favorite things and raw vetables. I drink a smooth move tea at night to help with digestion.
Diverticulitis can be managed fairly easily . I have been dealing with it for about 5 years. I follow a low-residue diet and lead a pretty normal life unless I get adventurous. Avoid ANY hard-to-digest substances eg: all nuts, seeds, skins, strings, flakes or pulp. Eat No oatmeal. No raisins, grapes (skins), celery (strings), strawberries, hard crunchy bacon or bacon bits, absolutly no popcorn, no pepper, peppers or pepper corns, no carrot cake (nuts), no sweet potatoes (strings), no skittles or other coated candies, no tomatoes, no orange juice with pulp. Start with only soft consistantly smooth foods like Instant or Mashed potatoes w/o skin, bananas, white bread, applesauce, eggs with no lace, milk, water, cheese, yoghurt w/o fruit – use plain, lemon or vanilla, meat without gristle or sinew, remove casing from lunch meat or hot dogs. Vanilla ice cream without bean specs is OK , so is white cake, & cheese cake w/o graham crust. You get the idea. Not fun at first.
Then, after 2 days of no symptoms add one or 2 items at a time and- very importantly – allow 24 hrs for a reaction. If no reaction – congratulations! You have found something else you can eat!
After that, when you choose to succumb to temptation, at least it is no mystery why you feel so lousy.
For fibre, and to keep things moving along properly, I HIGHLY recommend orange metamucil.
I take a triple dose (3 heaping tblsp in 10 oz. of water) every evening around 6 PM. Drink immediately straight down. Do not wait for it to thicken.
It has helped me tremendously.
I would like to know what to eat and what to avoid. I am finding conflicting findings. Had a nasty battle with Diverticulitis a couple of months ago, it was nasty. I don’t know what to eat. Some say NO fresh fruit or vegetables, others say I CAN have fresh fruit and vegetables. Can you help???
Hi Anna ,
I was diagnosed on the 27 of November with the same condition. I don’t have set meal plan but like you I am scared to eat. Plus being on antibiotics doesn’t help since they suppress my appetite. I made chicken soup, bean soup and a lot of wate. No spicy foods!
You could go see a naturopath and be properly evaluated. Those antibiotics are going to mess up your balance of good bacteria in your system so you are going to need a multi-faceted approach before you feel better and are truly healthy.
Hi,
My birthday was on the 29th of this month and I spent it at the hospital! I was in severe pain and was diagnosed within three hours. I am now on three types of antibiotics and feel tired and my head is pounding. I am scared to eat! Does anyone have a meal plan they would like to share…I need ideas??
Thanks