Diverticulitis diet can either refer to a diet for active cases or a preventative diet. For active cases, people should avoid high-fat and fibrous foods and stick to clear liquids and simple foods. For preventative measures, a high-fiber diet with low-fat protein is recommended, but nuts and seeds should be used with discretion. While diet can help reduce attacks, it may not always be effective.
Diverticulitis diet refers to a diet that people follow when they have an active case of diverticulitis or means a diet that people follow after they have had diverticulitis. Having diverticulitis means having an infection in pockets in the intestine, called diverticula. The presence of diverticula may be a good reason to stick with the second type of preventative diet, while having diverticulitis means eating simple, specific foods so that your intestines don’t have to work hard and can start to respond to antibiotic treatment.
When a person has an active case of diverticulitis, doctors may suggest that they continue on a simple diverticulitis diet. Things on this diet can vary, but there are usually lists of foods that are not recommended. People should avoid high-fat foods like meats and highly fibrous foods. Instead, clear liquids are recommended, and most people do better with simple foods like broths, sports drinks, popsicles, and the like.
Since diverticulitis sometimes leads to further intestinal problems, some doctors recommend adding yogurt with live cultures to an acute diverticulitis diet, or adding simple foods like applesauce that have a little fiber. Also, doctors may suggest other treatments that can promote regularity. Fiber supplements or laxatives may be recommended.
The preventative diverticulitis diet is very different and is intended to be used when people do not have an active infection. The focus on this diet is to get plenty of fiber. Some of the best sources include beans, brown rice, and other whole grains like oats. Green vegetables and many types of fruits are excellent sources of dietary fiber. The high fiber content is combined with low-fat protein and can be very nutritious.
A good source of fiber is nuts and seeds, and yet there tends to be a lot of concern with those who get diverticula from eating them. What medical researchers say now is different than in the past. It was once believed that nuts and seeds would enter the diverticula or pouches and cause inflammation. This is no longer believed, although it makes sense to stop eating anything that appears to cause acute diverticulitis. People are advised to use their discretion in determining if adding nuts and seeds to a preventative diverticulitis diet is worth it.
Although doctors suggest that diet can help reduce some attacks, this is not always the case. Not all doctors agree that high-fiber diets are so beneficial, but others swear by them as a means of reducing diverticulitis. There are other diets that can be recommended as curative for this condition, but in most cases the condition cannot be completely cured. On the other hand, many people swear by a particular diet as being responsible for a reduction in symptoms or attacks of diverticulitis.
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