Diverticulitis Diet: Foods to Avoid for a Healthy Gut
By Dr. Nikita Toshi +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nikita Toshi
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Nikita Toshi +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nikita Toshi
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Table of Contents
Diet plays a big part in our health. It’s even more crucial with gut issues like diverticulitis. Curious what the connection is? Let’s dive in!
In this post, we explore how diet helps manage diverticulitis. We look at foods to avoid and foods to eat when you have a flare-up, among other things. Let’s learn how the right diet could pave the way to gut health and less diverticulitis!
Did you Know?
In this section, we discuss the basics of Diverticulitis. We talk about what it is, its symptoms, how it’s diagnosed, and the risks it brings.
Diverticulitis is a condition where small sacs called diverticula in the digestive system get inflamed or infected. These sacs form in the lower part of the colon. They come from weak spots in the outer lining of the gut that buckle under pressure.
Usual signs of diverticulitis include belly pain, nausea, fever, tenderness in the belly, blood in the stool, and bowel problems. Doctors often use imaging tests like CT scans to diagnose it. Blood tests and stool tests also provide helpful gut health information.
If not treated, diverticulitis can cause other health issues. These include local boils, blockage in the bowels, strange connections between different parts of the body (fistulas), or peritonitis. Risk factors to watch out for include aging, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, some medicines, and importantly, diet.
Now let’s look at a brief overview of diverticulitis in the table below.
| Diverticulitis: An Overview | |
|---|---|
| Definitions and Causes | Diverticulitis develops when small pouches (diverticula) formed due to weak spots in the colon lining get inflamed or infected. |
| Symptoms and Diagnosis | Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, tenderness, constipation, or diarrhea. Diagnosis is done through imaging tests, blood tests, and stool tests. |
| Complications and Risk Factors | Untreated diverticulitis can lead to complications like abscesses, fistulas, or peritonitis. Risk factors include aging, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, and diet. |
Based on my experience, I recommend following a low-fiber diet for milder cases of diverticulitis. This means limiting your fiber intake to around 8 to 12 grams, depending on the severity of the flare-up. By reducing fiber intake, we aim to ease the strain on your digestive system and promote healing of the inflamed diverticula.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
To fully grasp how diet affects diverticulitis, we need to understand several things.
Fiber is good for gut health. Foods rich in fiber like fruits, veggies, and whole grains can soften poop. This reduces pressure in the gut and might help lower the chances of diverticula forming.
No specific food triggers attack for sure. But a diet full of red meat, refined grains, and full-fat dairy can up your chances of getting diverticulitis. Such a diet can also make the symptoms worse.
High FODMAP foods contain certain types of carbs. These may make gut problems like diverticulitis and IBS worse. Some experts think that eating less of these foods might take the pressure off the colon. This might result in fewer diverticulitis cases.
The table below provides a quick recap about the role of diet in diverticulitis.
| Diet’s Role in Diverticulitis | |
|---|---|
| Role of Fiber | Eating lots of high-fiber foods can potentially help reduce the chances of getting diverticulitis by softening waist material. |
| Diet’s Impact | Eating certain food like red meat and refined grains more often could increase the risk of diverticulitis. |
| High FODMAP Foods | Foods high in FODMAPs could make diverticulitis worse. Eating less of these foods might reduce the risk of having diverticulitis. |
I now advise that you can enjoy a handful of nuts and seeds daily without worrying about exacerbating your condition. Previously, it was believed that nuts and seeds should be avoided by patients with diverticulitis due to concerns about triggering symptoms. However, recent studies have shown that nuts and seeds, in moderation, are high in fibre and can be beneficial for gut health.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
It can be tough to work out which foods cause flare-ups because it differs from person to person. Staying away from certain food groups can make it easier. These include red and processed meat, high FODMAP foods, and foods high in sugar and fat.
Eating too much red and processed meats increases your chance of getting diverticulitis. You can try swapping red meats with chicken, fish, and plant-based proteins instead.
Certain fruits, dairy products, beans, legumes, fermented foods, and some veggies are high in FODMAP. These foods can put more pressure on the colon, causing diverticulitis, or making it worse.
The usual Western diet is often high in fat and sugar and low in fiber. This might increase a person’s risk of getting diverticulitis. Best to stay away from foods high in sugar and fat like cakes, fried foods, and fatty meats.
A quick recap of the foods to steer clear of can be found in the table below.
| Foods to Avoid in Diverticulitis | |
|---|---|
| Red & Processed Meats | Eating a lot of these can up your chances of getting diverticulitis. Try going for chicken, fish, or plant-based proteins instead. |
| High FODMAP Foods | These foods, such as certain fruits, dairy products, beans, legumes, might make diverticulitis symptoms worse by increasing pressure in the colon. |
| High Sugar and Fat Foods | Foods with lots of fat and sugar can increase your chances of getting diverticulitis. |
When flare-ups happen, certain foods can help ease the symptoms.
Eating foods low in fiber during a flare-up can ease the load on your gut. These can help reduce the chance of irritation in the diverticula. Examples include white rice, white bread, low-fiber cereals, processed fruits, and well-cooked meats.
Eating low fiber foods can give your bowels a break when flare-ups occur. This can make digestion easier and lower inflammation further.
In severe cases of flare-ups, going for a clear liquid diet can give your gut plenty of rest. This diet can soothe areas that are irritated by reducing bowel movement.
A clear liquid diet is made up of water, broth, clear juices, popsicles, tea, or coffee without cream or flavors.
It’s as crucial to know what to drink as it is to know what to eat. Drinking lots of fluids is especially important when you’re eating more fiber. That’s because fiber absorbs water, leading to smoother stools.
Find a short summary of what to consider in your diet during diverticulitis flare-ups in the table below.
| Dietary Considerations in Diverticulitis Flare-ups | |
|---|---|
| Low Fiber Foods | Eating low-fiber foods like white rice, white bread, and processed fruits can give your tummy a break during flare-ups. |
| Clear Liquid Diet | This diet only includes clear liquids like broths, clear juices, popsicles, tea, or coffee. It gives your digestive system a complete rest. |
| Hydration | Drinking lots of fluids is key to help digestion, especially when you’re eating more fiber. That’s because fiber absorbs water, making your stools smoother. |
When you’re not having a flare-up, a diet high in fiber can help lessen your chances of getting diverticulitis. This diet can soften your stools, lower the pressure in your gut and make the formation of diverticula less likely.
When planning your diet, try to include many protein sources, lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes, lean meats, and lots of fluids. Try to cut down on red meat.
To create a high fiber diet, try to include foods rich in fiber like whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, and legumes in large amounts.
Studies on how probiotics affect diverticula disease are not definite yet. But some findings suggest that certain types of probiotics may help by taking care of gut health.
The table below recaps strategies for prevention and treatment of diverticulitis.
| Strategies for Preventing and Treating Diverticulitis | |
|---|---|
| High Fiber Diet | A diet high in fiber may help lessen the risk of diverticulitis by softening stools and lowering pressure in the digestive tract. |
| Strategic Diet | A well-planned diet can include diverse protein sources, lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes, more fluids and less red meat. |
| High Fiber Consumption | Having fiber-rich foods regularly could help shield against diverticulitis. |
| Role of Probiotics | While not completely proven, some probiotics could improve gut health and help manage diverticulitis. |
Living with diverticulitis isn’t easy. But a few simple life changes can make it less hard and improve your life.
Simple things like getting regular workout, not smoking, not taking NSAIDs, drinking plenty of fluids, keeping your weight healthy, and paying attention to bowel urges can help a lot.
During attacks, taking very good care of yourself is crucial. This includes asking for medical help right away, sticking to any new diet your doctor suggests, and drinking more fluids to help with digestion.
The table below provides a quick recap on how to live with diverticulitis:
| Living with Diverticulitis | |
|---|---|
| Simple Steps | Big changes can start from small steps like regular exercise, not smoking, not taking NSAIDs, staying hydrated, keeping a healthy body weight, and responding right away to bowel urges. |
| During Attacks | Without delay, get urgent medical help. Stick to the diet change your doctor suggests and drink lots of fluids during diverticulitis attacks. |
What we learned from everything above is how much diet matters in keeping diverticulitis away and handling it. Your daily meals should be high in fiber. It’s also important to drink a lot, learn what to eat and not eat during flare-ups. In this way, you’ll take charge of your gut health and handle diverticulitis well.
The table below recaps the part diet plays in managing diverticulitis.
| Role of Diet in Diverticulitis | |
|---|---|
| Planning | A well-planned diet that’s high in fiber and full of fluids can help keep diverticulitis from happening. |
| Management | Knowing what to eat and what to skip, specially during flare-ups, can help deal with the symptoms and manage the illness. |
The key to handling diverticulitis lies in a balanced, smart, and informed diet. If you want to keep it away or control the symptoms, understanding what you should and shouldn’t eat and when to change your diet matters a ton. Besides diet, living an active, well-hydrated, and healthy life plays a big part in fighting off diverticulitis and boosting gut health.
Remember, everyone’s gut health needs are unique. These suggestions should help as a guide. But it’s always best to see a healthcare provider before making big changes in your diet or life. With plenty of effort and a strong commitment to nutrition and health, it’s possible to live a fulfilling, healthy life, even with diverticulitis!
Let’s now cover some of the most frequently asked questions about the role diet plays in managing diverticulitis.
No food directly causes flare-ups, but people who eat less fibre seem to have more.
Eating more fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, and legumes, and drinking plenty of fluids can prevent flare-ups.
Sure thing! Making little changes to your diet, say, going for a liquid or low-fibre diet during flare-ups, or eating more fibre in normal times, can go a long way in managing diverticulitis.
Different people react to foods in different ways. But whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, and legumes are some of the best foods to help prevent and manage diverticulitis. During flare-ups, it might be best to choose a low fiber or liquid diet.
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